Remember the 10

Every morning when I went into work, I would come around the corner of the ETS building on campus and there would be Kendall and James having their morning cigarette break (Kool Soopah Longs).

On January 28, 2001, I didn't want to come around that corner.

On January 27, 2001, 10 members of the Oklahoma State University family died in a plane crash in Colorado.

Kendall was on that plane.

He was my first real boss at my first real job.

He wore pocket tees with holes in them.

He had a ball cap with "FOG" on it. (Foghat. Get it?)

I got some of my favorite quotes from him. I can still picture his drunk, squinty-eyed face as he gestured with his Kool, "Take a picture of ME!" and "Chicken make lousy house-pet."

At his funeral, our friend EB came up to me and said, "That crazy Kendall." He was right. Crazy Kendall. I miss you.



__________

We won't be in Stillwater this year for the run, but here are a couple of photos from last year.

Eyebrow Dance

Getting jiggy with it.

Now I want a Cadbury Caramel Egg.

I'm a loner.

Your International Spy Name is Solitaire Danger

Your Code Name: Checkmate You Reside in: St. Petersburg Why You're a Good Spy: You're sneaky

What's Your International Spy Name?

I love milk.

I really do. I would rather drink it than any other beverage.

Lately, I have been wondering if I would be able to drink a gallon of milk in an hour. I have heard about people challenging others to do it. I thought that if I decided to do it, I could have people sponsor me and then give the money to the American Heart Association.

Then I looked online.

Maybe I don't want to drink a gallon of milk in an hour. I still think I could, but I don't want the after effects.

I also don't want to take the Cinnamon Challenge.

We're like this {crosses fingers}

You Got 8/10 Questions Right

You are a probably a news junkie, Obama fan, or both. You know a lot about Barack Obama - including his politics, history, and family. It's likely you're a very knowledgeable person and quite well read. You can't stand ignorant people, no matter what their political persuasion is.

How Much Do You Know About Barack Obama?

I like to share.

One of the blogs I read is The Crafty Crow. They have links to awesome kids' crafts from all around the web.

(I know Miss Banana's Mom will like this site.)

They are currently having a giveaway that looks really cool. So head on over there and check it out.

It's alpaca.

You Are a Hooded Sweater

You are active, casual, and laid-back. There's not a pretentious bone in your body. You are very humble. You have a very giving spirit. Whether you're dealing with friends or strangers, you tend to ask very little of people. You are honest and open. You believe that if you are truthful with people, they will be straight with you.

What Kind of Sweater Are You?

My head hurts.

I spent about three hours with the computer guy trying to get The Commander's POS computer to connect to the damn internet already! Wired or wireless. Either way. I don't care which. No luck. The Network and Sharing Center says it is connected to the internet, but IE keeps giving me the HTTP 400 Bad Request error. It claims it cannot find the webpage. Any webpage evidently. I don't know what to do. Neither did the computer guy.

Of course My iBook is rocking our new wireless signal. Now all I need is a Chumby. I'll take the amethyst one. Thanks.

So to sooth my aching head, I took Cursing Mama's lead and did this quiz.

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure


• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this


• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit


• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally


• * Ask me questions to help me get clear


• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery


• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings


• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation


• * Let me know you like what I've done or said


• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting


• * caring for and being concerned about others


• * being able to relax and have a good time


• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around


• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator


• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now


• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive


• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline


• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally


• * being confused about what I really want


• * caring too much about what others will think of me


• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant


• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue


• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm


• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Now what?

So far today I have:

• Fed all of the mammals in the house breakfast
• Refilled the automatic fish feeder (for the dragonfish*)
• Did dishes
• Did four loads of laundry
• Shoveled the front stoop
• Shoveled a path across the deck for the dogs
• Got the mail
• Got a handmade greeting card from Deanna
• Got a book from Lynette
• Made some homemade greeting cards
• Played Wii Baseball
• Printed off some questions for my bookclub tonight
• Made lemonade for my bookclub
• Showered!
• Fixed lunch for the humans
• Uploaded some photos off of the camera to iPhoto
• Posted on my blog
• Answered some emails
• Forgot it was Monday and missed all but 10 minutes of The Price is Right
• Read a little bit of "The Lost Recipe for Happiness" by Barbara O'Neal
• Read a little bit of "Pontoon" by Garrison Keillor
• Read some blogs

I'm tired. And sweaty.

* Drago the dragonfish. Ick and then eeeewww.

She worries about me.

Cursing Mama expressed her concerns.

Iowa Open Container Law

321.284A Open containers in motor vehicles--passengers

1. A passenger in a motor vehicle upon a public street or highway shall not possess in the passenger area of the motor vehicle an open or unsealed bottle, can, jar, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage. "Passenger area" means the area of a motor vehicle designed to seat the driver and passengers while the motor vehicle is in operation and any area that is readily accessible to the driver or a passenger while in their seating positions, including the glove compartment. An open or unsealed receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage may be transported in the trunk of the motor vehicle. An unsealed receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage may be transported behind the last upright seat of the motor vehicle if the motor vehicle does not have a trunk.

2. This section does not apply to a passenger being transported in a motor vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of persons for compensation, or a passenger being transported in the living quarters of a motor home, mobile home, travel trailer, or fifth-wheel travel trailer.

So, here's mud in your eye.

Our new debt.

Let me show you it.

(This is not the exact RV motorhome coach we purchased. By the time we paid for it, ate lunch and drove an hour back home, they had taken everything down off of the web. And since we don't take possession of it until the middle of February and I didn't take any photos of it at the dealership (because it was online!), I pilfered these from some other RV dealer. This is the same year, make and model.)













__________

The previous owners were from Oklahoma at some point and had (for whatever reason) the Trail of Tears "End of the Trail" image painted on either side. Like this, but more gaudy. The Commander says it has to go. I think it stands out.

__________

Since the model is a Brave, I am going to call it Chipper Jones. The Commander isn't gonna call it anything. Party pooper.

__________

So if you need me this summer, I'll be at the lake. Come visit. I'll fold the table into a bed for you.

I tilted. I shifted.

Yawn. The River Walk in San Antonio.



In MINIATURE!



Try it with your photos at Tilt Shift and let me see them!

Insert witty title here

I'm back from Oklahoma! Yea!

I'm back from 60 degree Oklahoma to Iowa where everything is covered in ice. Boo!

I will give Iowa people this - they know how to make a mean Hot Cider.

Unlike the ciders I have had in Oklahoma where you heat up some apple cider, put a cinnamon stick in the cup and call it good, the people up here are creative.

I have had hot cider with ginger ale and hot cider with, get this, orange juice. Yummies.

______________

We paid off our mortgage. We are debt free for now. The Commander is eyeballing an RV. One of those big suckers.

I'll keep you posted.