oh how i miss thee

This wasn't the last time I had a Coke but it sure feels like it.  It's my favorite and I've gone without for over a week.

remember the yard

work from yesterday?  I went ahead and cleaned up my trimmings from the bushes and started the mower.  I was only going to do one small section and not risk the possibility of an awkward run-in but then another section was added on, then another and before I knew it the front and side yards were already mowed.  (By the way, there was no yard guy encounter.  whew.)  I decided at that point I could either a) die or b) get Eric to mow the rest after school when it was cooler.  I chose to wait.  Fast forward to about 4:00 and guess what I hear.  The guy was next door mowing.  Cool.  He'll never know it was me.

Actually, I didn't ask Eric to finish the back.  Occasionally I get in the mood to get outside and do things.  This is one of those times.

so willie nelson

cut the pigtails for a bob?

On most people I'd say it was a good choice.  Hmm.  A bob?  Seriously?  Okay, whatever.

i think i've got loyalty

issues.  Is it possible to be too loyal?  If so, that's me.  I'm taking a break from yard work.  Sometimes I have a guy do the yard for me.  He also does the neighbor's yard.  I know he started doing their yard on a schedule where mine he only does when I call.  Anyway, a while back he asked if I wanted to be on the same schedule or to keep on calling when I need him.  I told him I'd call because Eric will be mowing to earn money.  (That's right, make it somebody else's fault.)  Sometimes I'll wait until the neighbor's yard is done or not needing to be done just to prevent an awkward run-in with him.  I'm scared to be out doing yard work because he might drive by and see me doing it myself.  It's almost like I'm cheating... with myself.  I got a lot of work done today but I noticed the neighbor's yard is looking pretty bad.  I decided to take a break in case he shows up today.  Maybe I'll do some more this evening.

Now I need to call for an appointment with my nail tech.  I won't "cheat" on her either and lately it's been so hard to see her since she's gone back to school.

i'm sitting here waiting

for 8:00 because I don't think it's polite to start using yard equipment before 8:00.  Yes, I realize that most people have left for work or are leaving for work but there's always that possibility that someone is still in bed.  So for that person, I wait until 8:00.  That just seems like a good solid time.  7:00 is still a little early (for a lot of people) and by 9:00, half the morning's gone. 

Last week was the powder puff game at the high school.  Eric was asked to be a dancing dude, a partner of one of the school's dancing dolls.  The halftime performance was the dancing dolls with their dancing dude dancing a routine to Shake Your Groove Thing.

Playing guitar in front of a crowd, dancing in the middle of a football field for an audience, making good grades in algebra II AND chemistry... I know he didn't get any of that from me.

just an observation

from a couple of weeks ago.  Eric and I were waiting for our food at the drive-thru window of the Chinese restaurant.  Across the street they're building a new shopping center.  This is what we saw
these guys were working hard...

and this guy was under the nice structure the others were assembling and hardly working

 never mind, he decided to get up and help the rest of the crew

oh wait, he was just scratching at something on his arm

last night i took

some pictures of Eric during the King of the Blues competition

i watched a movie due

to pure boredom yesterday.  It was on HBO or something.  I watched this.

It was, by far, one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  Scratch that.  It was the worst movie I have ever seen.  It was bad.  I had to finish it just to see how it ended.  Wait, there was a Jennifer Lopez wedding movie that co-starred Jane Fonda and I walked out on that one after ten minutes.  Okay, that one might have been the worst movie I'd ever seen but Mamma Mia was right there with it.

On a different note, Cosme leaves Barrancabermeja today.  I'll pick him up from the airport tomorrow.

Before that though, tonight we have Eric's guitar contest.  I don't think I'll be able to eat all day.  I'm so nervous.  We were going over his stuff last night and I was giving him my feedback... since I am a musical genius and all.  I hope that goes well.  I guess though, me getting through the evening without getting sick translates to going well but I also hope Eric knocks the judges' socks off.

wow, what a weekend

I described it to Cosme like this

but the more I think about it, this is a little more accurate

i don't know what

embarrasses me more, the fact that I watched Oprah last week or the fact that I watched it because it was all about Eclipse.  If you don't know what Eclipse is, then I'll leave it at that and you can make fun of me for watching Oprah.  If you know what Eclipse is, then you were probably watching too or wishing you had been.

blogging just isn't

the same without my computer.  I'm having to sign in on Eric's computer as a guest and I feel so limited.  I can't do anything.

happy birthday

to Cosme.  Wait a minute.  I just realized why he needed to take my laptop with him.  I think it had something to do with a birthday blog post.  I didn't post his baby/little kid pictures last year because of the few I do have of him, I didn't really know if he'd want me to.  I'm nice like that.  Besides, why would I want to give him reason to get me back on my birthday?  (Every year I request that nothing be said to a waiter at any restaurant on my birthday.  He's listened to me so far and I'm not going to risk ruining that.)  I at least wanted to post a current pic this year.  Oh well.  Since I'm on Eric's computer and am too afraid to mess anything up, I guess Cosme's safe once again.  Next year will be my third year to do the whole picture/birthday blog post.  Maybe the third time will be a charm.

my computer is

on vacation right now.  It's in Colombia with Cosme.  He got in to Bogota last night and we had already planned that I would call from the house phone directly to his room.  He gave me the room number when he got in but I couldn't figure out how to call.  It was late and I was tired but that wasn't the problem.  I called the operator and she told me what to dial first.  Didn't work.  I called information to find out how to get an international number.  She asked what city and state.  I told her the city and told her it is Colombia.  She said I need to call a different number (duh, woman).  I called the other number, it had been changed.  I called the new number, I am not allowed access.  I gave up and called him back on his cell phone.  Whatever.

Aren't operators supposed to help me use the freaking phone?  And since when does the operator change her number?  And why am I denied access when calling the operator?  Oh well, I'll try again tonight.  He flew out of Bogota this morning and just landed in Barrancabermeja, also known as the birthplace of the ELN (National Liberation Army) guerilla group.  I would post a picture from a map but I'm not familiar with this Windows 7 jazz.

For now, I'm using Eric's computer.  I might or might not post pictures while my computer's away.  We'll see.  After getting a few pictures from Cosme's phone though, nothing around here seems interesting.  Colombia seems like a place I'd love to explore.  I guess I'm better off here, out of guerilla territory.  Maybe I'll see what West Columbia has to offer instead.  fun. fun.

the garage door man

showed up yesterday and was kind enough to raise the door so I could get my car (and anything else I'd need for the weekend) out of the garage.  What a relief.  He didn't have the right springs but at least I have transportation now.  Anyway, I did get to run my errands yesterday.  When I pulled into the driveway with all my groceries and a new grill, I realized that all that stuff had to be carried in.  Ugh.  It might not seem like a long walk but it actually is.

See the arrow on the right?  That's where I parked.  See the arrow on the left?  Down that walkway is the front door.  Seriously.  It doesn't seem like a long walk in the picture but it is.  Take into consideration too that extending out of the right side of the picture is another 10 feet or so of flower bed that has to be walked around.  And that walkway to the front door?  It's over ten feet.  You put all that together while carrying grocery sacks in the Texas heat at noon and you've got something I'd rather not do.  (I would like to take a minute to mourn the possible loss of the once overgrown hibiscus.  When I cut them back earlier this year they never returned.  Shouldn't they be blooming now?)  Oh well.  I thought for a minute.  There had to be a more efficient way to get this done.  My answer?  The wheel barrow.  I got it out and loaded the groceries up and wheeled everything to the back door.

It was ghetto.  Wait.  Can a wheel barrow be "ghetto"?  Yeah, it probably can if the only tire it has is flat.

If there was ever a time I felt like a hillbilly, it was then.  I've probably said that before but I'm pretty sure hauling the groceries to the back door in a wheel barrow with a flat tire tops any other moment I've had.  On the bright side, that wheel barrow is so rarely used, it was nice to finally get some use out of the thing.

Now that I'm back on track, it's time to get to prepping.  I have a cake to bake, dip to make, shrimp to thaw, eggs to boil and as usual, the regularly scheduled cleaning and laundry.

today was the day

I planned to run errands.  I had so much to do.  I needed to hit the grocery store so I could spend all day tomorrow baking and prepping for Saturday.  Oh, I was even going to get a new grill today.  It started off good.  Eric's friend stayed the night last night since they have PALS stuff going on all day off campus.  I went to Shipley's for donuts and my nemesis finally wasn't working the drive-thru window and it was the nice lady that used to always work it.  (I'll explain in a minute.)  I stopped at the mailbox on the way home and that's when the good day I was having turned not-so-good.  I got out of the car and didn't realize I hadn't zipped the side pocket of my purse with all my cash when I left Shipley's.  Bills and coins went all over the street.  I got all but two pennies... I think.  I got the mail and drove home.  I pulled into the garage, shut the door and came inside.  [Insert loud noise]  The spring on the garage door is in several pieces.  Now I'm sitting here waiting on the man to call me back so he can come out and confirm his not having the part I need while I wonder if there's any way I can have that door opened by 11:00 so I can get all my garbage out to the street.  Oh well.  I'm going to look on the bright side.  Eric had a ride so there were no worries there, I have plenty to keep me busy inside for the day, I can always go to the grocery store this evening and finally, I didn't have to face my nemesis at Shipley's.

I'll explain the situation at Shipley's.  I think the girl has it out for me.  I think she gets mad because I ask for hot donuts.  She's never nice to me and has done things, I think, to intentionally aggravate me.  She has left my donuts just out of reach, sitting on the drive-thru window sill while she gets change.  She has given me the exact opposite of what I ordered.  Last week I didn't ask for hot donuts and she was suspiciously friendly with her smile as she said goodbye.  I pulled off only to find cold donuts in the bag.  Ugh, it's so frustrating.

Anyway, I'm going to go do all I can while being unexpectedly stuck.  At least I had a hot donut this morning.  Things could be worse.

i'm working

outside today.  Have I mentioned how much I hate snakes?  I thought so.  Apparently the snakes didn't get any such memo.

i might be slacking the

next couple of days.  I have stuff to do and other stuff to get ready for.  I have banquets to attend and family dinners to prepare for.  There are stores to be shopped and rooms to be cleaned.  There is work to be done and resting will follow.  For these reasons, I predict slacking.

i have a lot of stuff to

do today and not much to talk about.  So I'm just going to post a couple of random pictures I have on my computer.  The first is pretty obvious.  The second is a back staircase from Graceland.  It's runs alongside a jungle room and a little recording studio where I believe they said Elvis recorded "Moody Blue".  I wish we could have gone up there.

last night we

watched Avatar.

It definitely wasn't one of my favorite movies.

for a while we had

one thing to go along with our hamburgers.  Onion strings.

We like them better than onion rings.  They're so thin and crispy and good.  Since we've been eating better we haven't had any onion strings, until Sunday.  I miss onion strings.

Now I have to sign off.  I have a ton of things to do today.  I need to walk, edge the yard, clean up a mirror I'm about to paint for Lauren, finish a painting I'm working on for Lauren, paint frames for the painting I'm working on for Lauren and bake a cake for bingo...along with the usual stuff.  I have decided on one thing though.  I need a shed.  I don't mean a shed shed, I mean a workshop shed.  A shed with light, air, a sink a restroom and heck, I guess a refrigerator and couch too.  I need a place to do my stuff.  A place to make artsy stuff and just be creative.  I need a studio.

this morning i grabbed

a couple of sausages out of a container of leftovers.  I almost stuck this one in my mouth but then I looked a little closer.

For about two seconds I considered not eating it or any other processed meat ever again.  And then it was gone.

it's a little late but

I originally wanted to post this picture for Easter.  I love it.

If ever a picture were to be titled "WTF?!?", this would be it.  Eric was about three months old.

happy earth

day.  All morning I've had Earth, Wind and Fire in my head, even though I'm not a fan.  BUT... I am a fan of these people who redo music their own way.  Here's their take on Earth, Wind and Fire.  I like it almost as much as I like their take on Beyonce but I really like this one.

While on the topic of Earth and Earth day, I'd like to point out this logo.

In this day and age with everybody trying to save the planet, is this really the best they could come up with?

happy birthday to

Lauren.  I sent her a text this morning telling her I hadn't gotten around to the post yet.  The pictures I have aren't the best quality but I'm posting them anyway.

Here I am holding Lauren.  The look on my face is a little creepy but Lauren just seems to be going along with it.  She's just chilling out.

Ever wonder what to give Lauren for her birthday?  (Or Christmas or Easter or any day at that)  Money.  It seems to get her excited.  Nothing like a little money to make you want to gasp and... er... grab your feet?  Uh... okay.

What doesn't seem to do the trick is hanging out with family, even if it is Jake and Brittany.  The walkman is doing no good.  Somebody should have dangled money in front of her.

Aww, a cute, chubby baby seems to mellow her out a little.

Or maybe just a hat.  (This was the Christmas Lauren and I decided we would be different and wear hats for the occasion.)

Oh well, I'm sure she's going out and having a good time tonight even if she doesn't have a hat, a cute little baby... or money!

unlike his rebel

friends,

 this one was a law abiding duck.

 

This was out at the San Jacinto carnival this weekend.

i've noticed lately i usually

have something posted before 7:00 each morning.  I don't really have anything to post today so I decided I post pictures to show why.

Today's garbage day.  I need to get two pounds of shrimp cleaned before the garbage gets picked up.

I want to bake a chocolate sheet cake.  Even though it's way too big for just us, Eric's having friends over tomorrow to help him with the wiring on the MG.  I figure that big of a cake might be perfect.

I need to make another pitcher of tea.  By the way, I only had one soft drink yesterday and it was a diet Dr. Pepper.  I didn't have any Coke.  It's looking like today might not go the same.

If I get around to it I might make rolls.  Let me rephrase that.  IF I get around to it I MIGHT make rolls.  While all of that is going on I'm doing laundry.

Once again, while there is a lot going on... there's not much going on.  Okay so maybe pictures of these things weren't necessary but didn't it make the post easier to read and maybe a little more filling?

i've cut back and

I think I'm doing okay.  It started with every time I had a soft drink, I had to have a bottle of water next.  I'm not following that exactly but I am also not drinking as many soft drinks.  We'll see how long it lasts.

i was out doing some

work in the yard yesterday.  Looking ahead as I mowed, I saw a bright pink flower standing by itself.  Before I mowed it down I ran to get the camera.  There was a little lavender flower beside it too.  Still thinking of Dad's print that I posted yesterday, I immediately thought of Lauren's new apartment.  You can see the two flowers here.

In case the blog looks a little off today, I might be in the process of making adjustments.  That's a big might.

now that it was

ordered, delivered and opened, I can share the canvas Dad received last week.

I made this last summer at the driving range.  I hope it turned out okay.  I've never ordered the gallery wraps but I've always been happy with this particular company's prints.

the cats were due for

a trip to the vet.  For some reason I thought it would be easier to take them at once.  The last time I used the cage there was plenty of room for two cats.  I scheduled their appointment and got the cage down and dusted off.  Note to self: cats get bigger.  It was a tight fit.

I wanted a picture so I kept calling for Lucille to look up at the camera.  She just kept her head hung like she was so sad to be in there.  This was unusual because Lucille's the one that loves being in tight spaces.

I got down to see why she would look up at me.  Oh, I see.

Her face was smashed against the door.  A few minutes later she realized she could make adjustments and get a little comfortable.  By that time, I believe Strat was getting fed up so he started to plan an escape... which he has done in the past.

He couldn't reach the latch on the bottom.  So he started to investigate a latch on the top.

I don't know if he pressed his face against the door to make me feel sorry for him and let him out or if he was trying to figure out how exactly to get to the bottom latch.  (I understand it could very possibly be neither of those reasons but that's how I'm piecing it together.)

Which ever he was thinking, he eventually gave up and decided to just go with it.  The office visit was another story.  It took me and the help of two others to get Lucille out to be weighed.  It's no wonder I figured they would both fit in the cage.  The last time Lucille was in it she was 5 pounds and Strat was 7.  This time they were 11.9 and 18.3.

I did like the convenience of taking them at once so sometime in the next year it'd probably be in my best interest, and the cats' too, to invest in a bigger cage.

**this post has been

edited to protect the "innocent".  through emails, my friend Jamie and I touched on the topic of OCD and the necessity of having everything just right.  She was referring to a birthday party she's planning but I agreed with her and realized how many things that applies to with me.  Okay, perhaps it's not OCD but I know I'm a control freak, especially when it comes to creative control.  A lot of the times I realize that if it's not done exactly how I think it should be done, I lose interest and want no part of it.  This not only applies to birthday parties or similar events but school projects too.  Sometimes I get carried away with school projects. 
Monday morning Eric told me he had a project due on Wednesday.  I thanked him for not telling me Friday and at least giving us the weekend to work on it.  He explained what had to be done... a family tree.  Ohhh, my mind began to explore all the different things we could do.  What fun.  I started rambling off ideas, all the different techniques or mediums we could use.  Eric stopped me.  "This is for Medical Terminology... it's not Art."  Fine.  Whatever.  He obviously wouldn't need my help.  Fast forward to 6:30 Tuesday evening.  Eric walks in the kitchen and tells me he needs help drawing a tree.  Even though I'm so excited to try a different idea I had earlier in the day, I didn't let it show.  "Fine.  Bring me your project board."  A few minutes later we had a black and white tree.  Sharpie on white.  (boring.)  I explained to him how there are places in the branches for the names to be written.  Done.

I really don't know why I get like this over school projects.  Maybe if I had done my own instead of pushing them off as another one does, I would have gotten it out of my system... or not.

this picture is about

to drive me nuts.  I found it over at Twomama's.  From back to front on the couch it is Kim, Mom, me and Cindy.  I just want to know where it was taken and who is the baby.  As much as the baby looks like Lauren, it's not.  I was eleven when Lauren was born and considering I'm about five in the picture, do the math.

I do have to add this fact.  I always loved the skirt Mom is wearing in the picture.  It reminded of Cha Cha from Grease.  Even though she was mean and stole Sandy's place in the dance contest, I still liked her dress and wanted to dance like they did.

i didn't do a very

good job with Easter this year.  I had a postcard to scan and post to wish everyone a Happy Easter.  I didn't get around to it.  I didn't even get around to buying cards and candy.  Eric woke up Sunday morning and wanted to know what was going on.  He woke up excited and came into the living room to find nothing.  I told him I was sorry.  I made up for it yesterday.  I had to run to the store and passed the Easter candy aisle.  Then I realized that all the Easter candy was half off so I loaded up on Eric's favorites.

I left them in the bag and when he got home I told him Happy Easter.  While filling my basket with the peanut butter eggs, I also saw some cute little fruity, gummie candy I just had to have.  They're so cute I'll show you the three that were left in the pink package after eating the bunny and chick.  An owl,

a squirrel

and a porcupine.

The pinks were so cute I had to get blue too.