Well, I went to the dealership today and spent 3 hours in their waiting room. They replaced my muffler and half the exhaust pipe and now my truck is not backfiring...whoooeeee!!! Nice thing is that it was covered under the warranty. I paid to have them replace my fuel filter (service needed) and they checked my power steering system (service not needed until 45000 miles) and it was good to go.
After leaving there, I went to Lowe's to look at paint possibilities for our front door since there is no paint here at the house that matches it. While there, I got a call from J. We decided to meet up for lunch since he forgot a few things he needs on this trip that he is on (only a few hours away) so we met in the middle and had some down home bbq'd cooking, and it was good. I didn't get the paint yet but did get some chips so I can match up the door better tomorrow when it is light. I also talked to several people about what our options were to keep the new weatherstripping we just did from sticking to the new paint we are going to apply. The answer is silicone spray...I'll let you know if it works.
I was able to catch J up on the house visit with the realtor yesterday and what things we should move around in the house to make it look nicer and seem more spacious. Figure I will be taking a lot of small things up into the attic for hiding just to declutter. We gave his old dresser to a friend of his that is going to use it for storing some stuff and I am glad it went to a good home because it was still usable but not in nice enough condition to give to Habitat or Goodwill.
One of my friends from high school might be coming to visit me in the next week or so and I am excited to see her. She is the mom of one of the four people I hung out with and she was like a second mom to all of us. I was able to see her and her son this December when we were driving through Florida but it will be nice to have her visit here too....now if I could just get some more of our family and friends out here before we take off....hint hint hint.
I stopped by another friend's place on the way home from lunch because I hadn't seen them in ages and because they are the landscaping and garden center owners we like to use. I was hoping I could get a fern and some color for my yard but alas, they are waiting until the middle of next month to do their annuals just in case we get another frost here. I might have to get a few things at Lowe's but we'll see. I am not in a hurry and it's not like I don't have five million other things on my list that I could be doing. It was great to see them and I will get back over there in the next few days because I need some bark, and some iron for my poor yellowed looking plants. I wish I was more motivated for the yard right now but I am not, even though I want it to look nice...weird huh?
Speaking of frosts, it was in the mid 80s today and tonight it will be in the mid 50s and tomorrow is supposed to stay in the mid 50s with rain...I guess we are getting some cold weather in from the north....brrrr. The pine pollen is still dropping like crazy...I took a pic of the car the other day before i rinsed it off so I will get that posted soon. If it does rain tonight and tomorrow, we will have little greenish yellow run off trails all over the place.
Now it is almost 8:30pm and I haven't eaten dinner (lunch was late and filling) and I have been playing on myspace (trying to get the statcounter to work) and on the blogger support help group...I need to get a help group for myself so that I can be more focused on my stuff...sometimes I walk from one room with the intention of doing something and while there will get distracted into another task and so on and so forth...it is terrible. I better go so I can say I actually accomplished something today.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Where Does The Time Go?
Today is almost over and I didn't get nearly as much stuff done as I would have liked....I still have some time but most of it is going to be inside stuff...haha.
I met with a friend this morning for a walk that turned into an all day thing (which was okay because we haven't seen each other in a while), and then I met with a realtor a few minutes ago so we could go over things in the house.
I tried to picture how things must look through his eyes...and it seems to me that we have too much clutter. That is okay, J put some extra plywood down in the attic so we have more room to hide some things. I can spread out some stuff too and that will make it seem less cluttered....I am such a pack rat...terrible I know.
So I am going to head off, drink some Diet Coke since I am falling asleep, work on a project for a friend while watching a movie I know J won't want to see, and then we'll see what else I can get done. I am sure that I will throw some laundry and dusting in there somewhere as well. I should get over to the gym this evening so I can get some muscles....haha.
I met with a friend this morning for a walk that turned into an all day thing (which was okay because we haven't seen each other in a while), and then I met with a realtor a few minutes ago so we could go over things in the house.
I tried to picture how things must look through his eyes...and it seems to me that we have too much clutter. That is okay, J put some extra plywood down in the attic so we have more room to hide some things. I can spread out some stuff too and that will make it seem less cluttered....I am such a pack rat...terrible I know.
So I am going to head off, drink some Diet Coke since I am falling asleep, work on a project for a friend while watching a movie I know J won't want to see, and then we'll see what else I can get done. I am sure that I will throw some laundry and dusting in there somewhere as well. I should get over to the gym this evening so I can get some muscles....haha.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Started Again
They started the road work on our street this morning. Perhaps this means that they will get it finished before we put the house up...wouldn't that be great?
I was able to get out in the yard and get a few things done yesterday after spending a good part of the afternoon walking in the woods looking for geocaches. The caches were actually pretty good, and the exercise was great. I had a lot of fun, except for the fact that I was out on my own and it would have been more fun with someone for company.
We have a huge red ant colony living in the new landscaping and I am dealing with it as we speak. I filled one of the feeders for the birds but moved it closer to the house so they wouldn't be picking up fallen seed near the fire ant treatments (which is right under the bird feeders). I got some stuff cleaned up and watered and hopefully, I can get some planting that needs to happen in the next week or so done.
We want to get things done so we can have some time to enjoy the area and our friends before we have to leave. I almost feel guilty when I leave a place and feel like I haven't taken advantage of all it has to offer, seen all the sites and culture available, but a person can only do so much.
Anyhow, better go, still have a lot on the list to do.
J is on a business trip and I want to make a dent in things before he gets home. It seems that while I keep knocking things off the list there are always more that pile up behind them. I am making headway and things are starting to look better. J got the entire garage done before he left and it looks so much better. Now we are just working on one room of the house at a time.
I was able to get out in the yard and get a few things done yesterday after spending a good part of the afternoon walking in the woods looking for geocaches. The caches were actually pretty good, and the exercise was great. I had a lot of fun, except for the fact that I was out on my own and it would have been more fun with someone for company.
We have a huge red ant colony living in the new landscaping and I am dealing with it as we speak. I filled one of the feeders for the birds but moved it closer to the house so they wouldn't be picking up fallen seed near the fire ant treatments (which is right under the bird feeders). I got some stuff cleaned up and watered and hopefully, I can get some planting that needs to happen in the next week or so done.
We want to get things done so we can have some time to enjoy the area and our friends before we have to leave. I almost feel guilty when I leave a place and feel like I haven't taken advantage of all it has to offer, seen all the sites and culture available, but a person can only do so much.
Anyhow, better go, still have a lot on the list to do.
J is on a business trip and I want to make a dent in things before he gets home. It seems that while I keep knocking things off the list there are always more that pile up behind them. I am making headway and things are starting to look better. J got the entire garage done before he left and it looks so much better. Now we are just working on one room of the house at a time.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Weather Unfortunates
The skies are clear, the temperature is warm and the breeze is lovely. I can't open the windows and enjoy it all because the pine pollen has started its 5-21 day drop in this area and you don't want to have every surface in your house covered in it, believe me. Why is the nicest weather of the season always trumped by this issue.....grr
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Construction Again
Not long after the second lot across the street from us was cleared and construction started, a third lot (next to it) was cleared. This was almost a year ago. Since then the second lot house has been built, sold and moved into. The third lot has just sat empty.
Of course, now that we will be putting our house on the market in month or so, they have to come out and start leveling it for a foundation....
They are also supposed to be repairing and repaving our entire street in March but they have only just started. At first we were glad to see we were on the top of the list because that meant it would be done before we put the house up...with the way they are creeping about doing it, it won't be started until the day we go on the market.
Of course, now that we will be putting our house on the market in month or so, they have to come out and start leveling it for a foundation....
They are also supposed to be repairing and repaving our entire street in March but they have only just started. At first we were glad to see we were on the top of the list because that meant it would be done before we put the house up...with the way they are creeping about doing it, it won't be started until the day we go on the market.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Don't Forget To Click
Hey everyone...don't forget to go to this link once a day and click on all the colored tabs to support the different organizations. All it costs you is a bit of time, but it can make a huge difference. I have installed a button to the Animal Rescue version on my sidebar but all the colored tabs need support so don't be stingy with your clicking....haha.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Forecaster sees active Atlantic hurricane season - Yahoo! News
Don't they say this every year? Isn't it a bit like crying wolf?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Moving News
Well, it looks like we are moving this summer. We have a employment and educational (not to mention, traveling) opportunity that has opened up for us back in Japan where I was going to school before. We decided to take the "twice in a lifetime" opportunity to live in another country for a while, and since we have already been there before, we have friends and experiences to return to.
We are both very excited about the move even though we haven't been here nearly long enough and of course the move is going to require a lot of work and preparation. We have already started jumping though all the loops of process required to get things rolling. Thankfully, because we have been there before, we at least are a step ahead.
We are planning on taking Chase (our cat) back with us and Japan is one of the stricker countries to bring animals into. She is turning out to be the toughest part of the preparation so far but things are moving along.
I need to start reviewing my Japanese books so I can communicate a bit when we get there.
We are both very excited about the move even though we haven't been here nearly long enough and of course the move is going to require a lot of work and preparation. We have already started jumping though all the loops of process required to get things rolling. Thankfully, because we have been there before, we at least are a step ahead.
We are planning on taking Chase (our cat) back with us and Japan is one of the stricker countries to bring animals into. She is turning out to be the toughest part of the preparation so far but things are moving along.
I need to start reviewing my Japanese books so I can communicate a bit when we get there.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Commercial Peeves Redux
Okay, the chick on the new Quiznos commercial that says the sandwich is full of lots of meat and that is what a real woman wants drives me nuts when she laughs....she is a freak!!!
Has anyone else noticed that Wendy's is using the Femmes Blister in the Sun in the background of their new commercials? They aren't using the words, only the music....hmmm, I wonder why?
Has anyone else noticed that Wendy's is using the Femmes Blister in the Sun in the background of their new commercials? They aren't using the words, only the music....hmmm, I wonder why?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Bottled Water
I understand the use of little bottled waters for people on the go, in the car, or at sporting events, but what I don't understand is people buying cases at a time of 8-12 oz bottles of water to drink at home....what happened to using a gallon jug and pouring it into a glass or using a filter either at the sink or in the refrigerator and pouring it into a glass....I just see our landfills (because you know most of these people are not recycling these little bottles*) filling up with empty bottles of water that could have been avoided if people weren't so stupid.*While I am a diligent recycler, out off all my friends, I am the only one that does, so I figure the ratio has to be about the same across the world...sad to say.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Sad Birdie News
This morning I woke up to a dead Carolina Chickdee in our sun room. I couldn't figure out how it got in there but then I saw that the screen door to the sun room was open about 2 inches and the slider was open to vent the room. Apparently, J left it open the night before and this little guy must have gotten in the room, couldn't get out and Chase terrorized it until it died from shock, I am assuming since it wasn't really torn up at all.
I was so sad to see it....Chase seemed a bit proud of the whole thing, and there were little feathers in the room, so I am sure it tried for a while to get away. Poor thing.
I was so sad to see it....Chase seemed a bit proud of the whole thing, and there were little feathers in the room, so I am sure it tried for a while to get away. Poor thing.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Carvinal and Costa Rica
Did you see on the news how a tourist on a Carnival ship killed a robber in Costa Rica last week? At first the news was reporting that they were tourists from our boat (the Legend) but it turns out that they were on the Liberty but on the same cruise itinerary as we had...8 days in the Caribbean and Central America. That could have been us....huh?
I thought it was interesting how the news made a big deal out of how the guy was a retired military person with self defense training...like he was some sort of lethal weapon or something...if you ask me, the lethal weapon was the idiot holding the gun to begin with.
I thought it was interesting how the news made a big deal out of how the guy was a retired military person with self defense training...like he was some sort of lethal weapon or something...if you ask me, the lethal weapon was the idiot holding the gun to begin with.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Still Waiting
After weeks and weeks of pain in the ass tactics, my mother finally received the Ipod Nano that I got her for her birthday in November. Amazon had to send it twice to get it there. A month later, the first one they sent (which we assumed had been stolen since it wasn't insured) arrived and she sent it to me to deal with (which is what I told her to do).
Starting in January, I have been emailing Amazon to get a return label sent to me so I can return this item to them (since they didn't charge me for the second one to be sent, it would be stealing to keep this one). They promptly wrote back that a return label would be in the mail.....
It is now March and I still don't have a return label. I emailed them a third time this morning to see if they can get on the ball...
Starting in January, I have been emailing Amazon to get a return label sent to me so I can return this item to them (since they didn't charge me for the second one to be sent, it would be stealing to keep this one). They promptly wrote back that a return label would be in the mail.....
It is now March and I still don't have a return label. I emailed them a third time this morning to see if they can get on the ball...
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Lunar Eclipse
We were able to see the lunar eclipse here on the east coast at a local park but we had some clouds between 6 and 7 (when it was in full eclipse so I didn't get any good pics of it then). After we watched it come out of the eclipse a bit, we went home so I could get our telescope out and check it out further. We have a lot of trees around our house so that is why we went to the park initially so by the time it had really cleared the trees here at the house, it was back to a full moon.I took some pictures of the full moon with my digital camera by just holding it up to the lens on the telescope...not the best way to do it I am sure but they still came out okay... as you can see from this photo.
It always amazes me when I look at the moon through our telescope because you can really see the details (more so on an not full night) and it makes you realize just how small we all are. I need to get the telescope out more...maybe if my sis and mom are able to visit before we move. I know they would love to look through it.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Is It Possible...
That Blogrolling's "recently updated" function is working again? I don't want to get excited yet, but I have noticed over the last few days that some blogs are showing as being recently updated and it was not because of me (my pinging of all of your blogs ended after only a day or so of effort on my part).
I have been self pinging my own blogs for sometime now because I am convinced that Bloggers ability to do it has not be available. The Autopinger website does it automatically for me but I do it manually as well when I update, just for the fun of it. I usually only hit about 7 of the main ones and it only takes a second.
Anyhow, if Blogrolling is working again, I will be thrilled (although it still doesn't reflect Wordpress or Typepad blogs correctly). I won't miss updates like I have been when I am forced to go at it on my own.
I have been self pinging my own blogs for sometime now because I am convinced that Bloggers ability to do it has not be available. The Autopinger website does it automatically for me but I do it manually as well when I update, just for the fun of it. I usually only hit about 7 of the main ones and it only takes a second.
Anyhow, if Blogrolling is working again, I will be thrilled (although it still doesn't reflect Wordpress or Typepad blogs correctly). I won't miss updates like I have been when I am forced to go at it on my own.
Dental Work
I noticed a few weeks ago that Chase (our cat) had really bad breath. I got out our little finger toothbrush thingy so I could give her a cleaning and realized that her gums were very imflamed. It looked like it was time to have her teeth done again.
So I called my friend to get a number of a good vet and called to make an appointment. Yesterday I took her in to get the work done. I ended up also having to do blood work on her since she is getting older and we had her microchipped as well.
I picked her up late yesterday afternoon. She seems fine although her cheeks looked a bit puffy all evening. I softened up some hard cat food for her and she ate (good sign). They sent me home with some pain killers for her because it seems they had to extract a tooth (that might be the foul smell). She seems to be doing okay and other than administering her pain killers, I haven't tried to see in her mouth yet. I will give it a few days and then I might try to see which tooth they ended up taking out...
I had to explain to them before they saw her, that she was not subjected to abuse...just a really bad hair cut.
So I called my friend to get a number of a good vet and called to make an appointment. Yesterday I took her in to get the work done. I ended up also having to do blood work on her since she is getting older and we had her microchipped as well.
I picked her up late yesterday afternoon. She seems fine although her cheeks looked a bit puffy all evening. I softened up some hard cat food for her and she ate (good sign). They sent me home with some pain killers for her because it seems they had to extract a tooth (that might be the foul smell). She seems to be doing okay and other than administering her pain killers, I haven't tried to see in her mouth yet. I will give it a few days and then I might try to see which tooth they ended up taking out...
I had to explain to them before they saw her, that she was not subjected to abuse...just a really bad hair cut.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Turn Around Day
If you can believe it, I have been too sick over the last few days to even think about sitting at my computer for any length of time. Normally, a head cold (when I get them which is not often) makes me feel bad for about 3 days and then I start to feel better as it moves into my chest.
Three days ago, I thought I was going to start to feel better and each day, the turnaround day did not come. Yesterday, after another horrible night of no sleep (even on Nyquil), I decided I better see if things were going to need some help. After making some phone calls to the advice nurse and our insurance, I decided to see a doctor to make sure I was okay.
Normally I wouldn't go to a doctor for a cold...they can't do anything for you and if they do give you something, it just so that you don't feel like you wasted your time, but in reality, colds and flu just have to run their course. My problem was that this cold didn't seem to be running its course and if anything, it was getting worse, and I was feeling really drugged up. The advice nurse confirmed what I had predicted (my cold had turned ugly), and her recommendation to get to urgent care was all I needed.
I saw the doctor yesterday and it turns out that I have a sinus infection. I have never had one before, so it explains why this "cold" seemed so different. This one hurt really bad from day one and I have never had a "cold" do that to me before. This one also started in my chest, which is also not normal for me.
Regardless, I am on antibiotics and prescription strength cold medicine now and last night, I actually slept through the night without feeling completely doped up. It was fabulous. I am starting to feel better today but I am going to continue to take it easy until I kick this thing. I had to get up early this morning to take the cat in for dental work but I am planning to eat some breakfast, take some medicine and hit the couch with a box of kleenex, my afghan and a pillow. If I can get some more rest in, I am sure I will be feeling better soon.
The antibiotics seem to be giving my body the kick it needed to beat this little bug up and as soon I can hear again, I will know for sure that I am on my way to recovery....haha.
Three days ago, I thought I was going to start to feel better and each day, the turnaround day did not come. Yesterday, after another horrible night of no sleep (even on Nyquil), I decided I better see if things were going to need some help. After making some phone calls to the advice nurse and our insurance, I decided to see a doctor to make sure I was okay.
Normally I wouldn't go to a doctor for a cold...they can't do anything for you and if they do give you something, it just so that you don't feel like you wasted your time, but in reality, colds and flu just have to run their course. My problem was that this cold didn't seem to be running its course and if anything, it was getting worse, and I was feeling really drugged up. The advice nurse confirmed what I had predicted (my cold had turned ugly), and her recommendation to get to urgent care was all I needed.
I saw the doctor yesterday and it turns out that I have a sinus infection. I have never had one before, so it explains why this "cold" seemed so different. This one hurt really bad from day one and I have never had a "cold" do that to me before. This one also started in my chest, which is also not normal for me.
Regardless, I am on antibiotics and prescription strength cold medicine now and last night, I actually slept through the night without feeling completely doped up. It was fabulous. I am starting to feel better today but I am going to continue to take it easy until I kick this thing. I had to get up early this morning to take the cat in for dental work but I am planning to eat some breakfast, take some medicine and hit the couch with a box of kleenex, my afghan and a pillow. If I can get some more rest in, I am sure I will be feeling better soon.
The antibiotics seem to be giving my body the kick it needed to beat this little bug up and as soon I can hear again, I will know for sure that I am on my way to recovery....haha.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Spitting
I wish that someone had taught me to spit properly when I was a kid. If I knew how, I would be able to get rid of this terrible phlegm without having to gag myself to death over the sink. It makes me ill that J can just sniff up, do that weird back of the throat noise and then spit it out...same thing if he has to cough. I am stuck with tears running down my eyes, my tongue hanging out over the sink trying not to bring lunch up with the rest of it....grrr, sometimes I hate being a girl.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Butched Updated
I butched the lion kitty today. Since it has started to warm up, I know she will be shedding that coat like crazy so I decided to get a jump on it. I put her in the bathtub with me (no water, just a place to contain the hair) and I used scissors, laid her on her back and went to town....she is much smaller now but looks a bit butched....cat fur never looks good when it is cut and it is even worse when you use scissors. I just didn't feel like dealing with the clippers and the scissors are much faster and she is used to them. I ended up covered in hair but fortunately I was wearing clothes that were going in the wash anyhow.
She pretty much purred through the whole ordeal...she was just thrilled to have me holding her and she is comfortable on her back because I put her on her back all the time in my lap. Hope it doesn't get too cold again or she will have to huddle in that bed of hers to stay warm because that snow coat she was wearing is GONE!!!!!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Quite the List
Got this one from Chatty...not a bad list (of course, it currently reflects my specifics, please change the formatting to your own if you do it).
Look at the list of books below.
*Bold the ones you’ve read
*Italicize the ones you want to read
*Leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in.
If you are reading this, tag your it!
1.The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2.Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3.To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100.Ulysses (James Joyce)
Look at the list of books below.
*Bold the ones you’ve read
*Italicize the ones you want to read
*Leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in.
If you are reading this, tag your it!
1.The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2.Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3.To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100.Ulysses (James Joyce)
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Repetition
Is is strange that when I find an article of clothing that fits welll and looks good on me, I buy several identical ones in different colors? I just got 5 new shirts in that are just like these two I purchased before from Target and I love them...the colors and the feel of them. I did the initial wash and now I am wearing one of them...this one in fact....only that is not me....
Is It Here Yet?
Today, you would think that spring has sprung....but it might only be fooling us. We are expected to get into the high 60s today but then it will be back down to freezing temps tonight and tomorrow night. Tomorrow won't even break the 60s....I think we have made the turn but that doesn't mean we won't have a few days here and there that are back in the throws of winter. I guess it means I am not going to get my big snow dump that I was hoping for but who knows...we could a freak thing, huh?
Lastly, I guess it means that I will be forced to get off my butt and get this yard looking nicer...our time away from the duties is over...haha.
Lastly, I guess it means that I will be forced to get off my butt and get this yard looking nicer...our time away from the duties is over...haha.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Geocaching Blues
I found 5 caches yesterday while I was out and about. 3 of them were in parking lots and totally sucked. One of the many reasons I won't miss geocaching in this state when we leave. I am thinking I might just archive all of mine and take them with me because these people who think that micros in the forest or in the littered backs of stores are exciting obviously can't appreciate a quality cache...grrrrr.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Sounds Like...
Why is it that the music to the regular Law and Order reminds me so much of the show LA Law from when I was a kid?
How is it that with all the other things going on in our country and around the world, the fact that some stupid rich female celebrity shaved her head is reason for "Breaking News" on CNN?
How can movie trailers for new movies really feel okay about saying "the best animated movie of the year" when we are only in February? Isn't it the only animated movie from this year?
Is it any surprise that the muffler is rusted out on my new truck 900 miles after the end of the manufacturer's warranty?
How is it that with all the other things going on in our country and around the world, the fact that some stupid rich female celebrity shaved her head is reason for "Breaking News" on CNN?
How can movie trailers for new movies really feel okay about saying "the best animated movie of the year" when we are only in February? Isn't it the only animated movie from this year?
Is it any surprise that the muffler is rusted out on my new truck 900 miles after the end of the manufacturer's warranty?
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Peanut Butter Fiasco
Okay, I understand that there is a "recall" on certain peanut butter because of samonella or ecoli (this has been misreported today so who knows) and if a person has access to the Internet, they can find out exactly what brand and which lot number.
Thing is that the jack@ss local news stations want to get people to watch their broadcasts as 11pm so instead of caring about the public (those that might not have cable or Internet), they tell everyone to check in at 11 for the information.
Can I just say jack@sses again!!!
Thing is that the jack@ss local news stations want to get people to watch their broadcasts as 11pm so instead of caring about the public (those that might not have cable or Internet), they tell everyone to check in at 11 for the information.
Can I just say jack@sses again!!!
Roses
I went out yesterday afternoon to look at some properties with our realtor (long story), and didn't get back until around 4:30pm....when I did, there were a dozen roses in a vase waiting for me on the doorstep.
J must have ordered them while on his trip...makes me feel good to know he was thinking of me being alone on V day. I talked to him on the phone last night and thanked him for such a nice surprise.
They smell so great and just brighten the whole place up. I can't look at them without thinking of him. FLFA
J must have ordered them while on his trip...makes me feel good to know he was thinking of me being alone on V day. I talked to him on the phone last night and thanked him for such a nice surprise.
They smell so great and just brighten the whole place up. I can't look at them without thinking of him. FLFA
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Midnight Salad
When I was a kid, I would spend the night, quite often in fact, at my cousin's house. There were lots of weekends that I spent at their house....weird because now that I think about it, he hardly ever spent the night at my house...it was always their house that we had sleep overs at.
I could go into a whole soap opera explanation of how our families were connected, both legally and not legally but I am sure you would start to think we were from some hills in the SE of the US if I did that. All you really need to know is that our parents were very good friends as well as relatives (for a time) and that meant that my cousins and I grew up around each other (we even lived with them for a while when I was in jr high).
I always enjoyed my nights at their house...even if I hadn't planned ahead to stay the night, I could fit in my cousin's clothes and my aunt always had lots of silky cool pjs for me to choose from. Sometimes my aunt and uncle would put out the hidabed couch and sleep in the living room with us kids and we would stay up late watching horror movies (what else was on late in the late 70s/early 80s, huh?).
Without fail, everyone would fall asleep except for me and my uncle (think there were night owl genes involved here because my bio father was also a night owl). Around midnight we would get the munchies and he would get up and make a salad of iceburg lettuce, chunks of ham and blue cheese dressing. I swear that was the best salad I have ever had....and that time with him sharing that simple salad will always be a memory I cherish. I wonder if he remembers it too.
I could go into a whole soap opera explanation of how our families were connected, both legally and not legally but I am sure you would start to think we were from some hills in the SE of the US if I did that. All you really need to know is that our parents were very good friends as well as relatives (for a time) and that meant that my cousins and I grew up around each other (we even lived with them for a while when I was in jr high).
I always enjoyed my nights at their house...even if I hadn't planned ahead to stay the night, I could fit in my cousin's clothes and my aunt always had lots of silky cool pjs for me to choose from. Sometimes my aunt and uncle would put out the hidabed couch and sleep in the living room with us kids and we would stay up late watching horror movies (what else was on late in the late 70s/early 80s, huh?).
Without fail, everyone would fall asleep except for me and my uncle (think there were night owl genes involved here because my bio father was also a night owl). Around midnight we would get the munchies and he would get up and make a salad of iceburg lettuce, chunks of ham and blue cheese dressing. I swear that was the best salad I have ever had....and that time with him sharing that simple salad will always be a memory I cherish. I wonder if he remembers it too.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
On My Own
I have been getting some awesome sleep the last few nights....and I know why. J is on a short business trip and I have the bed to myself. I put both head pillows in the middle of the bed and then the two leg pillows on each side. I can roll from position to position without having to do my usual "flip" and I guess that means that I am not waking up as much. It has been so nice.
I'll be glad when he gets home cause I miss him tons but I right now I am enjoying not having to do the "flip".
I'll be glad when he gets home cause I miss him tons but I right now I am enjoying not having to do the "flip".
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saving Water
Do automatic flushing toilets really save any water if they flush 4 or 5 times while you are still in the stall?
Friday, February 09, 2007
Is This True?
According to my January issue of Fitness magazine, nearly 25 percent of Americans say they've ironed their clothes while wearing them....
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Grandma's Pillowcases
Yesterday in my quest to remove all poison ivy/oak oil from my house, I did all the bedding. We have 4 pillows on our bed...one for each head and then one for each person's legs. The leg pillows sit on top of the bed and are visible. I always put one of my grandmother's pillow cases on those pillows because they are nice to look at and since they are out in the open, I figure what better place to have them.
For as long as I can remember my grandmother has embroidered. Mostly pillowcases but table runners, baby quilts and other items have made it in the mix as well. I started my own embroidery kit so I could do it with her when I was still in elementary school and I cross stitch now (and I am sure this comes from her). I have lots of pillowcases for my home that she has embroidered for me. I joke that I have enough to change cases everyday and not repeat for a year but I don't have that many...
I was thinking yesterday, when I was changing the cases on our leg pillows, that I will be bummed when these cases wear out. I have some quilts in my closet that were made by one of my great grandmothers and I don't use them like I used to because I don't want them to wear out. My great grandmothers would think it was weird that I have these beautiful quilts that I don't use for fear of wearing them out (but when they made them, they probably didn't think they would become antiques and worth money).
I am sure my grandma would think it was strange if I didn't use her pillowcases too, but then if I ever handed them down to the next generation, they would probably end up stored like my quilts so they wouldn't get worn out...weird how the value changes. Is it more valuable as something being used or is it more valuable hanging out in pristine condition in my closet?
Anyhow I decided I would make a quilt out of the embroidered parts when and if the pillowcases wear out. I have never made a quilt before and I don't really need another project right now so hopefully they will last for quite some time.
For as long as I can remember my grandmother has embroidered. Mostly pillowcases but table runners, baby quilts and other items have made it in the mix as well. I started my own embroidery kit so I could do it with her when I was still in elementary school and I cross stitch now (and I am sure this comes from her). I have lots of pillowcases for my home that she has embroidered for me. I joke that I have enough to change cases everyday and not repeat for a year but I don't have that many...
I was thinking yesterday, when I was changing the cases on our leg pillows, that I will be bummed when these cases wear out. I have some quilts in my closet that were made by one of my great grandmothers and I don't use them like I used to because I don't want them to wear out. My great grandmothers would think it was weird that I have these beautiful quilts that I don't use for fear of wearing them out (but when they made them, they probably didn't think they would become antiques and worth money).
I am sure my grandma would think it was strange if I didn't use her pillowcases too, but then if I ever handed them down to the next generation, they would probably end up stored like my quilts so they wouldn't get worn out...weird how the value changes. Is it more valuable as something being used or is it more valuable hanging out in pristine condition in my closet?
Anyhow I decided I would make a quilt out of the embroidered parts when and if the pillowcases wear out. I have never made a quilt before and I don't really need another project right now so hopefully they will last for quite some time.
Warning....Updated
Make sure you are changing your Blogger password regularly...seems to be a rash of h@ckers using a forced password program to hack people's account. Since Blogger doesn't have a lock out on their password system, the h@ckers can just keep trying until they get it right...I have seen at least 8 blogs today that were broken into in the last two days....and I am sure there are more.
Don't know why anyone would do this to someone else...just lame but then some people are just lame.
Update:
Seems that most of those claiming to being hacked were actually deleted by Blogger for TOS violations. At least one was really hacked and the password issue is still relevant but at least it is not a epidemic of hacking going on...
Don't know why anyone would do this to someone else...just lame but then some people are just lame.
Update:
Seems that most of those claiming to being hacked were actually deleted by Blogger for TOS violations. At least one was really hacked and the password issue is still relevant but at least it is not a epidemic of hacking going on...
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Stamping Out The Oil
Looks like J might have gotten either poison ivy or oak so I am doing a lot of laundry today because who knows what clothes he was wearing when it happened and what he might have touched in our house.
I already went through the entire house with a rag soaked with alcohol on it so I could get rid of the oils if they are any anything, like doorknobs, lightswitches, and flushers.
Ugh!!! I hate this stuff but we both get it pretty bad so the precautions are worth the effort.
I already went through the entire house with a rag soaked with alcohol on it so I could get rid of the oils if they are any anything, like doorknobs, lightswitches, and flushers.
Ugh!!! I hate this stuff but we both get it pretty bad so the precautions are worth the effort.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Today Is The Day
Whooooeeee!!! Superbowl Sunday is here. I will get going on that soon, but I have to get some stuff done around here before heading over to our friends for the big game. I will have my socks and sweatshirt on and hopefully they will help to push the Bears to a Superbowl Victory!!!!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Snow Updated!!!
We finally got snow this morning!!!! We only had a sprinkling earlier and then it started to really snow a bit. Now we have about 2 inches but the rain has started so I am sure it won't last long. I managed to get outside and take some photos and video before my camcorder batteries died. At least I have some footage...will probably stay in today, except for picking up my niece later this afternoon and going to the gym after lunch.
Redundant
I have become a bit addicted to the Blogger Help Forum's. I try to post helpful information when I can, but this morning has been ridiculous.
Apparently a huge amount of people are having problems. These could be a server problem at Blogger, or they could be a migration from old to new problem. Thing is, everyone is posting their error message on the forums in all the different topic areas (some of which are not for problems) and no one seems to be reading the fact that EVERYONE is having this problem (meaning it is something that Blogger is probably working on and won't be fixed until it is fixed by them). There are hundreds of posts about this same exact problem and people are all pissed because it is not fixed yet.
Seems a few people have found relief by reloading their pages, or even by upgrading to the new templates while others have mentioned that reverting back to classic templates has helped them. I know that I would be irritated if I was having a problem, and I might even go to the forums to see what was up, but if I saw that everyone was having the same problem, I would just figure that Blogger was working on it and I would just have to wait. I definitely wouldn't start modifying my template without an indication from Blogger that I should do so.
It is amazing to me that when there is a problem online, people get mad so fast when it is not completely fixed in a matter of minutes. The instantaneousness of the web has made us all a bit less patient.
Apparently a huge amount of people are having problems. These could be a server problem at Blogger, or they could be a migration from old to new problem. Thing is, everyone is posting their error message on the forums in all the different topic areas (some of which are not for problems) and no one seems to be reading the fact that EVERYONE is having this problem (meaning it is something that Blogger is probably working on and won't be fixed until it is fixed by them). There are hundreds of posts about this same exact problem and people are all pissed because it is not fixed yet.
Seems a few people have found relief by reloading their pages, or even by upgrading to the new templates while others have mentioned that reverting back to classic templates has helped them. I know that I would be irritated if I was having a problem, and I might even go to the forums to see what was up, but if I saw that everyone was having the same problem, I would just figure that Blogger was working on it and I would just have to wait. I definitely wouldn't start modifying my template without an indication from Blogger that I should do so.
It is amazing to me that when there is a problem online, people get mad so fast when it is not completely fixed in a matter of minutes. The instantaneousness of the web has made us all a bit less patient.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wool Coat
How exciting is my life that I am blogging about my coat???
Well, today I broke down and finally bought a "dress coat". I have a ton of coats, in fact I have a pile of them in a goodwill box on their way out the door. Coats are very hard for me to give up but reality is that when it comes to actually wearing a coat, there are only a couple that I really wear and the rest are just there for reserve.
I am trying to be better about not hoarding things and moving into a simpler life but it is hard for me....I am by nature a pack rat and keeping things for "just in case" is a motto of my life.
So, you are probably wondering, how buying a new coat is working on simplifying things...well, I haven't had a coat that I could wear with nice clothes or dresses, since I don't know...highschool, when I would wear recycled black trenchcoats? So I needed to get a nice wool coat with the idea, that this would free me up to get rid of three others that I have just had in reserve.
It seemed like I was in Burlington Coat Factory forever but I ended up with a 275 dollar Anne Klein wool/cashmere coat for about 100 bucks and I am happy with the purchase. I don't know that I will wear this coat all the time, but it will definitely fit the bill for the long term dressy needs, and now I can hand off the "wannabe" letterman's jacket, the 80's fleece, and the ugly OD green coat I used to wear in the 90's with big sweaters and leggings....(yes, I wore them too). I am sure someone else will find these coats very useful in the cold days we have left this winter, and I will feel a bit free-er.
Well, today I broke down and finally bought a "dress coat". I have a ton of coats, in fact I have a pile of them in a goodwill box on their way out the door. Coats are very hard for me to give up but reality is that when it comes to actually wearing a coat, there are only a couple that I really wear and the rest are just there for reserve.
I am trying to be better about not hoarding things and moving into a simpler life but it is hard for me....I am by nature a pack rat and keeping things for "just in case" is a motto of my life.
So, you are probably wondering, how buying a new coat is working on simplifying things...well, I haven't had a coat that I could wear with nice clothes or dresses, since I don't know...highschool, when I would wear recycled black trenchcoats? So I needed to get a nice wool coat with the idea, that this would free me up to get rid of three others that I have just had in reserve.
It seemed like I was in Burlington Coat Factory forever but I ended up with a 275 dollar Anne Klein wool/cashmere coat for about 100 bucks and I am happy with the purchase. I don't know that I will wear this coat all the time, but it will definitely fit the bill for the long term dressy needs, and now I can hand off the "wannabe" letterman's jacket, the 80's fleece, and the ugly OD green coat I used to wear in the 90's with big sweaters and leggings....(yes, I wore them too). I am sure someone else will find these coats very useful in the cold days we have left this winter, and I will feel a bit free-er.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Taxes Are Coming
Well, the season is upon us again. I have not actually started dealing with it full scale but it is on the back of my mind. I have purchased my software, mostly I am waiting for tax paperwork to come in the mail and for the motivation to the year end filing to locate all the necessary components.....haha.
I am usually a Turbotax user but in the last few years have gotten very irritated with their new methods. The basic version (which is the only version I have ever used) has progressively started to offer less and less for those that need to do more than a 1040EZ. Since we own a house that we live in and own one we rent one out in another state, our taxes can be slightly confusing (not as confusing as they would be if we had a business or something). I have recently found that Turbotax has not been helping me as much as it should and that pisses me off. I mean to offer something for a price and then to slowly reduce what you are offering but not lowering the price any is just plain deceitful.
So I looked into my options and decided to go with Taxcut this year. Their prices differences are not based on what they offer me regarding my federal taxes but based on whether you want to e-file (which I don't) or if you have state taxes to do (which I don't). I read a review/comparison on the two and Taxcut won out. I am hoping that I will get all questions asked that I need to do my taxes correctly this year and will feel justified in my decision to dump Turbotax.
I am usually a Turbotax user but in the last few years have gotten very irritated with their new methods. The basic version (which is the only version I have ever used) has progressively started to offer less and less for those that need to do more than a 1040EZ. Since we own a house that we live in and own one we rent one out in another state, our taxes can be slightly confusing (not as confusing as they would be if we had a business or something). I have recently found that Turbotax has not been helping me as much as it should and that pisses me off. I mean to offer something for a price and then to slowly reduce what you are offering but not lowering the price any is just plain deceitful.
So I looked into my options and decided to go with Taxcut this year. Their prices differences are not based on what they offer me regarding my federal taxes but based on whether you want to e-file (which I don't) or if you have state taxes to do (which I don't). I read a review/comparison on the two and Taxcut won out. I am hoping that I will get all questions asked that I need to do my taxes correctly this year and will feel justified in my decision to dump Turbotax.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Pinging Issues
Well, as you all know (at least those of you that use Blogrolling) there has been a problem lately with their "recently updated" feature not working. In reality, it works fine, the problem seems to be either that Blogger is no longer sending out pings that they can read (I think this might be a New Blogger issue), or they are being bombarded with spam pings and legit ones are being dropped. I have tested the system by pinging the manually for all of my updates (as well as blogs that I read) and those go through fine and the "recently updated" feature seems to function fine.
I started noticing that recently my RSS feeds (this turns out to be partly because the RSS address on New Blogger is different than on Old Blogger) of my blog weren't updating on My Yahoo much and I am trying to get more traffic (even put my main blog on FuelMyBlog). I listed my blog with Yahoo and Google, and have been proactive in trying to get this "recently updated" issue fixed. I have become even more convinced that there is a New Blogger pinging problem. I don't think that their pings to even Weblogs or Technorati are working either. That is why I went to Autopinger yesterday.
I signed up for a free account and put all my blogs into their automated system where I could pick and choose which services would be pinged (and they ping EVERYBODY). I also ping manually through them each time I update one of my blogs just to be as current as I can. It has become part of my blogging routine. I turn off the services that are of the lowest percentages (usually indicates a problem with their system), and a lot of the non-english services (I keep at least two of the Japanese ones but turn off most of the others).
Anyhow, I thought I would share news of this service because it seems that my pings from them are getting through to Blogrolling with no problem and my blogs are reflecting the correct "recently updated" information. I figured that some of you might want to sign your blogs up for this service so that your blogs would show as "recently updated" as well since Blogger doesn't seem to be doing it for us right now.
Note: There is another service called Pingomatic that you can use for manual pings but I like the fact that if I forget to do it manually with Autopinger, they will eventually do it for me (I think it is at least once an hour).
I started noticing that recently my RSS feeds (this turns out to be partly because the RSS address on New Blogger is different than on Old Blogger) of my blog weren't updating on My Yahoo much and I am trying to get more traffic (even put my main blog on FuelMyBlog). I listed my blog with Yahoo and Google, and have been proactive in trying to get this "recently updated" issue fixed. I have become even more convinced that there is a New Blogger pinging problem. I don't think that their pings to even Weblogs or Technorati are working either. That is why I went to Autopinger yesterday.
I signed up for a free account and put all my blogs into their automated system where I could pick and choose which services would be pinged (and they ping EVERYBODY). I also ping manually through them each time I update one of my blogs just to be as current as I can. It has become part of my blogging routine. I turn off the services that are of the lowest percentages (usually indicates a problem with their system), and a lot of the non-english services (I keep at least two of the Japanese ones but turn off most of the others).
Anyhow, I thought I would share news of this service because it seems that my pings from them are getting through to Blogrolling with no problem and my blogs are reflecting the correct "recently updated" information. I figured that some of you might want to sign your blogs up for this service so that your blogs would show as "recently updated" as well since Blogger doesn't seem to be doing it for us right now.
Note: There is another service called Pingomatic that you can use for manual pings but I like the fact that if I forget to do it manually with Autopinger, they will eventually do it for me (I think it is at least once an hour).
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
South Park Rules!!!!
Got this from Mindsprite...had to do one of my own. Looks like me too....although I hope I am not this stocky in real life...haha.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Finally....New Floor
It's about time I got this post up...sorry for the delay.
Here are some pics of our kitchen flooring project and the final look with the new countertops and new floor both.
This is just a comparison shot from the same location as the old floor shot above. This is looking towards the pantry from the kitchen sink after the floor was finished and all molding and doors had been replaced. I think the patter is much more modern looking and now all the linoleum in the house matches.
This is the finished kitchen with new floor and new countertops. All appliances and extras are back in place. It looks so much more updated and that is what we were going for. The floor only took us the New Year weekend. Hooking the fridge's icemaker back up ended up being the hardest part of the whole thing....haha.
Here are some pics of our kitchen flooring project and the final look with the new countertops and new floor both.
This is what our kitchen basically looked like when we moved into our house. Old faux butcherblock countertops and a tan and cream plaid floor. This was a shot I took before we removed the countertops a while back, so that is why there is nothing on the counters really.
This is more of a close up of the floor (which wasn't in terrible condition but was very outdated looking). This is looking from near the kitchen sink towards our pantry. The doors are already off the pantry and everything that is normally on the floor in there is gone to another room.
We had to move the fridge, washer and dryer all into the family room, and then the stove and dishwasher into our dining room in order to do this flooring project.
This shot is during the rollout of the new floor. We had to take this 12x16 roll of linoleum and try to fit it and cut it while not tearing it...it was quite the feat and not something I would like to repeat anytime soon. Fortunately, we had done the floor in our little guest bathroom first so we kind of had an idea of how to proceed. Obviously, we didn't eat out of this kitchen for a few days, but we did have the fridge, the microwave and coffee maker plugged in, so we could do snacks and drinks.
This is just a comparison shot from the same location as the old floor shot above. This is looking towards the pantry from the kitchen sink after the floor was finished and all molding and doors had been replaced. I think the patter is much more modern looking and now all the linoleum in the house matches.
This is the finished kitchen with new floor and new countertops. All appliances and extras are back in place. It looks so much more updated and that is what we were going for. The floor only took us the New Year weekend. Hooking the fridge's icemaker back up ended up being the hardest part of the whole thing....haha.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
We Are Going To The Superbowl!!!!!
Finally, my Bears pulled off the season I have been looking for. The last couple of years, they have gotten close but not quite there. Today they put the Saints away. I am so thrilled to be watching them in the Superbowl this year!!! The socks and sweatshirt I put on during the first quarter must have been just the extra kick they needed to get past the playoff hump (haha).I hope the Superbowl ends up being an exciting game.....GOOOOOOO Bears!!!!!
The Lion Kitty
Finally, I got a couple of decent pics of the lion kitty living in my house. Her fur is so fluffy right now it is ridiculous. I hope it is keeping her warm, because as soon as it warms up a bit, it is gone (otherwise she sheds more than any cat I have ever seen). So here you go, enjoy it while you can....
Friday, January 19, 2007
New Pets
I finally got a few new fish (4 to be exact) the other day. I ended up with 3 Dalmation Lyretail Mollies and 1 black Mollie. One of the Dalmations is male and the black Mollie is male...so I have balanced out the gender issue (there are still more girls than boys but that is the way it should be). Only issue right now is that there is only one Red Wag Platy in there but I don't want to get more of them, so she will just have to suck it up unfortunately.
So anyhow, here are two pictures of the Dalmations...I couldn't get a good shot of the black one. These Lyretails don't have the really fancy dorsal fin like some of my others have had but they still look pretty nice.
So anyhow, here are two pictures of the Dalmations...I couldn't get a good shot of the black one. These Lyretails don't have the really fancy dorsal fin like some of my others have had but they still look pretty nice.
Another Blogrolling Note
Seems that if you manually ping blog rolling in their ping form on their website, it will update your links in your blogroll.
I have been checking out their forums today after all my links when "new" and it seems that what has happened to cause most of their problems is spamblogs that ping as updated and have over worked the system. They are currently working on a cure, but if you want your blogs to show as updated, the work around is to do the manual ping on blogrolling's site. I tried to the ping at Technorati and Webblog but it didn't update blogrolling. I have tested pinging at blogrolling itself and it does work.
Update: I have been manually updating all the blogs in my blogroll with blogrolling....wow. I just figure that if you updated today, you deserve to be at the top...don't know if I will do it all day, but it is fun to see them move around a bit...it has been so long.
This also means that you will look updated to anyone else that has you on their blogroll...so if you think that Blogrolling is working again...it's not...it is just me!!!
I have been checking out their forums today after all my links when "new" and it seems that what has happened to cause most of their problems is spamblogs that ping as updated and have over worked the system. They are currently working on a cure, but if you want your blogs to show as updated, the work around is to do the manual ping on blogrolling's site. I tried to the ping at Technorati and Webblog but it didn't update blogrolling. I have tested pinging at blogrolling itself and it does work.
Update: I have been manually updating all the blogs in my blogroll with blogrolling....wow. I just figure that if you updated today, you deserve to be at the top...don't know if I will do it all day, but it is fun to see them move around a bit...it has been so long.
This also means that you will look updated to anyone else that has you on their blogroll...so if you think that Blogrolling is working again...it's not...it is just me!!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
My Towel Animals
I thought these were too cute and we had a new one each night in our room....I just had to photograph them before I took them apart. Now I just need to learn how to make them...it would be fun when we have guests. The ones with sunglasses are wearing my sunglasses.
Monday, January 15, 2007
No Skin
I managed to twist off the skin on my thumb today doing quarterly maintenance on the hottub.
I was trying to remove all 39 jets from the hot tub shell so I could clean and do maintenance on them as well and two of them would not come off. I even put on rubber gloves to try to get some better grip.
It didn't start to hurt until later when I was doing dishes and trying to make dinner. Somehow, no matter how I hurt myself, it ends up being the one thing I use the most...how is that possible?
It seems that each day I am being able to get a few things done off my list since school has been over, and that has been gratifying even if a bit painful...
I was trying to remove all 39 jets from the hot tub shell so I could clean and do maintenance on them as well and two of them would not come off. I even put on rubber gloves to try to get some better grip.
It didn't start to hurt until later when I was doing dishes and trying to make dinner. Somehow, no matter how I hurt myself, it ends up being the one thing I use the most...how is that possible?
It seems that each day I am being able to get a few things done off my list since school has been over, and that has been gratifying even if a bit painful...
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Fish Tank
I wanted to post a picture of the fish tank with the new cabinet...here it is...and I think the fish like it. Now I just need to get some more fish...the ones in there look a bit lonely.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Sometimes I Wonder
Okay, we went to NY City this summer and I have had pictures and souveniors ready to put in an album for ages but I couldn't do it because I couldn't find the postcards I purchased to keep for the book...I figured I would find them eventually but had honestly looked every where that I thought they would be.
I had just about resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to do the book without them, when today, while looking for a pen in the glove box of our truck, J stumbled upon them. I am such a dork....guess that means getting that travel book done is now on my list of things to do. I really need to get pictures from our trip and the holidays uploaded to York because they are having a sale on prints until the 16th and I don't want to pay more for prints than I have to...
I had just about resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to do the book without them, when today, while looking for a pen in the glove box of our truck, J stumbled upon them. I am such a dork....guess that means getting that travel book done is now on my list of things to do. I really need to get pictures from our trip and the holidays uploaded to York because they are having a sale on prints until the 16th and I don't want to pay more for prints than I have to...
How Do They Do It?
Until recently, I haven't had my nails painted by anyone but me (or my mom when I was little). While we were on our trip, I lost all the polish on one foot while rafting in Costa Rica...and we had a formal occasion to attend a few days later. Even though I am Ms Prepared, and did think of just about everything to bring with us on the trip, I didn't bring polish or remover, so I was left to pay for it.
Since I wasn't have a complete pedicure, just a repolish, I made sure things were cleaned up and nice before going to the appointment. Basically the entire process entailed removal of old polish, a little buffing of dry skin, base coat, two coats of polish, and top coat. I think the entire thing took only 10 minutes. The technician was very quick and did a great job, and I am amazed at how well this polish stands up.
It is like having a clear coat car finish on my toenails...is it the top coat, or the type of polish that causes it to be so tough? Whatever it is, I need to buy some of this stuff for myself. I love it.
Since I wasn't have a complete pedicure, just a repolish, I made sure things were cleaned up and nice before going to the appointment. Basically the entire process entailed removal of old polish, a little buffing of dry skin, base coat, two coats of polish, and top coat. I think the entire thing took only 10 minutes. The technician was very quick and did a great job, and I am amazed at how well this polish stands up.
It is like having a clear coat car finish on my toenails...is it the top coat, or the type of polish that causes it to be so tough? Whatever it is, I need to buy some of this stuff for myself. I love it.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
It's Official
I got word yesterday....I am officially a graduate. I should be getting my diploma from my graduate school in a few weeks. Whew!!!!!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Observations
Started Ian's book "Hard Word of Life"...pretty interesting so far...definitely a fun read. I would provide a link but I can't seem to find one even on Lulu.com which is where it was published....perhaps "someone" could point interested parties in the right direction?
My gym is affiliated with a local medical center, so it has a lot of older members that are in physical therapy...it is strange to me to see old lady knees. I haven't seen a grandma like person in shorts in my family in ages...I have to say, it is pretty cute...especially when they wear pink socks with their little white Keds.
Since we are talking about the gym...when I am there, I usually have my shuffle with anything from Disturbed, to Favela Chic playing. Every once in a while I take my earphones off when I am in the locker room. I am always surprised to hear Glenn Miller playing softly over the main speakers...do they think people (even old people) can get their work out on to that music? I makes me want to read or contemplate but not work out...
I put out the new Diabetes travel bug in one of my caches the other day. I went with J to see if he could find it (the cache, not the travel bug)...he did, he is good that way. We ended up running along a new trail that I had only seen 1/2 of. It was a good thing, and I ran farther and longer than I have in a long time (without a soccer ball in front of me).
Speaking of J, the other day, I went with him and another friend on a hike in the national forest near here. The friend and I each had a GPS in our hands as we were also finding a couple of caches while we were out. J had a topomap of the area and a WWII compass that he had borrowed from the friend. I was amazed, let me say again, amazed at how well J can navigate in the woods. He would find a bearing on the map, put the map and compass away, and we would all start hiking to it (we weren't on a trail and had to cross creeks, and get under and through all sorts of bushes and trees). Everytime I would think we were a tiny bit off course, I would look at the bearing on my GPS and J would be right on target...how does he do that?
Put the fish tank on the new fish tank cabinet last night. Had to move a few things around in the family room. I might end up moving some more things around. The tank looks really awesome on the cabinet and the fish seem to like it as well. I'll post a pic later if I remember.
Got 4 packages yesterday from family for Christmas. J got this awesome workout toning bar that I think we can both use for exercise and golf swings...we'll see. It is definitely a nice addition to our home gym equipment. We got this fun game from his mom (that we even played last night) along with a few other things. Then we got this cool piece of art from my dad and his wife. I have a lot of my dad's artwork in my house (not that I couldn't use more...hint, hint) but I never had any of his wife's and this piece is one of hers. It is really great and I am so thrilled to have it.
Well, I need to get in gear...so I will have to do some more "observing" later...
My gym is affiliated with a local medical center, so it has a lot of older members that are in physical therapy...it is strange to me to see old lady knees. I haven't seen a grandma like person in shorts in my family in ages...I have to say, it is pretty cute...especially when they wear pink socks with their little white Keds.
Since we are talking about the gym...when I am there, I usually have my shuffle with anything from Disturbed, to Favela Chic playing. Every once in a while I take my earphones off when I am in the locker room. I am always surprised to hear Glenn Miller playing softly over the main speakers...do they think people (even old people) can get their work out on to that music? I makes me want to read or contemplate but not work out...
I put out the new Diabetes travel bug in one of my caches the other day. I went with J to see if he could find it (the cache, not the travel bug)...he did, he is good that way. We ended up running along a new trail that I had only seen 1/2 of. It was a good thing, and I ran farther and longer than I have in a long time (without a soccer ball in front of me).
Speaking of J, the other day, I went with him and another friend on a hike in the national forest near here. The friend and I each had a GPS in our hands as we were also finding a couple of caches while we were out. J had a topomap of the area and a WWII compass that he had borrowed from the friend. I was amazed, let me say again, amazed at how well J can navigate in the woods. He would find a bearing on the map, put the map and compass away, and we would all start hiking to it (we weren't on a trail and had to cross creeks, and get under and through all sorts of bushes and trees). Everytime I would think we were a tiny bit off course, I would look at the bearing on my GPS and J would be right on target...how does he do that?
Put the fish tank on the new fish tank cabinet last night. Had to move a few things around in the family room. I might end up moving some more things around. The tank looks really awesome on the cabinet and the fish seem to like it as well. I'll post a pic later if I remember.
Got 4 packages yesterday from family for Christmas. J got this awesome workout toning bar that I think we can both use for exercise and golf swings...we'll see. It is definitely a nice addition to our home gym equipment. We got this fun game from his mom (that we even played last night) along with a few other things. Then we got this cool piece of art from my dad and his wife. I have a lot of my dad's artwork in my house (not that I couldn't use more...hint, hint) but I never had any of his wife's and this piece is one of hers. It is really great and I am so thrilled to have it.
Well, I need to get in gear...so I will have to do some more "observing" later...
Monday, January 08, 2007
Comment Text Editing
I am posting this link as a reference to myself because it tells me how to make my comment text grammatically correct and I had to search everywhere to find it. I figure if I make it a post, at least I will have it later if I want and can do a search on my own blog for it.
Comment Text Editing Directions...the help forum couldn't be bothered to answer my questions but in posting a third time, this link came up in their cool search window and it is set up for new Blogger (which is what I needed). Yeah!!! Now if I could only get a few other tweaks going my way...I'll be good.
Comment Text Editing Directions...the help forum couldn't be bothered to answer my questions but in posting a third time, this link came up in their cool search window and it is set up for new Blogger (which is what I needed). Yeah!!! Now if I could only get a few other tweaks going my way...I'll be good.
Friday, January 05, 2007
New Cabinet
J made me this cool cabinet for our fish tank to sit on since our current fish tank stand is not looking so hot and has no place to hide the stuff.
Problem is, this cabinet is so cool looking (and it matches, in style, our buffet in our dining room) that I don't want to ruin it by putting the fish tank on it. I am afraid that the little bit of water, condensation or salt that gets out of the tank will ruin the wood. I need to find something to put between the wood and the tank to try to protect it some.
Anyhow, here are three pics of it...one as it was being made and glued and two of it finished (we had even ironed on the paper to the sliding screens). Isn't it nice?
Problem is, this cabinet is so cool looking (and it matches, in style, our buffet in our dining room) that I don't want to ruin it by putting the fish tank on it. I am afraid that the little bit of water, condensation or salt that gets out of the tank will ruin the wood. I need to find something to put between the wood and the tank to try to protect it some.
Anyhow, here are three pics of it...one as it was being made and glued and two of it finished (we had even ironed on the paper to the sliding screens). Isn't it nice?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
I Got Lucky
Okay, I know, enough about new blogger, but I have one more thing to say for now and then I will shut up about it. When I converted, it was pretty much painless, all three of my blogs have been upgraded to the new templates and besides a little glitch on where the email and pencil show up on this blog, I can't complain. Pictures upload faster, the layouts are easier to tweak (once you get comfortable with them), and the publishing is a million times faster. I also like the new spell checker, and the labels an awful lot. I have not been locked out, or completely deleted like some have.
I have been scoping out the scene on the Google Blogger Group. Some people have been completely hosed in their transfer. Yes, there are those like me, that are just trying to find out how to do some of the tweaking we did before and that is no big deal. Others have lost their entire blogs, are locked out of their blogs, have their blogs stuck between the new version and the old...all sorts of nightmares. It makes me glad that I have backed up my most important posts in case I were to lose everything.
The point of my post I guess is that there are those that do business via their blogs. Sounds like a good idea, until it goes down. Thing I don't understand is that they are getting irate at Blogger. As a free service they can't really get mad if it is not available or needs tweaking. I mean, I would hope that you would not have your entire business relying on a free service, right? This person in particular is mad because her RSS feeds are not working....her blog is functioning fine otherwise.
I guess I am just thankful that my blogs are working well, and that I am not watching dollars go out the window because I put my business in the hands of a free service with no guarantees.
I have been scoping out the scene on the Google Blogger Group. Some people have been completely hosed in their transfer. Yes, there are those like me, that are just trying to find out how to do some of the tweaking we did before and that is no big deal. Others have lost their entire blogs, are locked out of their blogs, have their blogs stuck between the new version and the old...all sorts of nightmares. It makes me glad that I have backed up my most important posts in case I were to lose everything.
The point of my post I guess is that there are those that do business via their blogs. Sounds like a good idea, until it goes down. Thing I don't understand is that they are getting irate at Blogger. As a free service they can't really get mad if it is not available or needs tweaking. I mean, I would hope that you would not have your entire business relying on a free service, right? This person in particular is mad because her RSS feeds are not working....her blog is functioning fine otherwise.
I guess I am just thankful that my blogs are working well, and that I am not watching dollars go out the window because I put my business in the hands of a free service with no guarantees.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Christmas Has Arrived
One of my MILs makes this awesome fudge every year for Christmas. It is to die for. I was excited to see the package in the mail because as soon as I saw the handwriting I knew it was in the box.She sent ours late this year because we were out of town so it arrived today....it is so good. We will have to spread it out over time so we don't end up eating a billion calories in the next few days. I am not complaining though because it is just not Christmas until the fudge gets here.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Reading Update
Got the 3rd blog upgraded and updated today. Check out Mishka's Reading for a list of the books I read in 2006 and my rating and reviews of them.
Playing Around
Have actually had some time today to do some of the things that I have wanted to do during the semester, holidays and travel.
I have backed up most of my posts from last year (at least the ones that I want to keep). I have tweaked my blog a bit, and have added labels to my last 50 posts.
I still need to tweak my other blogs and post our travel stuff to my travelblog as well as post pics from our recent kitchen floor work.
Now I am going to get some lunch going, and maybe even watch a movie I know J won't want to see while I work on a project for a friend.
I have backed up most of my posts from last year (at least the ones that I want to keep). I have tweaked my blog a bit, and have added labels to my last 50 posts.
I still need to tweak my other blogs and post our travel stuff to my travelblog as well as post pics from our recent kitchen floor work.
Now I am going to get some lunch going, and maybe even watch a movie I know J won't want to see while I work on a project for a friend.
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year Activities
We went to our friends house last night to celebrate the New Year's countdown. We watched Pay per View Pride fights until the midnight hour. It was a nice time and some great food. The only thing that wasn't great was the hour long drive home at 1am in the morning.
Needless to say, we slept in today but managed to get lots done. The kitchen in complete (I'll post pictures soon), and that was no small feat. The laundry room is up and running again, and we even got the ice maker on the refridge hooked up again.
I managed to get a B in my class so unless I have seriously miscalculated, I should be graduating soon. I will check in with the school next week and hopefully that will be confirmed.
Last but not least, I updated my blog to beta (or not beta, whichever it is now). It wasn't as bad as I thought and it publishes a lot faster but I still want to change my template but not back to the classic settings so I guess I will be stuck with this one for a while longer until some of the free templates out there start working with widgets....
Anyhow, just wanted to get this post up....Happy New Year everyone.
Needless to say, we slept in today but managed to get lots done. The kitchen in complete (I'll post pictures soon), and that was no small feat. The laundry room is up and running again, and we even got the ice maker on the refridge hooked up again.
I managed to get a B in my class so unless I have seriously miscalculated, I should be graduating soon. I will check in with the school next week and hopefully that will be confirmed.
Last but not least, I updated my blog to beta (or not beta, whichever it is now). It wasn't as bad as I thought and it publishes a lot faster but I still want to change my template but not back to the classic settings so I guess I will be stuck with this one for a while longer until some of the free templates out there start working with widgets....
Anyhow, just wanted to get this post up....Happy New Year everyone.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
A Year In Review 2006
Continued this from last year....first sentence from each month's first post for all of last year.
January
I just wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone out there in blogland.
February
The new commercial running for M&Ms Amazing candy bar with Barry White singing in the background is just too much for me...now candy is having sex????
March
We spent all day yesterday replacing the main water line into our house.
April
I went golfing with J yesterday for the second Sunday in a row.
May
Well, school is behind me for the semester.
June
Does anyone else but me have routines that they do (for small things) everytime and if they have to differ from that routine, it messes them up?
July
I got home after being gone for 2 weeks and the 5 blue bird eggs that had been in the nest for a week when I left were still there.
August
Wow...the last few days have been busy and it isn't slowing down today either.
September
I don't know about you, but whenever I have tried to tile anything in the past, I have always wanted it to be straight and neat.
October
I almost forgot.
November
Well, I got my pumpkins done...at least the scary ones, and I put them out last night.
December
The hummer has driven me away...I know that is lame but it is how I feel.
Well, that is it...a whole year of posting. I just want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year!!!!
I am converting to the new blogger tomorrow so we'll see how that goes...I am backing up posts and my template tweaks before I do it though.
January
I just wanted to say Happy New Year to everyone out there in blogland.
February
The new commercial running for M&Ms Amazing candy bar with Barry White singing in the background is just too much for me...now candy is having sex????
March
We spent all day yesterday replacing the main water line into our house.
April
I went golfing with J yesterday for the second Sunday in a row.
May
Well, school is behind me for the semester.
June
Does anyone else but me have routines that they do (for small things) everytime and if they have to differ from that routine, it messes them up?
July
I got home after being gone for 2 weeks and the 5 blue bird eggs that had been in the nest for a week when I left were still there.
August
Wow...the last few days have been busy and it isn't slowing down today either.
September
I don't know about you, but whenever I have tried to tile anything in the past, I have always wanted it to be straight and neat.
October
I almost forgot.
November
Well, I got my pumpkins done...at least the scary ones, and I put them out last night.
December
The hummer has driven me away...I know that is lame but it is how I feel.
Well, that is it...a whole year of posting. I just want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year!!!!
I am converting to the new blogger tomorrow so we'll see how that goes...I am backing up posts and my template tweaks before I do it though.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Blogrolling Issues
Since is seems that blogrolling is not functioning in the way that it was before, and I can't seem to get them to fix it, I am going to reorganize the way it lists my reads....they will be size, I think.
If anyone knows of another option besides blogrolling....not bloglines, but something I can put on my blog, let me know...right now I am not happy with them because the "recently updated" feature was the best and now it seems to be gone. I don't know that it is their fault...it might be that beta doesn't ping them correctly, but if that is the case, then they need to do some adjustments to get with the new program....oh well, I'll do the size thing for now and we'll see where things go from there.
I will be changing to Beta soon and hopefully changing my template up quite a bit. Still looking for the time to fit it in...perhaps after this weekend when I am not in the middle of replacing my kitchen floor.
If anyone knows of another option besides blogrolling....not bloglines, but something I can put on my blog, let me know...right now I am not happy with them because the "recently updated" feature was the best and now it seems to be gone. I don't know that it is their fault...it might be that beta doesn't ping them correctly, but if that is the case, then they need to do some adjustments to get with the new program....oh well, I'll do the size thing for now and we'll see where things go from there.
I will be changing to Beta soon and hopefully changing my template up quite a bit. Still looking for the time to fit it in...perhaps after this weekend when I am not in the middle of replacing my kitchen floor.
Flooring Time
I swear, we weren't in the house more than ten minutes from our trip and J was pulling the quarter round molding off our floors in the kitchen, laundry and pantry in preparation for replacement.
We rented the roller (since this is such a big piece compared to the bathroom we did) today but have it through the holidays. I'll take pics...I know it will look awesome when it is done but the task is going to be quite the undertaking to get right.
There is no break in the linoleum between the kitchen and pantry or between the kitchen and laundry...there is only a small second piece between the dining room and pantry, so that means we are going to be trying to lay, cut, adhere and straighten a piece of linoleum that is 12 ft by 16 ft....should be a lot of fun.
We rented the roller (since this is such a big piece compared to the bathroom we did) today but have it through the holidays. I'll take pics...I know it will look awesome when it is done but the task is going to be quite the undertaking to get right.
There is no break in the linoleum between the kitchen and pantry or between the kitchen and laundry...there is only a small second piece between the dining room and pantry, so that means we are going to be trying to lay, cut, adhere and straighten a piece of linoleum that is 12 ft by 16 ft....should be a lot of fun.
Saddam Is Dead
Weird to think that it actually happened. I hope that Iraq can start to move forward now that this chapter of dictatorship has been closed.
Friday, December 29, 2006
At Home
Well, we made it home last night. Got most of the unpacking done and the laundry started. J even got a soak in the hottub in before we crashed to sleep.
I found two geocaches on the way home and managed to log all the ones from the entire trip, even picked up a coin and a travelbug along the way.
We had Christmas morning this morning and J got me this awesome 5 in 1 printer...I have needed a new printer for a while (although mine works fine, it is just 10 years old and a bit outdated). I can't decide if I should purge the scanner and printer I have now and just keep the new guy, or keep them as back up....I am a pack rat by heart so I am sure it will be a tough decision. I haven't set it up yet because I am still trying to catch up from other things I have to get done today (like checking our mail at the post office)...
I better run, just wanted to let everyone know we were home and doing fine. Will blog more later about the trip and all the observations I have made lately....I am sure you can't wait...haha.
I found two geocaches on the way home and managed to log all the ones from the entire trip, even picked up a coin and a travelbug along the way.
We had Christmas morning this morning and J got me this awesome 5 in 1 printer...I have needed a new printer for a while (although mine works fine, it is just 10 years old and a bit outdated). I can't decide if I should purge the scanner and printer I have now and just keep the new guy, or keep them as back up....I am a pack rat by heart so I am sure it will be a tough decision. I haven't set it up yet because I am still trying to catch up from other things I have to get done today (like checking our mail at the post office)...
I better run, just wanted to let everyone know we were home and doing fine. Will blog more later about the trip and all the observations I have made lately....I am sure you can't wait...haha.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Alive and Well
We are back on solid ground and thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We are currently at a friend's house outside of Orlando visiting but will be heading home this morning. It will be nice to get home.
I managed to get a decent grade in my class, and with any luck, I will get notice that I am a graduate (can't wait). I did get all my Christmas cards done and sent out before we left for the trip as well as many of the other things done that were on my plate and that was a nice feeling.
I plan to blog about our trip but not right now. We are getting things together this morning to get on the road again. Fortunately, we don't have too much of a drive. We took a ton of pictures and I'll probably get those loaded up on my travel blog in the next day or so.
I have a few things on my task list when I return home but I am looking forward to getting some things done that have been moved to the back burner for a while. It will be nice.
Anyhow, just wanted to get a short post up...blogrollings updates don't seem to be functioning. I hope to get caught up with the rest of the blogging world soon.
I managed to get a decent grade in my class, and with any luck, I will get notice that I am a graduate (can't wait). I did get all my Christmas cards done and sent out before we left for the trip as well as many of the other things done that were on my plate and that was a nice feeling.
I plan to blog about our trip but not right now. We are getting things together this morning to get on the road again. Fortunately, we don't have too much of a drive. We took a ton of pictures and I'll probably get those loaded up on my travel blog in the next day or so.
I have a few things on my task list when I return home but I am looking forward to getting some things done that have been moved to the back burner for a while. It will be nice.
Anyhow, just wanted to get a short post up...blogrollings updates don't seem to be functioning. I hope to get caught up with the rest of the blogging world soon.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Finished
As of midnight EST tonight, I am done with my master's degree (assuming I did well enough in the class to get credit for it) in Computer Systems Management. I will take the spring off to get some stuff done but I will be entering the work force again some day soon....oh what a thought.
Anyhow, I just thought I would share my joy with being finished with my last class and having it all behind me.
Anyhow, I just thought I would share my joy with being finished with my last class and having it all behind me.
Traveling
Well, we were in Savannah, Georgia last night at our friend's house. It was a lot fun. We went to dinner and out on the river front in the evening. It is a beautiful town and hopefully we can go there again and spend more time. We got to see an awesome rock/blues band at one of the bars in the district downtown and the guitar playing was pretty cool. My dad would have loved it.
Tonight we are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....long drive today. We are enjoying our trip so far. I'll blog more on this later, when we are home and I have time to do it.
Just so you know, if I am not on the blog scene for the next week or so, it is just because my Internet connection is going to be quite limited.
Tonight we are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....long drive today. We are enjoying our trip so far. I'll blog more on this later, when we are home and I have time to do it.
Just so you know, if I am not on the blog scene for the next week or so, it is just because my Internet connection is going to be quite limited.
Friday, December 15, 2006
To Do List
Well here it is...what I have done and what I need to do still at least before we take off this week...
1.Clean fish tank, set fish up.
2.Clean cat box, set cat up.
3.Vacuum house.
4.Treat hot tub and strap down top.
5.Finish case study for class.
6.Finish brainstorming project for class.
7.Respond to other classmates on my conference for class.
8.Make 8 Christmas cards.
9.Pay bills.
10.Pack.
11.Get cash for trip from bank.
12.Take key to friend to house sit with.
13.Set up timers.
14. Make birthday cards.
15.Renew passport.
16.Try on clothes, and return those that I don't need.
17.Deliver friend's birthday gift.
18.Print geocaches for countries
19.Charge cameras.
20.Drop off items at Goodwill.
21.Email trip info to family.
22.Water plants.
23.Make 13 more Christmas cards.
24.Laundry
25.Print maps and directions to locations.
26.Organize, organize, organize.
That is all I can think of right now....gosh it is only a week long trip but you would think I was leaving for months...haha. I have lists started all over my house to try to my brain free to function normally. I better run, have to finish up my brainstorming project so that all I have left in my graduate degree is responding to those that might answer questions on my conference at the last minute (the final questions/answers have to be posted by the 17th).
Note: J did participate in these tasks with me....I didn't do them all by myself.
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14. Make birthday cards.
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That is all I can think of right now....gosh it is only a week long trip but you would think I was leaving for months...haha. I have lists started all over my house to try to my brain free to function normally. I better run, have to finish up my brainstorming project so that all I have left in my graduate degree is responding to those that might answer questions on my conference at the last minute (the final questions/answers have to be posted by the 17th).
Note: J did participate in these tasks with me....I didn't do them all by myself.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Due to Popular Demand
Here are two pics I took outside a few minutes ago of our Christmas lights...they are not great, but you can see that it is pitch black and our lights are the only thing out there....haha.
This is the entire front of the house from the street. I had to use the unipod to try to steady the camera enough to get this in the dark and it is still a bit blurry. The thing on the right is the holly bush we lit, then there is the entire gutter along the front, then the porch rail near the porch light and then you can barely see the Christmas tree in the dining room.
This is the Christmas tree from outside the house looking in.
We don't have any moving animals or icicles on our house but some of the ones in another neighborhood have. We'll put the lights on timers when we leave so they will still light up. The ones on the porch are the new LED lights. They are supposed to last longer, burn brighter, and use less energy. I can tell you that they burn lots brighter. They aren't cheaper and with the 96 ft we had to do across the front, I couldn't afford to get them for the gutter.
Christmas At My House
Well, I have had the decorations up for a while but was busy with school, so haven't had a chance to post them. It was very simple this year, I am not into a lot of glitter and foof anyhow so it makes for things to be very easy. Here you go!!!
This is our little key table near the front door where I put a basket of pinecones and a candle out. As you can see, it gets piled with keys and iPods as well.
This is our little Christmas tree on the buffet in our dining room. I only picked a few of our ornaments to hang on it this year since we decided to not do a full size tree. The lights are very cute on it when it gets to be dark but you can't really see them here.
This is the fireplace in the familyroom with a fire burning it it. We have three stockings out and strangely enough, those two long ones belong to J and I from when we were kids (we didn't know each other then). Isn't that weird that they are so similar? The little candle holders on the mantel next to the kokeshi doll have snowflakes on them.
This is a little wooden tree with individual ornaments that I put together every year. It sits on the TV in the family room. I think I bought it at the Monkey store (only some of you will know what that is).
This is our little key table near the front door where I put a basket of pinecones and a candle out. As you can see, it gets piled with keys and iPods as well.
I wish I could take a picture of the house from outside when the lights are on but I don't think it would turn out. We did lights along the gutter in front, down the railing of the porch and then on one bush in the yard. It looks really nice and we are about the only ones on the block with lights on this year.
I have candles all over the house and of course my little Santa cup that I have been putting milk for Santa in since I was tiny...it is too bad we won't be here to feed him this year. Perhaps he will hit our house a day or two late.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Enough Already
Okay, my blogroll is not updating so I have no idea who has updated and who hasn't....I guess I'll try to get some time later on to catch up with everyone.
I am working on one of two deliverables for class that are due this weekend before we leave on our holiday trip....I don't know why this is the hardest part.....grrr.
My manta of "last class, last class" is ringing loudly in my ears today....it is the only thing that is keeping me going.
Wish me luck, everything but the gym is on the back burner otherwise, and I still have tons of other things to do.....ugh!!!!
I am working on one of two deliverables for class that are due this weekend before we leave on our holiday trip....I don't know why this is the hardest part.....grrr.
My manta of "last class, last class" is ringing loudly in my ears today....it is the only thing that is keeping me going.
Wish me luck, everything but the gym is on the back burner otherwise, and I still have tons of other things to do.....ugh!!!!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Countertops
I have owed this post for a while...the whole ordeal was really not that bad, and it wasn't really that much money either. It worked out for us financially to let someone else do the tear out and install but we did all the plumbing, sink setting, faucet replacing, caulking and touch up painting.
This is the before picture of our butcher block looking vinyl tops (and the old linoleum that is next to go, after the holidays).
This is the work in progress. The countertops have been removed. The hole in the sheetrock in the back left corner is visible and the stove is pulled out. I vacuumed up 30 years of old construction debris from all the hidey holes.
This is the before picture of our butcher block looking vinyl tops (and the old linoleum that is next to go, after the holidays).
This is the work in progress. The countertops have been removed. The hole in the sheetrock in the back left corner is visible and the stove is pulled out. I vacuumed up 30 years of old construction debris from all the hidey holes.
This is the final (on the countertops at least). The sink and plumbing is back in, the caulking is done, the painting is finished and all the stuff has been returned to its spot.
Now imagine the room with the new floors...hopefully we'll get those done when we get past the holidays.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Snowflakes
I made some snowflakes!!!! Which remindes me that I need to do some for my front window...maybe I will do that tonight. I cut them out of origami paper and tape them to the windows of our house during the winter.
Anyhow, here are the ones I made online...
You can make one too at this site if you want.
Anyhow, here are the ones I made online...
You can make one too at this site if you want.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
It's Finally Here
I just got the notice that I need to switch to Beta but I am not going to do it until after the holidays because I know as soon as I start messing with it, I will spend hours playing with it and I just don't have that kind of time right now.
After the holidays, I will have more time than I know what to do with...we'll see if I get anything accomplished...haha.
After the holidays, I will have more time than I know what to do with...we'll see if I get anything accomplished...haha.
Getting There
Well, amazingly enough, with all the plates I have juggling in the air, I managed to get all my Christmas shopping done a couple of days ago. Yesterday, I got everything wrapped, and today I got it all boxed up to be shipped. We don't have a lot family in the area, so minus a couple gifts for close friends/family and their kids, everything we buy is shipped to the midwest or northwest.I have finished all the cards that I am not making but I still need to make some and get them sent. I might get to some of that tomorrow, assuming I get some schoolwork done somewhere.
I had J bring down the two Christmas totes we keep in the attic so I could decorate, and I actually accomplished that yesterday as well, minus the lights outside (which I need to get new lights for). We decided against getting a big tree this year since we will be gone part of the time, but I did decorate our little Oki tree and put it up on our buffet in our dining room. It looks lovely, and once we get the lights outside done, it will be complete.
We are supposed to attend a tree trimming party this weekend and it will be great to see some friends and celebrate before our trip. We'll be home in time for New Year's Eve and I am hearing that there might even be a party to go to...that will be nice for sure.
So, now, I need to get cracking on some schoolwork before my groupmates think I have completely dropped the ball on them. Also today is Thursday, which is the day every week I pick my neice up from school so we can spend some time together. Tomorrow, I am helping a friend out with some Christmas stuff that her husband can't attend and it should be a lot of fun...it seems like the more I have on the schedule, the better I am at getting things done...procrastination just gets put on hold...weird but that is how it works sometimes.
Monday, December 04, 2006
IMPORTANT!!! Unger Report on the ATS
You have to go to this website and hear the Unger Report on NPR about the ATS. It is the database rating system for travelers that was reported about in my post earlier this week. I am so happy to hear that NPR picked up on it and I hope someone makes a huge deal out of this thing....I thought Unger did a great job on this one. His satire is hilarious.
It is also offered as a podcast if you want to download it to Itunes but I figured I could do the link here to the page and you could listen to it in Realplayer or WMP if you wanted...
The link is in the title to this post or here. Let me know what you think....
It is also offered as a podcast if you want to download it to Itunes but I figured I could do the link here to the page and you could listen to it in Realplayer or WMP if you wanted...
The link is in the title to this post or here. Let me know what you think....
Sunday, December 03, 2006
I Love It
Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" is the number one video on VH1 this morning.....that just rocks!!!!
Friday, December 01, 2006
THIS IS IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ U.S. rates travelers for terror risk - Yahoo! News
This is a load of crap. It is a complete invasion of privacy with no way to fight it and unconstitutional as far as I am concerned. This is not what America is about, and our congresspeople need to do something about this soon. I can't believe that this has been allowed to happen and that no one has created any kind of stink about it? What is this country coming to?
I am so irritated and sad right now, I can't even write....
I am so irritated and sad right now, I can't even write....
Can't Do It
The hummer has driven me away...I know that is lame but it is how I feel.
I just can't go there anymore. It was nice while it lasted but it is just not fun anymore...
This is touching on a new thing that has been surfacing in my life recently, and just now, it was an easy break to make. I don't think the rest of them will be, but it might be something that will have to be done.
I just can't go there anymore. It was nice while it lasted but it is just not fun anymore...
This is touching on a new thing that has been surfacing in my life recently, and just now, it was an easy break to make. I don't think the rest of them will be, but it might be something that will have to be done.
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