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** I am officially a band booster mom (chaperoning the band and buying useless fundraiser items.) It's really fun being in the stands with the kids and they sound excellent thanks to their music teacher extraordinaire!
** Fall semester of school has started and I'm in American Literature I. Of course that means--Nathaniel Hawthorne and 'The Scarlet Letter.' Haven't I read this book enough in my lifetime???
** It's still stinking hot here in Florida. Today's high : 91* Somebody send us some fall!
** At the advice of my nutritionist, I've decided to go gluten free. It was really a struggle the first two weeks 'cause I loves me some pasta...and bread...and cereal. *sigh*
** My husband has been selected to be the assistant coach of the JV soccer team at my son's school. Now he'll coach two teams and I'll cook even less.
** My sister-in-law is two weeks away from her due date. We're all very excited and can't wait to see Landon William face-to-face!
- Mood:
happy
* Just got back from Lakeland, celebrating my mother's 76th birthday. We had cake!
* Saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and for the most part, enjoyed it. These books are so massive there's no way the movies can have everything the novels do. Still, there did seem to be a lot missing. The latest report is book #7 will be made into two movies.
* I'm waiting the results of some blood work. My doctor suspects mono. HAHAHAHAHA!
* I'm so awfully behind on my Jaded Drabbles at TF.net I'm tempted to just give up. BUT I HATE GIVING UP!!!
* My sister introduced me to a TV game show called 'Cash Cab.' I'm addicted! 13,000 taxis in NYC and this guy, Ben Bailey, travels through downtown picking up people and asking them trivia questions and awarding them money. What could be better?
* Saw the movie, "The Proposal." It's LOL romantic comedy fun.
* Just finished the book: "Lord Valentine's Castle" by Robert Silverburg. I'm more of a Sci-Fi (or SyFy) fan of Silverburg's. This is a fantasy tale about a king whose essence is removed from his body and placed in another body. He's also given amnesia. He becomes a juggler. Okay...
* 'The Closer' in on! 'The Closer' is on! TNT's great show about Chief Brenda Lee Johnson is back and better than ever!!
The Good:
* My son scored the winning goal this Saturday at the last soccer game of the season!
* The Star Trek movie was AWESOME. Great acting, special effects, story line, music—everthing! I can’t wait to go se it again.
* School is out and I’m looking forward to the summer. (Have I mentioned my ‘A’ in Spanish???
The Bad:
* Just finished the sci-fi book: ‘To Your Scattered Bodies Go’ by Philip Jose Farmer. It was awful! It was actually a punishment to finish (Yes, I should’ve given up on it). The author took several historical figures and resurrected them on a world where they live out their lives until they get it right. The main character, Richard Francis Burton, figures out what’s going on and tries to outwit his captors by committing suicide. Not once or twice, but 777 times. Each time he is resurrected, he wakes up next to Nazi Hermann Goring. Gag!
* Stouffer’s
* Just found out that my husband will have to take two more weeks furlough in June. They are not allowed to choose the dates, so this is making it hard for us to even consider taking a vacation this summer.
The Ugly:
* We need rain! Everyone’s lawns are brown.
Last night was my spanish final and I am now officially done! Woot! I mangaged to ace the final and end up with a 99.55% average.
I never imagined I'd make it through two semesters of spanish, but I did. For financial and morale reasons, I'm taking the summer off this year.
Fall looks like early an American literature class with a Non-fiction creative writing course.
But for now, it's reading for pleasure and getting lots more sleep!
Yesterday my husband and I popped out for lunch and a movie. We both enjoy Sci-Fi so we went to see Knowing.
Nicholas Cage was great. He plays the angsty, burdened hero like no other actor and I like angst so that was well played. The special effects and supporting actors were excellent. I was really enjoying it...
Until the end. MAJOR EXTREMELY SAD ENDING. I was so shocked, I leaned over to my husband and whispered: "What a depressing way to go."
****Spoiler Alert*****
( Click here for spoilers about the ending )
Because of the ending I can't really recommend it, which is a shame because so much of it was good.
- Mood:
disappointed
Rembrandt's The Three Crosses
***
Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined
To bleed and die for thee!
~Wesley
Had a scary trip to the ER this weekend due to bronchial spams, but I'm finally beginning to breathe easier.
This month's garage sale finds were not great, but I did find a few things:
I've been looking for a globe for my son's room and found this one at a local church sale for $5.00.
Got these pots and pans for $2.50 at a yard sale in my neighborhood. Wowza!
I collect cookie jars and couldn't pass up this one for $1.00.
* Spring has smacked Florida up-side the head here lately. The pollen is everywhere and I'm back on Advair and albuterol. We need rain so badly!
* Spanish II continues to be a huge pain. My teacher has taken to calling me pajarito (little bird) because I'm so lost about the whole thing. This week we're studying reflexive verbs. What a concept!
* My son's Symphonic Band went to MPA where they played three pieces and performed two sight-reading pieces. They did extremely well. Meesa so proud!
* My husand's employer has shut down the fab and required its employees to take two weeks furlow without pay. Of course my husband still goes into work. He can't stay home. He's going into work everyday and not getting paid for it. Where's my extra-strength Tylenol?
* My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby!!!!! She's due in October right around my birthday. Sweet!
* I'm still reading Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." I feel this is a MUST read for everyone. Although written in 1957, it has never been more relevant. I'm actually shocked to hear the words she wrote so long ago, coming out of politician's mouths now. Brilliant writer.
A week ago today, I experienced my first migraine headache. I hope it's my last. At 4:30 P. M. I started seeing 'flashy' lights in my left eye followed by an incredible headache.
I took Motrin and Tylenol with no effect. I was able to sleep that night, but the next morning the flashy lights were back so I called my primary care doctor and was able to get in to see him.
Two injections and three prescriptions later, I was in bed recovering. The next morning the migraine was gone and I was wiped out.
It's been one week and so far (thank you Lord) I've not had another one. I have no idea what triggered it, but have been reading up on migraines and how B-2 can help.
My friend Ellen is a fabric collage and quilt artist. She works with unusual fabrics along with things I'd never even dream of putting on a quilt. The result are works of art!
Ellen with one of her beauties.
This afternoon, I had the pleasure of helping Ellen hang some of her quilts for a exhibition at a quilt shop. I was amazed at the creativity and beauty of these pieces. We measured and climbed ladders for two hours and soon had the room looking like a museum.
I'm in awe of Ellen's talent and wanted (with her permission) to share some of her creations. These are copyrighted, along with more of her work at her website:
http://www.adventurequilter.com/
Here's a look at a couple of my favorites:
March has been a little slow in the garage sale department this month. I was able to pick up a few things here and there. What I AM noticing is a rise in internet buyers at garage and estate sales. It's to the point where average buyers like myself are elbowed out as the massive trucks and SUVs pull up and swallow everything whole.
End of venting...
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Finally!! My piano is home! Because of President's Day, John had the day off along with a friend and our son. We rented a truck and got the furniture moving thingies together. It took about two hours and a LOT of muscle, but my new baby is home where she belongs!
- Mood:Yippeeeeee!
I saw this chart on a site called suitably flip:
http://suitablyflip.com/suitably_flip/20
It really puts this new stimulus package into perspective.
- Mood:
shocked
Today was a dismal day for yard/garage sales. I visited about 6-7 of them and found nothing but sad dirty clothing and glassware that no one could ever find a use for.
Very disappointing.
I'm continuing to prepare for my own sale in the spring. My city allows two garage sales a year, so with the beginning of 2009 I can again hold my sale.
My new year's motto is: Lean and Clean. Now if I could only get my husband on board. It seems opposites DO attract. I am clean, organized and tidy while my husband borders on clinical hoarding. It's the biggest contention we have between us.
I have a bag I keep especially for my 'garage sailing.' (See picture below).I keep several denominations in separate pockets, along with my tape measure, camera, pencil and 5x7 card. The only coins I carry are quarters.
As the weather warms up (yes, it does get cold in Florida...occasionally) the sales will increase and I'll be ready.
Funniest thing I saw today: A lady hunting for garage sale locations with her GPS on. Come to think of it, I did get lost one time today...maybe it's not so funny after all.
Three weeks into the new academic semester and I was faced with a test and quiz in Spanish 2. I studied reeeeeeeeally hard. The teacher said he called this particular test "the widowmaker" because it was so difficult. I'm hoping I passed, but the answers just weren't coming to me.
My problem: I came down with a yucky cold the day before, so by the time I got to class my head was stuffed up like a Christmas beanie baby.
Did I mention that I studied reeeeeeeally hard?
Meanwhile, my friend ginchy is stuck in a frozen wasteland that used to be called Kentucky with her poor momma going through chemo while divapilot is mourning the loss of her father after losing her mom not so long ago. JediTrace's husband just got laid off from work and JadeLotus' country is going through a heat wave that is life threatening.
Sort of puts failing a test in perspective, doesn't it?
I wouldn't call myself a diva about most things, but when it comes to shopping--I'm the WOMAN! Nothing makes my heart sing like a 50% off sign or a yard/garage sale. I'm always on the lookout for a deal!
Just last Saturday, I visited an Estate Sale and noticed a wood table (with six chairs) and a China cabinet for $850.00. We needed a table in the worst way. The three of us have been eating off a pressed particle-board-topped-with-fake-wood-gra
I knew $850.00 was out of my range, so I made a note to stop back by later in the afternoon when sellers are more likely to reduce their wares.
When I returned at 2:00 P.M. The cabinet was sold (who buys just a cabinet?) but the table and six chairs were MINE for $150.00. We loaded it on the truck and headed home.
All in a day's work.
Happy birthday to you........
Happy birthday to you......
Happy birthday, dear ginchy.....
Happy birthday to you!!!!
Love you bunches!
Lyli
- Mood:celebratory
Our new addition? A Wurlitzer upright spinet piano. It is 20 years old, but in excellent condition. A good friend of mine is selling it to me for a fraction of what it's worth.
I've always wanted a piano. I've played the violin, flute, oboe and guitar, but never had the opportunity to learn the piano. Now, thanks to the graciousness of my friend, I will have the opportunity to do so.
I'm actually squeeing!
O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
~ Walt Whitman
On January 10th at 4:25 a.m. my father passed away. He was retired Navy and served during the Korean war stationed in Iceland. Before he was diagnosed with RA, he loved to play golf and was an avid fan.
He loved dogs and was known by all the dogs in his neighborhood as the man with the treats. On Christmas eve, he suffered a stroke that he never recovered from. I was not at his side when he died, but had the opportunity to tell him how much I loved him before he passed.
I miss him greatly.
My dad's health continues to deteriorate. He is non-responsive and won't eat. My sister told me I should travel over to see him, to say my goodbyes.
I'm just not sure what I'll say.
