i wouldn't want it

any other way.

here's one

from yesterday morning.I'm signing off now. Here comes the storm that accompanies our tornado warning.

my dream involved

a toilet. I don't remember exactly what happened but I remember a toilet and an uncomfortable lack of privacy. I saw this and really liked it. I enjoy scenes like this so much more than, say, a few deer out in a field.

had enough of

the rural settings? I have.

Again, this was a detour on my way home from taking Eric to school. Yeah, I take my camera with me every morning. I never know when I'll feel like taking a detour or going for a ride to see what I might find. Today I found these guys. I know it's not uncommon, but there were a lot of deer out today. Maybe they're out enjoying this 70 degree morning before the rain comes.

no, it really hasn't

come to this. You know, me taking pictures of the new kitten every waking moment. I actually go to my room to get away from it (that room is off limits to Strat). But when I see him in positions like this I just can't help myself. Really now, could this be comfortable? I don't see it.

meet Strat

this is strat the cat, in a hat

This is something I never saw coming. Me, living with a cat. I've never liked cats. Eric wanted a dog but the attention a dog needs is something I just don't have the time for. So when Lauren headed out the door for work and this guy was sitting there wanting to play, I agreed to take in a cat. Yeah, the next day it was like, "what on Earth did I agree to???" - so here I am with a kitten. So far he's okay. He knows where his bathroom is...and uses it. Don't get me wrong, I totally prefer dogs but the independence of a cat is more my style.

hey lauren...

There's a story behind this. One night we were out having a good time and I called Lauren and found out she was late for work and talking like a sailor. (Okay, I think I totally wasted my time typing that. I could have easily wrote that I called Lauren. Anyone who knows her already knows she was running late and talking like a sailor. lol) So we hung up. Then I called back (totally Cosme's idea) and told Lauren, "it'll be okay. Jesus loves you." - she hung up on me.

today I saw

some ducks

one for today

few will understand the angle of the next one

will it ever stop?

So now Oprah is getting her own network. OWN, Oprah Winfrey Network...seriously...did you think she'd call it anything else? I've so had enough of this woman. I just wish she'd retire and go away or at least spare me and for pete's sake - PUT SOMEBODY ELSE ON THAT STUPID MAGAZINE COVER. I hate seeing that woman's ugly face everytime I'm in line at the grocery store. Hasn't she had enough of herself already? Oprah just needs to go away...when she does, I hope she takes the monsters she's created with her (Dr. Phil-your opinions are worthless, Rachael Ray-I admit some of your ideas are handy but you are so annoying, Obama-no comment).

just because

I've been sick and haven't done anything.

a couple of shots from

our stops at Missions San Jose and Concepcion.

on the way to segovia

we stopped in San Antonio. Here's one of the pictures from Mission San Jose. There are a few more but I hear my bed calling me (along with a big cup of soup).

as a wise tot once said,

"Patience Jackass". Yes, the tot was me and no, I'm not practicing what I preached. I suggested we let Eric open one present this evening. Then I thought it would be better if we each opened one. One turned to two. Eric went first. We played a joke on him and gave him a hint that his new guitar was an updated Squier.

Boy, was he surprised to open the Squier box and find a sunburst Stratocaster with gold hardware.

Cosme's turn...

"Sweet!" Cosme opened his GPS and golf clubs. The funny thing about the clubs is he saw the package and thought it was a fountain for the flower bed. (He thought that sounded like something my mother and I would scheme up after the whole "doesn't he need a bench for his birthday?") Yeah, I got a picture of his expression as he opened the clubs but his eyes were shut - I figure after posting the karaoke shot I'd go easy on him.

my turn...

I opened my photo printer (which might have come in handy during the Christmas card dilemma...see post below) and a digital frame. Score!

signed, sealed,

not delivered. I didn't get my Christmas cards out. I waited until the last minute to get a picture made. Since we couldn't agree on a picture, nobody has a card. So here's the alternative...

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Hey, that's faster than the USPS could deliver anyway!)

Yes, there's a story behind the cards not being sent out (make note of this entry). Anyway, I won't get into all that. This picture wasn't nominated for the card but it will go into a frame somewhere in this house. If you'd like to see the other pictures, check out the Flickr link.

party like it's...

well, last weekend. Cosme's office's Christmas party was last weekend. (Yeah, my hair's red but the glow of the ribbons on the tree are making it red to the extreme.) We stayed at the party a while and then headed to Wild West. Yes, you read correctly. This duo headed to a c&w bar. The crazier part of that story is we were dancing to hip-hop as well as c&w. By the way, Cosme did the Cotton-Eyed-Joe for the first time. (I couldn't believe he hadn't learned it in elementary school. I learned it in p.e. - and that was in the city!) Anyway, a few hours later (as well as a few drinks later) Cosme braved the crowd and told me to pick a song for his moment in the spotlight...yeah, karaoke. I gave him three choices: Elvis, The Cult or Johnny Cash. Needless to say, he chose The Cult. So, a little "She Sells Sanctuary" it was. He was told there were people in the back making the typical headbanger hand gestures while bobbing their heads. It was a total rockstar moment. Yeah, yeah, I admit that I was hollering and clapping. The next day he was saying he couldn't believe he got up and did it. Guess what, he can believe it now because one of his co-workers got a lovely shot of it.

Exhibit A:

and why

does it matter what Oprah thinks? Oh, that's right, it doesn't! I don't know what's more pathetic...that people need to take advice from a rags-to-riches talkshow host on everything from books to politicians OR that those people (such as Oprah) believe us people without celebrity status cannot think for ourselves. Seriously, what makes Oprah's opinion of who the next Presdient should be any different from Melanie's...nothing. If I could say one thing to Ms. Winfrey, it would be this, "please shut up and go away. your ramblings on don't mean squat in life outside Harpo." So, Oprah, Barbra, Sean Penn, Ben Affleck, etc...believe it or not, the majority of Americans have minds of their own and don't need your input...thanks anyway.

I would get started on Brad Pitt and his quest to save the world with our help, but I'm so sick of it all I can't bring myself to ruin a perfectly good morning.

UPDATE: at Mom's request, the picture of Oprah Winfrey was removed because "it doesn't deserve to be posted".

biscotti

I made it today for the first time. It was so easy and pretty tasty. (It's topped with almond bark.) I'm ready to try out all sorts of variations now!

and from out of nowhere

came the zombies...pitchfork-wielding farm zombies. No, not really.

This was on my way home from taking Eric to school. The fog was really bad for a couple of days. I thought this land on 521 would offer an eerie picture. Breakfast was being served on the other side of the highway.

remember the ornaments

I posted a few days ago? Well, here's what became of them. I decided to put them on a frame. To give you an idea how small they are, the frame is for a 2-inch square picture. I just put pretty paper in there for now but it will be the gift tag for Brittany's birthday present.

i think i see a light

at the end of the tunnel...well, this tunnel anyway. The body work on the car should get started in the very near future. happy times.

for those who knew

I was looking, here's the picture. This is the new tree...minus the ornaments (that comes later today). The 9' looks so much better than the 7'. (I know the ribbon is messed up. It will be fixed.) The old tree was as tall as the cabinet to the left - not good.

does it get

any cuter than this?

I found these miniature ornaments at Hobby Lobby. Yes, I hate that store but I went in to check out the Christmas trees. (I didn't find anything I liked-no surprise.) Anyway, I saw these and HAD to get them to put on a gift for Brittany. Who knows if she has any use for them...but aren't they the cutest?

kermit

Remember this guy from an October 6th post? A while back he was all nestled in the handle of my garbage can. Either he never left or he's back. I'm guessing he never left. So I have a pet frog. Anyone who knew me circa 1980, knows how much I loved The Muppet Show, Muppet magazine and more than anything, Miss Piggy. From now on he will be referred to as Kermit. Yes, since he lives in my garbage can Oscar would be a more fitting name, but that's so Sesame Street. Please. I hate frogs and he's so ugly but since he won't go away...

control

We saw Control last night. It was good. Depressing, but good. I really liked it.

stinkbug

This wall is at the corner of Louisiana and something. I've always thought it would be a good backdrop for a picture. So here's the backdrop and the only willing subject - a stinkbug.

tattoo you

was the weekend's theme. I could have worked around posting it this way and I know this is backwards, but that's the way posts post, the way the cookie crumbles, the way it is. So, scroll down a few posts to start at the beginning. Ready? Okay.

So Cosme and I drove back to Shaw's the next morning for his tattoo. He has been wanting this tattoo to cover up a homemade tattoo he got when he was 17. He was very patient and sat in the chair and endured the pain for two hours.

It was funny because he'd been sitting for so long. The guy started cleaning his arm up and told Cosme, "Okay, the outline's done". He made a few adjustments. The original had lots of red and blue in it but Cosme didn't want color. So, here's the final product. You can barely see the old stuff.

store front

I thought the packaging on these things were really cute.

old truck

waiting at shaw's

so we didn't

make it to Austin. Instead we went for dinner at the Strip House. After dinner we ended up at Shaw's for tattoos. We had about an hour wait. Mindy and Cosme had their tattoos picked out so we sat and patiently waited...and played around with the camera. (Hellooo, you know I brought the camera!) Well, Mindy was first. They called Cosme next but he didn't have his drivers license. He was so mad. Well, Mindy almost chickened out because she thought she would pass out. She said she really wanted to do it but she didn't want to pass out. I told her it was her turn and if she really wanted it, then just do it. She sent me next door to get some apple juice, just in case.

Well, everything was fine. Mindy didn't pass out and now she has a cute little anchor on her butt...joke. She has a little butterfly. It's very girlie. See for yourself...

So, Cosme didn't get his but we did manage to get a few pictures before the night ended. (Which was right after Mindy got her tattoo.) By then, everyone was so tired. I know Cosme and I both fell asleep on the way home. That was nice! Usually, I'm the one driving home.

Oh well, I've tried to add a couple of pics we took while waiting but something's not working. Speaking of butts... I guess I'll try again later.

haunted house

With only a black light to shine on what lurked ahead, they entered the hallway to be frightened by a creaking door and floating ghost. Next was the entrance to the trail of screams so many chose to take. I was seated at the entrance to warn them of the danger that lurked ahead.

As they worked their way through the maze, they came across an old pumpkin patch with what appeared to be a worn out scarecrow. Little did they know, this scarecrow was full of life. There were many screams and a few cries but the whole time...I was laughing, even a couple of snorts came out. It was so much fun. We had people hiding in the walls with slits cut in the plastic. It was so dark in there, it was crazy. I took the pictures before the lights went out (obviously). We had black lights everywhere, a smoke machine going, a witch's pot glowing, a gorilla breaking out of chains and several masked madmen. Cosme started the night as the scarecrow and Eric was in the wall. Eric left to have food and fun at the festivities in the hall next door and his place was filled in the wall. During our break, Cosme gave Eric the scarecrow position and Cosme put on Eric's outfit and a mask and hid in the haunted house's graveyard. It was so much fun. I've been working so hard the past couple of days to help up at the church. I'm exhausted! Today I'll help take everything down but I can't stay long because I have to come home and get everyone ready for this weekend. WHEW! I'm tired. Well, I have one more shot from last night. It's of the three of us after the event. You can tell how hard Cosme and Eric had been working.

I realized after this picture that I need a new pose. Every picture is the same. Me on the end with my head tilted upward as if that will make me appear as tall as everybody else. It's just not happening.

I'm still here

I've been so busy I haven't had time for my camera. I should have a few of our Halloween pics tonight and LOTS of pics after this weekend.

honestly...

tell me what you think. I found this dress and thought it looked like me. I like the style, color, length and price. I like it. So, should I keep it? I really like the dress but am not real sure about how it looks on me. Keep in mind I will wear some sort of short black jacket with it.

Here's a close up of the fabric.