And now for something a little more upbeat.

1. It's 2AM and you are not home. You are more than likely:

Somewhere else. (This is pretty easy so far.)

2. What's the last thing you spent more than $100 on?

The disaster that was the National Bowliing Tournament (Tourney, plane ticket and hotel. I could have bought a fancy new mattress!)

3. What do your bank checks look like?

They're rectangular. And were free.

4. Where did the shirt you are currently wearing come from?

It was a used t-shirt swap from Swapbot.

5. Name something that will be on your Christmas wish list:

I would like a new mattress.

6. What color is your toothbrush?

White and pink.

7. Name something you collect and tell us about it.

Dust. You can write your name in it, just don't date it.

8. Last restaurant you ate at. Who were you with? How was it?

Los Agaves. Me and the family. Good as usual.

9. Who was the last person you bought a birthday card for?

I'm into the whole rubber stamping thing so I make homemade cards now. And I can't remember that far back.

10. What is your worst bad habit?

I recently acquired a twitch in my left arm when I drive. I don't know why and I'm trying to stop. (Is that a habit?)

11. Name a magazine to which you subscribe?

How about the ones I want? People and Readers' Digest. I actually get Mad Magazine and M@rth@ Stew@rt's Everyday Food (Shut up. It was free. I hate it.)

12. Your favorite pizza toppings?

Ham and Pineapple or Pork Sausage and Jalepeno.

13. Whose number were you looking up the last time you used a phone book?
Why? What did you see?

The Dogs' Inn. I needed to board the dogs. I saw their number. Duh.

14. Other than family, who is the person that you love most?

Love love or like love? No fair. I'm not taking sides.

15. What is the last thing you cooked?

I'm making meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and garlic herb biscuits as I type this!

16. Name something you wouldn't want to buy used.

Underbritches.

17. Which shoe do you put on first?

I don't play favorites.

18. What is the last thing you remember losing?

I can't find my set of keys to my husband's vehicle. They'll show up.

19. What is the ugliest piece of furniture in your house?

I like everything in this joint, but I guess I would have to say the sofa in the basement that has the one cushion that Scotch decided to make a meal of. It has a slipcover on it so you can't really tell.

20. Last thing you bought and ended up returning?

Nothing in a long time.

21. What perfume/cologne do you wear?

I have been spritzing with Bath and Bodyworks Sensual Amber. I don't think they make it any more, but SprawlMart has a knockoff.

22. Your favorite board game?

Sorry!

23. What was the last board game you played?

Sorry! or Spongebob's Life.

24. Where did your vehicle come from?

Johnson's of Enid, Oklahoma. As did the vehicle before it.

25. If a movie was made about your life what would the theme song be?

Bobby Brown's That's My Prerogative.

26. You're sad, who can cheer you up easily?

Vinny.

27. What was the color of the bridesmaid dresses of the last wedding you went to?

Uh....the bride wore white. I don't know. I don't pay attention to that stuff.


28. What house cleaning chore do you hate to do the most?

Dishes!


29. What is your favorite way to eat chicken?

Sitting at Eischen's with my friends. And with a side of fried Okra with Ranch for dipping.

30. It is your birthday. You hope the cake is?

Not chocolate and has that crazy good Crisco frosting like they used to make years ago.

Don't let me interrupt your interruption

I'm not as forgiving as I used to be.

I used to get interrupted every now and then and I suppose I was just used to it, but lately, that nonesense has worked my nerves.

Just recently (and this happened MORE THAN ONCE! with various people, both young and old), I was talking to person "B" and out of nowhere, person "C" would start talking to "B" and then "B" would turn to "C" and totally leave me hanging.

I felt like yelling, "Hello! I was talking here!"

We teach kids (for the most part) to not interrupt and to wait until someone is finished talking before they ask a question or put their two cents in. And while many kids grasp this concept, it isn't sinking in for some and for some adults, if it did sink in, it fell out the bottom.

So what should I have done? Waiting until they were finished talking and complete what I was saying? Waiting until they were finished and refuse to continue what I was saying? Jumping in on their conversation to let them know how rude they were?

I started thinking that I was just boring people to death and they relished the interruption, but then I remembered what a brilliant personality I have and realized that wasn't the problem.

Africa Hot

Oklahoma is hot and wet.

Texas is hot and dry.

Either way...it's hot down here.

But the fun I'm having kinda evens it out...honing my pool playing skills...eating good snacks (ask me about the peanut butter fudge!!!)...seeing relatives I haven't seen in many years...seeing friends I haven't seen in a couple of years...

I'm tired of driving for hours on end, but just one more long jaunt and I'll be home on Friday.

Photos later.

Um.

So much for posting three times a week in May!

Maybe later today I will get everyone caught up.

Until then...

Your Creative Power is Your Logic

You're the type of person who is great at execution. You don't just dream about ideas - you make them happen! You are idealistic and determined, but you are also a realist. You only undertake projects you're pretty sure you can finish. You are a natural problem solver, and you actually think better when you're being challenged. You do best when you work by yourself or when you're in charge. You ideas are big, dramatic, and the best.

What's Your Creative Power?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

You Are a Lucky Person

You are cautious and slow to act. It takes you a long time to get used to ideas. You are happiest at any given time. You find so much to be happy about that you're usually quite content. You may not seem to be working hard, but that's an illusion. You make hard work look easy. You are a very patient person. You stick with people and things for a lifetime.

The Swimming Pool Test

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

You Should Smell Like a Peach

You are sensual and flirtatious. You always make sure to enjoy yourself, even if no one else is having fun. You feel like everyone takes life too seriously. You wish people would lighten up and see how sweet life is. You are naturally sexy and attractive. Even when you're trying to be more serious, you can't help but be a bit of a tease. Some people are scared of your power, but anyone who knows you loves you. You are so much sweeter and juicier than anyone imagines.

What Fruit Should You Smell Like?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

You Are Cooking

You are a very generous and caring person. You love to make other people happy, and you love to give. You are content when you are busy with projects. You enjoy working with your hands. You are both intuitive and creative. You are good at figuring out how to make things work, and you love to experiment. You may be only following recipes for now, but eventually you'll be creating your own amazing, original meals.

What Hobby Are You?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

I was tired just hearing about it.

The oldest child is doing well at Airborne School. He passed his PT (physical training) test yesterday and this morning, he called bright and early to let us know he passed another physical test.

Him: We had a longer run this morning.

Me: How long?

Him: Just four miles.

Me: JUST?!?!

I guess some of the kids aren't making it through the physical tests and are having to leave the school. I know physical endurance is a big part of the military, but there are some people who are built for comfort, not for speed. I feel sorry for those folks because I am one of them.

Today, the ones still there get to jump off the 34 foot tower.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Happy Mothers' Day

When The Boy was two years old, his daycare teacher helped the kids in his class make gifts for their moms. The teacher would ask each kid a question and then write their answer down on.

When I arrived to pick him up that afternoon, there was a gathering of teachers waiting for me. I didn't know what the heck was going on.

Now keep in mind that he was only two and you know how kids think.



Yeah, I was flabbergasted as well.

Now I knew why all the teachers were waiting for me.

I told them I would find out what the heck he was talking about and get back to them.

It took a while (you know how two year olds are), but I finally figured it out!

Me: I don't put soap in your mouth.

Him: Yes you do!

Me: What color is it?

Him: Blue!

Me: Is it toothpaste?

Him: Yes!

It never fails to make me smile. I have kept it on my fridge for seven plus years.

I love you, Chicken Pot Pie*.

The Best Mom Ever,
Mom


*I told him now that he was ten, he could pick out a new nickname for me to call him. He said he liked Chicken Pot Pie and he wanted to keep it.

I Quit Twitter

But I can't quit you.

I did it. I quit Twitter. Most of my real friends on Twitter are also on Facebook. So every post they put on Twitter...you guessed it, they also posted on Facebook. I was getting all of their information twice.

I followed a bunch of celebrities. That was fun. Especially the Modern Family group.

But it was time to give it up. I still miss it. I still think about going back for a lookie-loo. I haven't though. Good for me.

I'm going to try to put a little more effort into this blog. I have a couple of friends who aren't on Facebook with me. I still need to entertain them. :)

_________________

In other news...

TEN POUNDS GONE!

Still trying to walk and to keep my calories down.

I fudged up a little last night. I took The Boy to the Pizza Ranch for supper after piano lessons. I had six pieces of pizza. Six crazy, delicious pieces. BBQ Chicken, Pineapple & Canadian Bacon, and Garlic & Cheese. MMMMMMMM. I paid for it later though. I haven't eaten greasy food for about three weeks. You can see where this is going, can't you? I'll just let you take it from here.

Sometimes things...

don't go according to plan.

When we moved up here to Iowa, I thought, "Good. Now I can finally lose weight. I won't be able to eat out at every lunch and I won't be sitting behind a desk for eight hours a day."

Let's take a moment to laugh at that.

I weight more now than I ever have. Sure, I don't eat out at lunch every day. Probably 95% of the time, I make something here at home. And because I don't work eight hours a day, I'm within walking distance to the kitchen 24/7 most days.

I also eat the majority of my suppers here at home. Our dining prospects are few and far between in this tiny town. Plus, I can make some pretty tasty meals.

When I stepped on the scale nine days ago, I said a few choice words and decided to buckle down.

I started my DIEt on a Friday. I didn't want to wait until Monday. Now, now, now. Something had to be done.

I started walking, eating less and not snacking.

I lost five pounds in one week.

Zoinks!

Then a Fireman friend suggested the Lose It! application for the iTouch. He and a bunch of his Fireman friends use it and it has been working for them. I downloaded that puppy and went to town! I put in my starting weight(I used the current weight, not the weight I was a week before.), my age and my goal and it gave me a suggested caloric intake. I have only used it three days, but I haven't gone over my calories yet.

It is SO hard! I have been able to treat myself with a small chocolate cone or a couple of Hershey's Kisses, but that has been fine for me. I don't want a large chocolate cone or the entire bag of Hershey's Kisses. (That's a lie. Of course I do. But I choose not to.)

This morning, I was down four more pounds. Nine pounds in nine days. I know that is way more than is recommended, but I don't feel like I am denying myself of food. I'm having a salad at least once a day. I'm having carbs and proteins. I've cut back to MAYBE one Pepsi a day. (Throwback Pepsi is 150 calories. I have to really want it.)

(I just had to go check that one can wasn't two servings which would have thrown me WAY off! It isn't. Whew.)

I went to my closet and tried on my capri pants this morning. I can tell they have loosened up!

I just hope I can stay with this change.

DIMOBS*

*Do It My Own Bad Self

Saying goodbye to the 1970s a little at a time.

There are two of these in the hallway. They gots ta go.



Cough, cough, hack, hack. How much bugs, crud and popcorn ceiling spray can there be in here?



This is the point at which I left to go get a headlamp to help me see a little better. (Note: It is not very bright in a hallway with the electricity turned off.)

This is also the point where I took a potty break and switched out my jeans for a pair of shorts. Shorts with no pockets. I had to put the screws somewhere, so I put them in the First National Bank of Titty City.



Tah-to-the-dah!



One down, one to go. But I'm not doing it until The Commander can be here to hand me things I drop. And to wipe my brow with a cool, wet rag.

Seriously?

It is a regional thing.

Rarely do you find a person here that has heard of a Frito Pie or even Okra.

I'm learning new things as well.

Never heard of a lug. Now I know what one is. (A wooden box for transporting fruit or vegetables.)

Hot Beef Commercial? Nope. Not an ad for hot beef. (Open faced hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy.)

Dinner? (Lunch, not supper.)

But one of the biggest surprises of these regional things is a food I wrinkled my nose at. I may have even said, "You've got to be kidding me."

Are you ready for this one?

Cheez Whiz on cinnamon bread.

I KNOW! Yick.

It is usually served as a finger food at get-togethers. And often with a slice of green olive on each piece.

But I like it. A lot.

David's Aunt had her 80th birthday party today. I didn't have any cake. I had three slices of cinnamon bread with Cheez Whiz. AND I brought four more pieces home.

Oh, my-lanta. Good stuff.

Date Day

The Boy spent most of the weekend with his Grandma and Aunts so The Commander and I had a Date Day!

I finally got to go to a baseball game. I love baseball. I never go to games though because my husband doesn't like baseball. "Two minutes of excitement packed into two hours." Phfft on him.

He has a classmate at college who is a pitcher for the team. Luis is here on scholarship from Colombia. He hopes to make it big someday and said he will get me VIP seats. (Yay me!) He may be headed to Oregon to finish school and play ball there. I imagine I won't get to see him play much ball once he moves.

Here is the team getting a royal butt chewing by the coach (#22). They just lost the first game of the double header. (Luis is the one in the blue with the white pants.)



Here is my husband in the process of licking his thumb to smear it across my camera lens if I don't quit taking photos of him already!



We went on to eat at a restaurant/bar called Tweeters. I had a buffalo chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Then we went to a movie that didn't contain animation of any sort - Date Night. Apropos, n'est pas? Good movie. Action and comedy! Plus, Steve Carell does a pole dance. Woooooot!

I'll end the tale here since this is a PG blog. Heh.

________________________________

Here is the family on Easter. We clean up pretty well.



Last, but not least, this is what I have to put up with...

Actual Conversation with My Husband

Just now...

Him - You know what I would do if I get that job?

Me - Buy me something nice?

Him - (Nods) A new computer.

Me - (Eyes light up) A REAL computer? Or one of (gestures at PC in my lap) these?

Actual Conversation with My Husband

This morning -

Me - If I'd have known Jesse James was so easy, when we saw him at the fair last year, we could have invited him back to our house. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.

Him - Then we could have been in the tabloids.

Me - Yeah! Then we could have been rich!

Ha Ha Happy Easter

A Methodist pastor, a Lutheran pastor and a Presbyterian pastor were all sitting around at coffee one day and the topic of their churches' rat infestations came up.

The Methodist said they had hired an exterminator and the rats had disappeared for a while, but then they all came back.

The Lutheran said they had purchased a cat, but there were too many rats so the cat ran away.

The Presbyterian said they had no problem with the rats.

The Methodist and Lutheran pastors were shocked! How could that be?

"Simple." said the Presbyterian. "We made them all members of the church and now they only show up at Easter and Christmas."

---------

Happy Easter everyone!!

A funny for you.

Everyone loves Mrs. Hughes!

The Explanation

If you are friends with me on Facebook, you may have seen my status this morning discussing drilling holes in the master bathroom's door to get it open.

No, the lock didn't accidentally get locked. The lock on that door doesn't even work.

The explanation and photos, let me show you them.

Here are the drawers in the master bath vanity. Please ignore the dust.



Notice how if any of the drawers is open, it blocks the door from swinging inward. This can be useful in the off chance you have a home invasion and need to lock yourself in the bathroom. Also notice the top drawer is where I keep the washcloths.



Now, there is a younger member of the family that rarely uses this bathroom and is not aware of the "home invasion lock" (HIL). I sent him in with a batch of fresh from the dryer washcloths to put away. After cramming them into the drawer, he couldn't get the drawer to stay closed. So he held the drawer closed while he quickly closed the bathroom door behind him. That was all fine and dandy, but when he snatched his hand away from the drawer at the last minute, the drawer popped back open. Thus engaging the HIL.

Zoinks.

There was abso-freakin-lutely no way to get that door open without doing major damage. We tried to go outside and take the storm window off of the house so someone (child-sized) could climb through, but we couldn't get the window off.

So we got the drill. With a really big bit. I figured if we could get enough room, we could shove something through the hole and push the drawer shut enough for the door to clear it.

We had to guess where the drawer was and the first holes wound up too high.

The next holes were low enough, but too far out.

Then it was too straight. I needed an angle.

Finally!!! and with a little damage to the front of the drawer, we had success.



Today, I went to the hardware store and bought some spray foam to fill the holes so we can (hopefully) spackle, sand and paint or stain the door.



Hey! Mickey Mouse!



And that, my friends, is the explanation.

Lives with kids are never boring, are they?

Confession

I like bread.

There, I said it.

I'm a breadaholic.

I rarely make bread. If I do, it is the frozen kind.

Within the next 10 days, I pledge to make some rolls from scratch.

This is going to be a challenge for me. Yeast intimidates me. NOT TOO HOT! You can kill it. NOT TOO COLD! It won't activate.

I've got a dough attachment for my KitchenAid mixer that has never been used. It will this week.

I've got a couple of recipes to choose from:

Pumpkin Knot Yeast Rolls

or


Cloverleaf Rolls

Decisions. Decisions.

Scotch on the Rocks

Scotch loves the snow and ice.

See (and hear) for yourself.

Missing my kitty

Tabby Elizabeth Cat
7/7/1991-12/21/2005

The Fallen Comrade Table

"You may have noticed the small table set for one that is off on its own - it is reserved to honour our fallen comrades in arms. This symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit. We should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation's call [to serve] and served the cause of freedom in a special way. We are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured the agonies of pain, deprivation and death.

I would like to explain the meaning of the items on this special table.

* The table is round - to show our everlasting concern for our fallen comrades.
* The tablecloth is white - symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
* The single yellow rose reminds us of the life of each of our fallen comrades, and the loved ones and friends of these comrades who keep the faith.
* The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to remember our fallen comrades.
* A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return.
* A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by the families of those who have sacrificed all.
* The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time.
* The chair is empty because they are no longer with us.

Let us remember - and never forget their sacrifice.

May they and their families ever be watched over and protected."