sunday was a day

for showers, bridal and baby showers, unlike a few days earlier which was a day for rain showers.  Strat has gotten to where he truly is a big baby.  It doesn't have to be pouring with thunder pounding, it can be getting dark with rain on the way and he takes cover.  He usually hides under a table.  The other day we had rain and it was awesome but Strat stayed under the desk for two hours.

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As for the showers, I was thinking about shower food for three days before the festivities.  It put me in the mood for deviled eggs.  I broke down and made some Sunday.  It was kind of like my pre-shower warm up. I should do that more often.  Once I got to the showers I was pretty much full.  I took a picture of my last minute deviled eggs but something screwed up with the download.  Here's a few of them.

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I really could have used a few of those eggs yesterday.  I grabbed a Healthy Choice meal from the freezer and followed the directions to make my classic meatloaf with mashed potatoes, corn and apple/cranberry dessert.  I peeled the cover from the dessert and cut a slit over the corn and heated for 3 1/2 minutes.  The next step was to uncover the meat/potato compartment to flip the meat and stir the potatoes.

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There was no meat.  I laughed and called them.  They said they're sending me coupons for a replacement along with other coupons.  No big deal.  I decided I'd just finish it off and have the vegetables and dessert.  Make that vegetables and part of the dessert.  Most of the apple/cranberry stuff oozed over the edge during part two of the cooking.

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I was left with not even 3/4 of the meal and a mess in the microwave.  Lunch fail.

eric really wants to go

to A&M.  He always has.  That's great but there are also schools in Houston.  He got a postcard from Rice yesterday.  They're having an open house next month for Houston-area seniors.

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I told Eric it was a sign that he should go to Rice because when he was about three, I had a bag of rice labeled in the refrigerator and he pointed it out and said that's his name backwards.  He corrected himself yesterday by letting me know that "Rice" is not "Eric" backwards but like I told him, he was little.  He was three, starting to read and was observant enough to see that "Rice" is "Eric" scrambled.  I mean if you put the E at the end, it would appear to be backwards.  One thing I'd never noticed was the shield for Rice, whose mascot is the owl, has little owls on it.  I just saw that this morning.  That's not the coolest thing I've seen, at all.

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Anyway, he isn't interested in going to any open house they have.  One thing he is interested in though is a concert tonight.  Staying up all night tonight is going to make it a long day tomorrow.

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eric's first day of

school was Monday.  This summer flew by, probably since he had classes all summer at the college.

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Right now we're just getting into a regular schedule.  It's better than the other years because he only has six classes and gets out at 1:00.  That's pretty cool.  It's even cooler that he loves his classes too.

The next two shouldn't count as photo a day but I did use a camera...
Some of the commercials for Hoveround Scooters make me laugh but this one particular scene of the latest one really gets me.  "You can even take it to the Grand Canyon."  I don't know.  There's something about those two ladies sitting on motorized seats at the edge of the Grand Canyon that always makes me giggle but cringe a little at the same time.  I know I wouldn't do it.  And honestly, I probably wouldn't put my grandmothers in that situation either.  (Just a note, yes I was watching Cupcake Wars and the girl from Texas didn't win.)

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We're not allowed to use any water outside.  We can't water our yards or flower beds and can't wash cars or boats.  No water.  If you get caught, it's a fine of no less than $200 and no more than $500.  It's not like I'm out there watering everything or washing any cars.  Wait, a few weeks ago I was out there cleaning brick. Anyway, I just wanted to be humored and checked the forecast on my phone this morning.  Look at Wednesday and Thursday!  Is that a possibility of rain???  Awesome!

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Update: If you are an early reader, you might have caught my typo of "Monday and Tuesday".  Blogging for the first of the week on a Wednesday threw me off.

the cats were running low

on food so I stopped in at Petsmart (or is it PetSmart?) today.  Since I had the carpet cleaned in their room, and part of the prep was vacuuming Lucille's hair up, I decided I'd get her a bed.  I found a cute pink one but decided that if Strat wanted to use it, he for sure didn't need pink.  I found one a little more neutral.

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She wasn't quite sure about it so I crammed her in.  She likes it.

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I stopped to look at the toys.  I didn't get anything but I found something Dad needs should he ever get a cat.  Something tells me he won't be needing a catnip cigar anytime soon.

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Now for the obvious.  I should be banned from pet stores in the months before Halloween.  Yes, I stopped for cat hats.  Strat is a pirate.  He doesn't like it but he's a pirate.

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Lucille is a witch with purple hair (which suits her with the attitude she's been giving).  She really doesn't like it.  She got ugly with me.  There were claws and screams... from both of us.  She's so ungrateful.  I go and buy her a special tent bed with a soft pillow and she acts like that.  She's not on my good side right now.

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To make up for Lucille's bad behavior and my need to see that hat/wig on, Strat stepped up to the plate.  Well, there was dragging and pinning involved but he went with it.

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I really need to stay out of the costume sections of the pet stores.

yesterday I had a much

needed appointment with a carpet cleaning service.  We only have carpet in the bedrooms and I didn't want my bedroom done so the front bedrooms were attacked with the machine.  It looks so much better but I realized something.  I don't like having carpet cleaned.  I don't like moving everything out of its place.  I don't like the smell.  I don't like the thought of the carpet being wet.  I don't like waiting for the carpet to dry.  I want to make sure the carpet is TOTALLY dry before I start putting everything back in, of course.  Until then, it seems like stuff is everywhere.

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i found a rum in

Puerto Rico and it was really good.  The only problem is, according to the company's website, it's hard to find here.  Not even the Spec's warehouse downtown has it.  While researching the Don Q website for this Pasion or passionfruit flavored rum, I did read they had some type of facility in Dallas.  This led me to believe that it might be easier to find there.  I mentioned it to my mom but I'm sure she either forgot or quit listening during our conversation.  In the meantime, I bought this drink at Kroger.  I haven't had it with rum but I just wanted to have it on hand in case one day I wanted to see what it's like with regular old Bacardi.

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I just poured myself a glass and I have to say, it is "crisp and refreshing" just like the bottle reads.

Also, if any of my other family members (who maybe won't quit listening) happen to be out and around a liquor store in the DFW area, would you see if they have Don Q Pasion?  I'll even let you try it when you get here with it.

yesterday was a great

day except for the fact I got a ticket.  My last ticket was about four years ago.  I'm the slowest driver because I don't want a ticket.  I was pulling into Brazoria yesterday, coming off the bridge, and a cop was parked and angled to catch the next one over.  I wasn't paying enough attention and was thinking about freshman orientation.  She got me for 53 in a 40 but I was actually in a 45.  Sure I was speeding but if she's going to run traffic, she needs to be accurate.

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I'm not thrilled about the ticket and I should have known better but what really gets me is the fact it was in Brazoria.  I really have no respect for their police department.  They've been anything but helpful and have proven themselves to be worthless to me.  I won't say worthless because I enjoy laughing and I've gotten quite a few laughs from the big bad Brazoria police department.  Thinking about them really gets me worked up and they're not worth my time.  Now to make a decision on this ticket.  I could a) take defensive driving and give them less of my money but sit there and think about how much they unnerve me, b) pay the ticket and let it go but give them more money or c) fight the ticket's inaccuracy which would probably give me an ulcer and unleash my bad temper.  Option C is almost not worth it so it's between A and B.  I guess it depends on how much the fine is.  Whatever, I'm already getting worked up.  Have I mentioned how much I dislike Brazoria's police department?  Oh well at least I don't live there, making them part of my daily outing.

I was feeling pretty bitter last night and figured the only way to conquer that was to pop an apple pie in the oven.  That made everything better.

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even though we've had

this major drought going on with scorching temperatures, my gardenia and crepe myrtle are hanging in there nicely.  Actually, they've never looked better.  The gardenia is still blooming and the crepe myrtle is blooming and fuller than ever.  It's not going unnoticed.

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The only thing that annoys me about the crepe myrtle is the debris.  That's not going unnoticed either.

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this is one of the pictures

from Puerto Rico I still had on my phone.  While we were there I noticed plenty of guys with overly groomed eyebrows... not that there's anything wrong with that.  Okay, so maybe it was more like one of those things where you see it once or twice and then you just start looking for it.  Whatever the case, this was hanging at the checkout when we stopped at Walmart.  I'm sure I could find this or something similar at my local Walmart but I've just never noticed anything like it.  So here it is.  Everybody go stock up.

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i usually buy the local

newspaper on Wednesdays just to get all the ads from the local stores.  Last Wednesday I decided to walk down to the machine instead of drive.  I was ready to go with my phone, earbuds, two quarters (in case it's being tacky and spits out dimes or something), tennis shoes, sunglasses and everything.  I made the trek.  It was long and hot but I did it.  Apparently, since the previous Wednesday, they decided to jack the price up on their paper.  There I was with two quarters.  No, a nice person didn't offer to donate another two quarters and the newspaper fairy didn't show up to just hand me a free paper (it has been done before... seriously).  I had to walk home and get more money but then I took the car and bought the paper.  Today's Wednesday and I'm contemplating another walk.  It's so hot out but this time I'll be sure to have four quarters.  What if they bumped the price up again?  Then forget it, that paper's not worth any extra.

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my two favorite sides from

my favorite chicken establishment.

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I saw a commercial the other night for a loaded wrap at Popeyes.  It's a cheddar tortilla filled with fried chicken and read beans and rice.  On that particular night, Eric was in class at the college and that meant he would be passing Popeyes.  I sent him a text but he had gotten out early and was already on his way home.  I was bummed but later found out my cousin's hairstylist had gone to the hospital that day for food poisoning from said Popeyes.  Needless to say, my bummedness turned to thankfulness.  I couldn't take it any longer and had to stop  for sides yesterday.  They were delicious.  Now I'm trying to decide if I should stick with my original plan of having shrimp with red beans/rice tonight or putting it off a day and having ribs.  Decisions, decisions.

i was already way far

behind on photo-a-day and after my two week hiatus from posting, I've only added to the situation.  The last two weeks have been a little busy.  I don't really have much to show for it but just take my word for it, I've been busy.  Just to start somewhere, I'll start with today.  (It is a photo-a-day and how would I ever get by if I didn't post a photo, or 20, from what I do each day?)  I think this weather has me dragging.  It's been so hot and I just haven't felt like doing much, including staying awake... which I've fought.  Today I did tackle my bathroom.  I have a basket of things on the counter and I decided to go all Dodo (my grandmother who cleaned EVERYTHING in sight).  Really now, does anybody else wake up on a Saturday morning and start washing all the crystal?  Anybody besides Dodo?  The next portion of this post, at least the next ten or so pictures, are brought to you by the letter C and the number 5.  You guessed it.  Chanel No. 5.  I bought my first bottle when I was 16 with my first check from my first checkbook...back when checks existed.  Since then, it's all I've worn.  It was always the cologne for me.

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Since it seems like everyone is supposed to have a perfume decanter, I do too.  Mine's always been empty.  If I were to put anything in it, it'd be Chanel No. 5.

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Probably this bottle here.  Only one thing though.  This is cologne.  I guess that'd make it a cologne decanter, if there's such a thing.

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I never wear the perfume; it smells differently than the cologne.  It doesn't smell bad, just different.  Even if I did wear it, it wouldn't need a decanter because it's in a spray bottle.  Maybe that's why it smells differently, it needs a decanter.

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Anyway, I never use it.  I've grown pretty fond of the bath powder though.  (Don't say I never mentioned what I might like for a gift.  Don't even consider this a hint, I'm telling you flat out.  I like the bath powder.)  See?  It's almost empty.  Picking up some more tomorrow.

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Never, ever buy me the lotion though.  I'll never use it... ever.

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I have a small bottle of Coco, just in case I decide to get all crazy and do something out of the ordinary.  It's a tester and I've had it for years.  I don't make it a habit to do something out of the ordinary.

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On another note, here are a few more things I came across.

Lotion.  I don't use it but it smells nice.  It reminds me of Dodo and bathroom spray.

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This stuff.  It's to be used by putting a drop in a shot of water and drinking daily for iodine.  I don't normally get around to doing it but it has something to do with hair.  Maybe I need to find drops for memory and energy.

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One Tylenol tablet that needs to be taken by December of next year.  I'd love to take it now but am waiting to take a Sinus/Allergy headache pill closer to bedtime.  Go big or go home, right?

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And what everyone has lying around their bathrooms, a fortune.  I like to hang on to them (especially the good ones) because they tend to come true.

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Look at that.  That was a lot of catching up.  And I thought that much didn't happen today.  Tomorrow I'll fill you in on my vacuuming.

it's been brought to

my attention that I haven't posted for two weeks.  oops.  I'll get to work in the next couple of days.