Sweet 14!

Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday Dear MaBell!
Happy Birthday To You!

Yep, my little girl is now 14!
Yes - I know that she is almost taller than me, but I'm still going to call her my little girl.

Namaste.

craigslist

I am in love with craigslist!

We have been buying, buying, buying (or at least trying!).
I know that Egypt has been selling, selling, selling.

We purchased a closet modular system for MaBell's walk-in closet for $20. That's a savings of ~$250.
We got free moving boxes to help pack up the last of the condo.
We bought high-end glass shower doors for $40. Yep, you read that right - savings of ~$260.
We are investigating a desk with a filing cabinet for $25. I know, I couldn't believe it either - the file cabinet alone would cost us $27 brand new.

We have even listed OB's old bed in an attempt to let someone else have a "Can you believe I bought it for this?" post.

If you haven't used craigslist before - I highly recommend it!

Namaste.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Yes, I know. . .
We are still months away from training camp and even longer until preseason.
But, it was draft weekend and I think that warrants an ORANGE post (and I've already made the first payment on my seats)!

With everything going on at home (We have a birthday to celebrate this week!) and the big deadlines at work, I haven't had a chance to do any research and formulate any opinions. . .

We drafted five offense and five defense.
I'm intrigued by the THREE WRs included:
One - absolutely!
Two - I can probably make a believable case for.
But, did we really need three?


Round 1:
Keith Rivers (Southern California), LB, 6'3", 235lbs

Round 2:
Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina), WR, 6'1", 199lbs

Round 3:
Pat Sims (Auburn), DT, 6'2", 310lbs
Andre Caldwell (Florida), WR, 6'1", 200lbs

Round 4:
Anthony Collins (Kansas), OT-G, 6'5", 317lbs

Round 5:
Jason Shirley (Fresno State), DT, 6'5", 329lbs (he's gotta keep his act clean!!!)

Round 6:
Corey Lynch (Appalachian State), S, 6'0", 205lbs (married to Rev. Billy Graham's granddaughter)
Matt Sherry (Villanova), TE, 6'4", 255lbs

Round 7:
Angelo Craig (Cincinnati), DE-LB, 6'5", 235lbs
Mario Urrutia (Louisville), WR, 6'5", 232lbs

Mark Curnute graded this year's draft as a B-/C+.
I'll wait until we cut down to our final team for regular season before I make a judgement.

Namaste.

Beautiful Sight. . .

One to two days a week, I drive up into Cincinnati land to see Sadillac.
Yesterday was one of those days.

As I turned onto 32, I saw the most beautiful sight. . .
Keep in mind that this section of 32 is a four to six lane highway in a congested business area.
There were yellow ribbons about every six to twelve inches lining the road. They were tied to fence, they were tried to tree branches, they were tied to everything!
And right at the beginning of the strip was a huge professional looking sign that said:

"Welcome Home Matt"

It was a beautiful sight!
(If I find a picture of it, I'll add it to this post)

It is a wonderful thing that Matt has finally come home.
It is touching that his brother is escorting him home.
I just wish it was on his own two legs.
It is amazing that the funeral is at Great American Ball Park with overflow planned to be at Fountain Square watching the big screen.

Namaste.

Major. . .

I have some major activities going on at work.
We have some major remodeling going on at home.

I need to get some extra sleep - major time!

I am in major crisis mode and need to figure out how to stop feeling like I am spinning out of control.

Namaste.

$42!!!

I about had heart failure this morning!

I had to get gas and the gas lords have prices up to $3.599/gallon.
For the first time in my life, I paid over $40 for a tank of gas.
Keep in mind - I have a Matrix. . .It does not have a large tank!

It wasn't that long ago that I could fill up this tank for $15!
My credit card is still crying. . .After all, it gives me 5% cash back for all gas purchases!
Namaste.

Looking at Fishies. . .

In sixth grade, I had to do a report on the sea which turned into a report on deadly fish.
Ever since, this has been one of my favorite fish.
Last night, we had a family outing at the Aquarium and I got to see my beautiful, but deadly, Lionfish. It was interesting that this is a fish MaBell enjoys looking at as well.

I found another fish that I think is just beautiful - the Cardinalfish.
The ones that I saw last night were a bit prettier, but I couldn't find a better picture (and I left my camera in the car!).
MBB also got me to "pet" a shark for the first time.
I zoned in on a beautiful black one. . .It felt like wet velvet - very unusual!

Namaste.

NOTE: I did not take the pictures posted here.

Wish I Had It Earlier!

If there is one remodeling project that I hate doing - it's grouting tile. Don't mind laying the stuff, but can't stand the grouting of it (let's not even talk about the arm brace that Luke had to wear after helping me grout a few years ago). . .

MBB and I spent part of our day Saturday grouting the tile in the new bathroom.

On Sunday, we were at the Happiest Place on Earth (AKA Lowe's) and found this neat little tool. Too bad, I didn't have it on Saturday!

We went ahead and grabbed one! We have lots more grouting in our future and I'm hoping that this makes it a bit more bearable!

Namaste.

Missing Box?

I knew that I was missing a box!
I had just a few items that I knew were MIA. . .

I have been going out of my mind looking for this box.

There was no box.

I finally found my MIA items. . .

Packed. . .

In. . .

A. . .

Suitcase!

Yep, I packed some items in suitcases because I had run out of boxes.
I had unpacked all of the big suitcases and forgot about one of the small ones.

Mystery solved!

Namaste.

Lots Of Plans!

Yes, I have a "To Do" List for this weekend.

No, it is not the two year macro "To Do" List that MBB and I made for the house.
No, it is not my daily work "To Do" List.

It is just stuff that I want/need to get done this weekend - it is for me, not the rest of the family.
It is more micro in nature, things that I need to get done to feel like I am making progress.

Yes, I will probably drive myself insane before I get back to work on Monday.
BUT I'll have a "To Do" List with everything crossed off when I get there! :)

Namaste.

The Unknown. . .

I think that I have mentioned before that I don't like the "unknown".
I go crazy as I don't know how to react or how to prepare or how to do ANYTHING!

I am in that situation now. . .twice. TWICE!
This is not a good situation for me! I am not a laid back person who just goes with the flow!

Back during basketball season, MaBell was doing drills with a medicine ball and jammed her ring finger on her dominate hand. A friend decided to pull it back into place for her and yeah, well. . .
MaBell is at the surgeon right now discussing whether she needs to have surgery on her hand. I AM GOING CRAZY waiting on MBB to call me and let me know what the doctor says.
UPDATE: MaBell does not have to have surgery. . .She just has to wear a splint for awhile. :)

I also got a call from MommyMarie last night.
GrandmaMarie is going through a large amount of doctor appointments right now as well.
She is going to have some serious tests done next Wednesday to figure some things out.
I don't think my nerves are going to hold up very well until then. :(

Namaste.

American Idol

I'm not a big TV person.
I'm not a big American Idol fan.

I decided to turn on the TV last night.
After MBB got over his shock of me being the one to turn on the TV, I watched AI for the first time this season.

"Why?" you might ask.

Well, I had heard some things about the Davids currently in the running.
I viewed some of the past performances on AI's website that peeked my interest.
There was one person in particular who impressed me with his originality.

Yes, I watched.

Yes, I was impressed. . .even by the tears.

Yes, it will be a close race to #1 this year.
If David Cook does not win, it will be a shame.
If David Cook does not win, can you say Daughtry Jr?

*Photo from americanidol.com - I take no credit for it.

Namaste.

Long Process...

As any one who has bought a house knows, there is always a lot to do to make it your own.
Most people just update paint colors and they are set to go.

That has never been my experience!

MBB and I have a list a mile long of things we would like to do to our new house.
Thankfully, we are being logical and have a two year plan in place to get it all done.

We started the process of turning a bedroom into a bathroom (about 75% done!). . .
MBB worked constantly for many days to switch us over from a cistern water system to city water (WOW - what a project!) and has replaced our kitchen sink/faucet to get rid of an annoying leak.
I have been unpacking boxes and creating lots of piles (to give away, to trash, to figure out what the heck to do with!). . .
The kids have been carrying piles to various locations!

Our next big goal is to get Internet hooked up.
That will be a good thing so that I can post pictures once again!

Namaste.

Gotta Love Date Nights!

I was listening to the radio on the drive home one day last week and heard
"What do you want to change the most about your relationship?" being discussed.

The #1 answer that I heard: Need more "alone time"!
I personally know of three couples that have a set date night every week.
I always thought that people were crazy for scheduling a reoccurring date night.
Then, I got kids.

MBB and I don't have a weekly scheduled date night, but we do try to have them every so often.
We were unexpectedly kid-less Saturday and had a DATE NIGHT!
We went out for dinner (yeah - I didn't cook!) and then had to stop by Wally-World.
Sounds kinda weird, but it made my weekend! :)
Yep, gotta love alone time!

Namaste.

No Pictures!

I have so many things that I could blog about - but they need pictures!!!

Why is this an issue?

Because we don't have Internet hooked up at the new house.
Because work has restricted my computer so that I cannot read memory cards anymore.

This is temporary as we will get Internet at the house eventually.
If you saw how much we need to do to the den, you'd understand why we aren't in a hurry to get it hooked up yet. And we have other priorities right now - like getting hooked up to city water (DONE!) and replacing the leaking sink / faucet in the kitchen (ALMOST DONE!).

So, my "look how many boxes I unpacked" type posts will have to be postponed for a bit.
I think I need to create a new label for posts about moving and unpacking! :)

Namaste.

Simplifying

I've been reading quite a few blogs lately about simplifying things.

I guess you can say that I have done that a little bit:

• I haven't had cable or satellite TV since I graduated from college
  (Luckily, I found a man who doesn't have them either)
  
• I have moved from a bustling suburb back to the country
  (The stars are much brighter out here!)
  
• I am spending more time at home with my family
  (The days of getting home at midnight EVERY night are over)
  
• I am creating piles of "stuff"
  (To donate or to trash, not to relocate again)
  
• I am cooking more
  (Not only is eating in simpler. . .It is also cheaper!)
  
• I am getting back in the habit of turning on music when I get home
  (Amazing how much I get done when music is involved)

I am not doing so well in simplifying my spending, but who could when you buy a new house that needs a little tender loving care?

Namaste.

New Digs. . .

There is a saying:

"You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the
country out of the girl."

I heard MommyMarie say it a few weeks ago in relation to me.
I guess it's applicable as this country girl has gone back to the country.

No, I didn't move because of work - in fact, I moved further away from work.
Yes, the big oil guys are killing my wallet! :(

We are now settling into a three story house (if you count the basement) sitting on 2.1 acres.
I am so looking forward to having a garden that can handle more than four tomato plants!
Guess we need to find a good deal on a riding lawn mower, hmmm?

Here is a picture of some of my new neighbors:

I can't change the fact that I have lived in the city / city suburbs for the past 15 years.
I can get back to the city in ~30 minutes for my fix of city life.
And, I still can't stand the thought of sharing a house with mice!

Namaste.

To Do. . .

I am a master of To Do Lists.
I am constantly making them.
I am constantly crossing things off of them.
I would be lost without them.

But, I think I have overwhelmed myself.
I have started a To Do List that will span two years.
GULP.

Namaste.

A Big Change. . .

There was a time awhile back when I moved nine times in 13 months.
I had lost my mind.

I looked at my real estate agent and said "Find me something today, because I'm not moving into another temporary apartment while I wait on a closing!"
Yes, I found something that day.
Yes, it was my next move.
Yes, I have lived there for 11.5 years.

I have lost my mind again.
MBB and I bought a house and are trying to "merge" our stuff.
Yes, moving is as bad as I remembered.

No, I will not be moving again!
If and when MBB and/or I cannot climb up and down steps, we will be dipping into the rainy day fund to install an elevator!

Namaste.

Wowsa!

WOW - My body pretty much reached out, slapped me and said "ENOUGH!"

I woke up yesterday on the dizzy side (my body, not my mind), could barely walk and pretty much could not function. I spent most of the day sleeping and trying to recover.

Today, I am back at work. I still do not feel good, but I am able to function.
I am going to attempt to work out (lightly) tonight and see how it all goes.

On another topic:
Is anyone else totally baffled by Mother Nature?
She is throwing me for a loop this season!

Namaste.

Books

I like books. OK, I love stories that are printed on paper.
I think they have played a big part of my life since Elementary School.

I like to reread books.
I keep most of the books written by JDRobb, Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan and Sherilynn Kenyon.
Yes, I even have all of the Harry Potter books - in hard back!

Some characters have become real to me - some books even bring me to tears, no matter how many times I read them.

I have some series that I have reread multiple times.
Every time I reread them, I notice details that I missed the first 100 times that I read the book.
What?
No one else misses details when they read?
Stop pulling my leg!


Anyone else like to read a book more than once?
Yes, I know some of you don't even like to read a book once!


Namaste.

Just A Little Driving!

Been doing some serious driving lately. . .
Don't recall doing that much in the past.
Don't believe me?
Let's do some investigation!

2003 - 15,500 miles (first full year that I drove this vehicle)
2004 - 15,500 miles (now how did I hit the same number twice?)
2005 - 14,400 miles
2006 - 17,700 miles
2007 - 21,100 miles
2008 - ~23,600 miles (based on first three months)

Recently, something happened to me that I have never experienced before. . .
The odometer flipped to 100,000 miles. Historically, I traded my cars in about 90,000 miles.
Currently, the budget has decided that a new car isn't in my immediate future so I'm going to see how long this one will last for me.

Namaste.