Day 30!!! Whooo Hoooo!

K. It's here and I'm done.

But what's funny is that now that I've gotten into the habit, I'll probably try to blog more than I used to. I can't promise every day, but more than I did.

On a closing note, some things you probably didn't know (and if you did, then read them again; they're still interesting).

1. Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton..

2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper.

3. The dot over the letter 'i' is called a 'tittle'.

4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

5. Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller.

6. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.

7. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.

8. The 'spot' on 7UP comes from its inventor, who had red eyes. He was albino.

9. On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents, daily.

10. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are brother and sister.

11. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog.

12. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark's stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

13. Most lipstick contains fish scales

14. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.

15. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.

16. Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case' letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the smaller, 'lower case' letters.

17. Leonardo DaVinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time, hence, multi-tasking was invented.

18. Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.

19. There are no clocks in Nevada gambling casinos.

20. The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan; there was never a recorded Wendy before.

21. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with: orange, purple, and silver.

22. Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips.

23. A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

24. The mask used by Michael Myers in the original 'Halloween' was a Captain Kirk's mask painted white.

25. If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar (good to know.)

26. By lying on your back and raising your legs slowly, you won't sink into quicksand (and you thought this list was completely useless.)

27. The phrase 'rule of thumb' is derived from an old English law, which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.

28. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At that time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.

29. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.

30. The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher. (I'll have to verify that one with my Jewish friends)

31. Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries.

32. Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a space suit damages it. (hmmmm)

33. George Carlin said it about Martha Stewart: 'Boy,I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O. J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Bin Laden too. But they take the ONE woman in America still willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and they haul her fanny off to jail.'


And thus ends the 30th Day of NaBloPoMo.

Only one more day - Day 28 and 29

Okay. I have to admit it; I failed miserably in the "Blog Everyday in November" thang. Couldn't do. I tried. I really did.

So I'm going to try to finish off the month with some pics from our yard.



This is (so far) the biggest toadstool I've ever seen in our yard. I hope the dogs don't smoosh it. I want to see how big it will become.

This is Owen, taking Abbi for a walk. He is leading her around by her collar while he rides his Mini John Deere Gator. She kept looking at me as if to to say "What? Is? Going? On?"

Owen and I were doing some chores around by the pond and all of the sudden, a blackberry branch came winging out and grabbed his knit hat and took it right off his head! Funniest thing ever!

Here it is, hanging off the branch.

We were collecting some old wood from the forest next to the pond and having a little bonfire. This angle (as I look at it here) seems like Owen is a bit too close to the fire. Bad Kiki!

Actually he wasn't that close and I watched him the entire time. We like to make bonfires and burn some of my recycle paper on cool days.

And thus ends the 28 and 29 day.

Happy Thanksgiving!! - Day 27 of the Blog

I have more pictures of our day but they're on my camera and I'm too darn lazy to go up to my other computer to download them so you'll have to look at the one I took with my phone. :)
We had a good dinner. We had Bob and Kathi (Steve's parents) and the kids. Emilee didn't make it this year but we talked throughout the day.

Ben cooked the turkey in a new format (soaking in a brine all night then stuffing with oranges and spices) and it was terrific. We had our usual rolls, stuffing, veggies, gravy and thousands of desserts! Yikes.

It was a great, albeit long day.

My voice is still gone, but I'm on the mend.

Owen didn't have to spend the day in the hospital with croup like the doctors said he might.

I don't remember if I mentioned his having to go to the hospital at the wee hours of Wednesday morning. He was having difficulty breathing and nothing was helping. So they felt it was best to take him in to ER. Before they got on their way, O threw up all over himself and so they had to hurry and change him before going (she's pregnant and most smells make her gag right now). While they were gone, I hurried and washed his stuffed owl (comfort toy) and his pajamas so that it would be clean when they came home.

Jen's has had the humidifier running non-stop since Wednesday. It's feeling like a rain forest down there but it helps so much to have moisture in the air. The croup didn't come back and he's coughing good healthy coughs.

It's hard when so many people live in the same house and one gets a cold (me) and then passes it around like a hot potato. Especially when they're little.


The other picture from my camera won't send so I'll have to try later. I'm tired but I wanted to blog before the day ended. I only have three more days so I want to make everyday.

Tomorrow is Black Friday but I'm not up to going shopping at 4 friggin AM. Nothing is worth that to me. Nope. I'll still find good deals after tomorrow.


And thus ends the 27th day.

Day 3 of the Cold - Day 26 of the Blog

Stuffy nose: check.

Scratchy throat: no check.

Husky, sexy Lauren Bacall voice: no check.

High, whiny, windy Richard Simmons in a test-tube voice: check.

Lovely.

At least two of the kids are doing better. Robee and Felix are on the mend. Owen however, had to be rushed to the emergency room at 3 am because his lungs were so tight he could not get a breath. He had two breathing treatments and finally the second one did the trick along with a steroid shot.

We're now in the early preparations for Thanksgiving dinner. I shopped til I dropped today to get all the necessary supplies for what is needed.

I started the famous "Aunt Lynn's Jello Dessert" this evening because it has three layers and it has to set between each one.

However, we have discovered that the fridge is not cooling as it's supposed to. The freezer works but the fridge is staying at 52 degrees and I'm not happy about that. It can break down Friday if it wants to since I have always hated this fridge and would like it gone but NOT TOMORROW. NO WAY. NO HOW.


And thus ends the 26 day.

Day Two of the Cold - Day 25

Still have the cold.

Stuffy.

Not so scratchy throat.

Voice fairly raspy, which has it's benefits because now I have a sultry-like Lauren Bacall thang goin' on.

Still poppin' the Echineacha, Goldenseal, Ester-C and Airborne.

And Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (the giant economy size) have been a BIG help too.

I will be better by Thanksgiving.

The kids are feeling better. Could it be because I threatened them with their lives if they even so much as HINTED that they were feeling ill? Nah.

Owen has a stuffy nose, raspy voice, and sneezy nose too. We like everyone to enjoy illness together; as a family.

Going shopping tomorrow for the fixins for Thursday. I'm making only the Oreo Pie. We've got so many d*** pies, that we'll be rolling for a month ---- just in time for Christmas festivities!!

I'm sort of sad that this whole blog-everyday-thing is going to end in five days. It's been rather fun and helped me to write; even if it wasn't the most creative writing I've ever seen. It sure made the month go by fast -- not that it needed any help, mind you. The months have been whizzing by me like a tornado and I'd wish it would stop.


And thus ends the 25th day.

Have the Cold but Not keeping the Cold - Day 24

Have the cold.

Stuffy nose.

Scratchy throat.

Irritable and ornery (is that the cold or just my normal countenance? hmmmm ... I wonder).

No sleep due to no breathing due to stuffy nose.

Kids stayed home again from school with illness. My level of patience decreases as I feel worse and I'm not near as caring as I was on the first day of sickness.

Children are little test tubes of virus, crawling their way into your mucus membranes and infecting you with their sickness ---- each time they cough in your personal space.

Argh.


And thankfully, ends day 24. I want to go to bed right now.

I'm Getting a cold but I'm not going to get it - Day 23

So Felix comes down sick on Thursday; stomach cramps, headache. Owen also is sick on Thursday. Two down, one to go. I'm hoping Robee can avoid it.

Nope. Robee comes down with the same thing on Friday. Owen is better and so is Felix.

Wait for it......

Now I have a scratchy throat, stuffy nose and pounding headache.

I truly believe in Echinacea and Vitamin C and Goldenseal AND Airborne. I take each one daily (sometimes hourly) to help reduce symptoms and reduce the amount of time of the actual cold. A homemade chocolate chip cookie as a chaser, does wonders too.

I'll keep you updated.


And thus ends the 23 day (rather boring, but hey? It's Sunday - my least favorite day of the week .... now.)

Non-Thankful things (STOP THE MUSHINESS!) - Day 22

I like to be a little different and sometimes think out of the box.

I've been reading other blogs (a.k.a. stalking) and as this time of year nears the last Thursday of November (Thanksgiving), I see how many people are thankful for this or for that. I'm not discounting those things, but I find that I'm un-thankful for things too. Things that disrupt and sometimes ruin the lives of others in my family, friends, and people I come in contact with during the course of the day, week, month or year.

And I know there will be those good types who say "Yes but if it weren't for the un-thankful things, you wouldn't be thankful for the thankful things."

Yeah yeah. I know that already. I've been to church. I've read "Chicken Soup for the Soul" too.

But regardless, I'm going to list the things I'm un-thankful for, just to be ..... me. Devil's Advocate if you will. Behold:

I'm not Thankful for:

1. Alzheimer's Disease - it rapes the mind and takes from us our precious aunts, uncles, grandparents, and parents and robs them of their memories.

2. Cancer - it attacks without prejudice: young, old, male, female. It doesn't care. Not only does it create pain in both the patient and the family, it also creates financial damage due to our outrageous health care system.

3. This economy - I watch (now that I'm working in the office) countless people coming in, through NO fault of their own (despite what others think) are losing their homes and vehicles. It could be because of an emergency medical problem (see above) or a lost job or higher taxes that they have no control over whatsoever. Young families, retired couples - these people have NOT been living beyond their means; they've just been trying to live day to day, take care of their kids and do what everyone else wants to do; be happy.

4. Religion - I realize that this may raise some hackles but the reason I say this is because religion has caused some of the most devastating attacks ever known. People will do anything if it means doing in the name of their G-d or whoever their higher power may be. I didn't say that I'm not thankful for G-d; I just don't like what humans have done to this name. Religion does not come from G-d; it's man-made and man makes mistakes.

5. Poaching - killing animals that are becoming more and more difficult to find on our earth is unbelievable to me. I know that in some countries, poaching is the only way to survive but then there needs to be some way to stop this and find another way to produce money and food.

6. Pollution/Global Warming - regardless of what "I can See Russia from my house" says, there is absolute evidence that humans are the main cause of Global Warming and it's time we took care of this Earth. It is not man's Divine Right to destroy this place.

7. Alcohol/Drugs - it makes people do very stupid things like .... forget that they have responsibilities to kids and other family members; steal from their families and friends for their love of the stuff; think that they are invincible and they'll never get caught; drive when they shouldn't.

8. Fires, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Hurricanes, etc. - obviously because people lose their homes, their belongings, their lives.


I have more which I will add to before the fated day of Thanksgiving.



And I'm late and the 21st day ended yesterday. I know, I know.

I think my kids should not go onto the dance floor - Day 21

Okay. First of all, I adore my kids. I really do. I may be a bit gruff with them (I think that's the impression from most people) but I always tell them that my bark is worse than my bite.

However, as much as I love them and as perfect as I think that they are and I think that everything they do is absolutely out-of-this-world wonderful ..................... this may not be one of them:

Seriously, I am so thankful for video that I'm able to catch these precious moments. :)

And thus ends the 21st day.

Oreo Cheesecake Recipe! This is yummy and will be part of my menu for Thanksgiving

Oreo Cheesecake Ingredients:

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
6 Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cup), divided
1 Oreo Pie Crust (6 oz.)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Beat vanilla, sugar and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
2. Add eggs; mix just until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cookies.
3. Pour mixture into Oreo crust. Sprinkle the remaining chopped cookies on top.
4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

A Night at Starbucks - Day 20

Our favorite thing to do after Tae Kwon Do class is to go to Starbucks. We've been doing this for about a year (I do believe we personally pay for the salaries of the workers at this particular Starbucks) and it's become a ritual for us.

The workers all know us and know exactly what we order, since it never changes: two Venti Green Tea Lattes, one soy (Thomas) one non-fat (me), no melon but substitute with one (only one) pump of raspberry syrup at 120 degrees. The kids get Tall Hot chocolates, kid-temperature and a cookie.

Last night, Thomas got caught with too many clients and wasn't able to join us for class or Starbucks { :-( so we hung out and took pictures of each other.

Robee lost his other lateral incisor and now he looks like a rabid rabbit. And acts like one at times.

Felix (as well as Robee) has the stinkiest feet this side of the Cascades. Here is Felix trying to burn off her mother's nose with the scent.

Robee and his mom.

Felix and her mom (funny; looks like the same mom)

Robee after too much sugar.

The three of us. Time to go home and get ready for bed and start the next day.

And thus ends the 20th day.

FIELD TRIP!!!! - Day 19

Today, the third and fourth graders at Prez Elem. got to go on a special field trip to Arlington High School where they watched a special performance of "Peter Pan." I was lucky enough to be selected from other parents to go (names in a hat drawing).

It was a very nice performance and I didn't even fall asleep. I typically fall asleep at movies and such. I figure it's totally worth seven bucks for a nap. But I didn't want to embarrass Robee either. He was already concerned that I might doze off and start snoring. :)

This is Robee and his friend Jack on the bus ride back to school. Jack has an identical twin brother named Sam and I've heard that together, they are ............ well ....... a handful. They haven't been put in the same classroom since kindergarten. I used to wish for twins but then I think .... nah. I'm fine.

And they really did fly too! Peter, Wendy, John, Michael. My group tried to kill TinkerBell by not clapping. I had a bunch of boys. It was a little too sissy for them .... even though they were completely caught up in the show -- as long as no one was looking at them.



Thus ends the 19th day.

My favorite Thanksgiving dessert - Day 18

Pumpkin cheesecake. Mmmmmmmmmm!!!

Only 9 more days.

And thus ends the 18th Day.

I am just going to GIVE UP!!!! Day 17 (a day late) - Grrrrr

I'm doing my best. I really am.

Day 17 - Monday.
Typical Monday. I watch Owen and take him on my daily excursions. Luckily I have these watching days or I would never get any errands done and I like him to ride around with me. Some days, he's easier than my little kids because he's just along for the ride. No back talk, no complaining, no "Are we there yet?" from the back seat. Just listening to "Row, row row your boat" for him.

Then a nap and then I wait for Felix and then we all three pile back in the car and pick up Robee. Then we hit Wendy's for a bit of food; not too much because we are going to be working out for the next three hours at Tae Kwon Do.

Then on to class until 8:30. Greg picks up Owen at 5:30 and the kids help teach as well.


And thus ENDED - YESTERDAY - the 17th day. humph.

Pics from my very short but fun Anniversary trip - Day 16

In my previous blog, I was in a hurry because I had missed a day. I have 15 minutes before the end of today and I want this to count because I'm tired of missing!! Argh!

Anyway, I may have mentioned that we went to Long Beach. Actually we were going to go to Salt Lake for a couple of days but those plans had to be canceled at the last minute due to scheduling difficulties. Sad but things go the way they go sometimes.

So we opted to go to Long Beach for a overnight stay. Thomas had to visit a sweet client in a nursing home and I went along for the ride.

I took pics of some of my favorite places in Long Beach. When we lived there, it became a favorite place for the kids and I. Many places hold special memories for me.

The Famous Long Beach Sign. It welcomes visitors at the Bolstad Beach Access. It was gunched a few years ago and thankfully, they decided it was worth replacing.

My favorite meal on the coast: Willipa Oysters from Oysterville, Washington. NOTHING like them at all. Mmmmmm!!

Thomas' favorite thing: the gumball machine outside the Kite Store in Long Beach. "Hope for red, hope for red" is repeated over and over again. He can't pass by a bubble gum machine without buying one.

Felix & Robee's favorite place: Jack's Country Store. The best little mercantile store since 1885.

Our favorite sandwich shop. A friend of Thomas' runs this store. He makes the BEST sandwiches around and great clam chowder.

"Ocian in view! O joy!" William Clark, November 7, 1805

Look! A rare striped grey whale!! Kidding. Me on my favorite beach.

I wish I could put smells on my blog. There is nothing so wonderful as the smell of this ocean.

My favorite thing: Thomas.

And thus ends the 16th day.

Anniversary/Business Trip - Day 14 (dang it to H***) and 15

Sigh. I suck at this.

But I have a good excuse. I was traveling to Long Beach for an overnight trip with my hubby.

He had to see a little old man with Alzheimer's at a nursing home in Long Beach and we hadn't had a chance to even go out to dinner for our 12th Anniversary (September 6th) so we decided to combine the two (thanks to Jen and Ang for watching the little kids as always) and enjoy a snippet of time together.

So I wasn't really near a computer where I could blog.

Day 14 - Drive to Long Beach

It takes about 3 1/2 to 4 hours to get to Long Beach, depending on the traffic. There was a lot of flooding along the way due to our heavy rains. We tried to leave around 10 but actually go out at 11 and raced all the way down there with me driving because I knew Thomas would need to talk on the phone most of the time. And when he talks and drives, look out. He drives like a goat pushing a wheelbarrow.

We got to Long Beach, stopped by the nursing home and while he met with his client, I went to our old familiar gas station by our former home to get oil for our car. It needs change way bad but I like to take it a Toyota place since it's a Prius and a delicate car.

Then we drove around to all our old haunts and saw the beach and saw our old house and saw tons of houses and properties for sale. This place is on the brink of closure. Very sad.

Then we drove over the Astoria-Megler bridge (the bridge which connects Washington & Oregon that crosses the mouth of the Mighty Columbia River) and had dinner in Astoria because, as much as I love Long Beach, they're short on good restaurants. We ate at a little bistro on Commercial Street.

Picture of our candle. Neat, huh?
Picture of my favorite dessert - devoured - Creme' Brulee'. Serious. My most fav dessert. Mmmm!

I have more pics but they're on my camera. This is my phone.

Day 15

Woke up. Watched "The Daily Show", went to breakfast at Debi's, drove to the beach again, visited Jack's Country Store (my other favorite place), then visited our sandwich friend, got some clam chowder to go (food Again!!) and headed home.

It was a very nice weekend with my hubby. 12 years has gone by in blink of time. And it's been a blast.

I'll do better this week.

And thus ends the 14th and 15th day.

How to Create a 3 year old Politcal Pundit - Day 13

1st: Plaster all kinds of anti-Bush, anti-McCain, pro-Obama bumper stickers all over your car.
2nd: Have all the kids carve Obama pumpkins for Halloween.
3rd: Make sure he sees all the adults in his life wearing Obama-for-President shirts or buttons.
4th: Let him ALWAYS buy a magazine with the face of President-Elect Barack Obama.

Sweet Sweet Owen. He insisted to his mom that he HAD to buy this magazine and he was going to take it to his room to read it later in the day. Seriously. I think we did it.


And thus ends the 13th day.

How to eat Fried Worms - Day 12

This is what I am having for lunch. Appetizing, eh?
Yeah, well Ben has given me 6 mailings worth 150 pages that I have to copy, fold, stamp and get them to the mailbox before I leave at 3 today and it's now .... 1:41. So I'm eating these .... things .. then I'm going to start my hellish job.

I don't know if they're nutritious. They taste like potato air with spinach or carrot or .... who knows. Greg bought them for Owen but Jen said that they make her gag (Felix said the same as did Robee) so I took them to the office where if it doesn't move, it gets eaten. I'm hungry and this will keep the gnawing away for a bit.

The rest of the office (Thomas and Ben) are getting sushi from Durma, a wonderful place on the boardwalk of Everett. Thomas and I eat there when we get a chance to go out.

Okay. Time to get back to work.

And thus ends day 12.

ARGHHHH! day 10 and 11

O man! I suck at this.

Look, I rarely get a chance to sit at a computer for longer than five minutes .... if that. Seriously. Even when I'm watching Owen. If he naps, I'm doing other stuff like putting my Halloween stuff away (finally!) or other equally important things.

So I missed YESTERDAY again. Sue me. I'm doing my Sam Hill best here, ya know. Thank goodness I'm not being graded on this .......... hey. That would have been a great English assignment. Hmmm.

Okay. Day 10, Monday.

This was the annual President's Elementary School Veteran's Day Assembly that they've been doing for 20 years. Same songs, same script, same pictures. I still have to see Dubya one more year, but next year, he'll be GONE from the scene.

The really great thing is that the kids can send in pics of their relatives for the slide show about the different service areas (Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force). Of course, I put Daddy in it and his picture is always first because they always do Air Force first and his last name is Barker.

I was always first in the rolls at school too. I forgot about that. :)

Anyway, it was nice to see his old picture from Vietnam days. He was so young. I remember when he came home from his first tour; he had grown a mustache which had never happened before. I was so afraid of him at first! I didn't even recognize him. But then little by little, he won me over. I wish I could find the picture of me touching - albeit very gingerly - his mustache after he arrived home.

The presentation made me cry a little because I do miss my parents at times; especially my dad.

This is a photo of my dad when he was in Vietnam, circa 1968, first tour of duty in front of his F-111 fighter jet.

My dad now. He hasn't changed too much, eh? And neither have I.

Day 11, Tuesday.

Happy Veteran's Day to Keith Barker, my dad! 21 years as a Major in the Air Force.

School's out for Veteran's Day for most of the school districts so we're going rollerskating. Robee is enjoying it more and more each time we go, which makes me thrilled. Maybe I'll skate this time too. I usually bring a book (since I also don't get a minute to sit and read either) and catch up on reading. I'm starting Inkspell now!

So I posted for today. Good. I know this posting everyday thing is supposed to help you be more creative and help you keep a journal like thing, but if you never have time to get on the computer, it becomes more of a burden. However, I'm determined to see this thing through.


And thus ends the 11th day .... thankfully.

Day 9 (November has HOW many bloody days?)

OMH. It's only day 9 and I'm going crazy trying to think of things to say. Hmmmm........

Well, it's been raining here today.

The river is finally dropping below flood stage.

I didn't get my entire stable mucked out (dang).

I need to feed the dogs.

I STILL haven't put my Halloween stuff away.

Both my babies stayed over at friends' houses, so my date and I went to a late late movie. We saw "The Changeling" and it was ........ good, but disturbing only due to the nature of the movie because it was true. I can't imagine having your child disappear and never finding her/him again. Never knowing what happened. Wondering if they're okay, if they're hurt, if they're in pain, if they're even alive. Horrible.

How about a list of my favorite movies? That sounds like ........ fun? Okay. In no particular order either. Just as they pop into my head.

*Sense and Sensibility (this because it's the first movie Thomas and I saw together)
*Jurassic Park (this because it used to be Robee's fav)
*Encino Man (this because my OTHER boyfriend is in it: Brenden Fraiser)
*Wayne's World (this because I ROTFL every time I see it)
*The Ten Commandments (this because it reminds me of when we would watch it together as a family)
*The Secret of Roan Inish (this because I used to tell Felix I was a sulkie)
*The Sting (this because ... why else? Redford and Newman)
*Last of the Mohicans (this because ........ I don't know; just a great movie)
*Blazing Saddles (this because I also ROTFL every time I see it)
*Young Frankenstein (this because it reminds me of my wonderful Uncle Darrel who took us)
*Monster's Inc (this because Robee dressed like Mike Wizowski when he was 4)
*Out of Africa (this because I've always wanted to go to Africa and will probably never make it)
*Airplane! (this because I ROTFL again!)
*Hot Shots! (ditto from above)
*A Charlie Brown Christmas (this because it brings back childhood Christmas magic to an adult)
*Gone with the Wind (this because it was the first huge book I ever read)
*Contact (this because it was the first movie I saw after I had Felix and I love Carl Sagan)

Well, I think I've taxed my brain enough and wrote enough for the day.

And thus ends the ninth day of writing.

Saturday, In the Park, I think it was the 8th of November (may Chicago forgive me)

I'm on my 8th day! Whoo Hoo!

Okay, so most of you know we have goats. Tootsie and Lili and they're quite nice little goats. I like to take them out grazing and sit with them. They are so peaceful and lovely to be around.

Here's the unlovely part about goats: mucking out the stable after it's been raining. Ugh.

Here is Felix with Owen, moving the muck to the garden for composting. That's the fun part! Especially for Owen. Life is good when you're three and someone will take you for rides on the lawnmower.

After a good stable mucking, the next best thing is my favorite drink: Green Tea Lattes at Starbucks! Ummm Ummmm Good! But not any Green Tea Latte will do. The order goes as follows:

A venti Green Tea Latte, non-fat with no melon syrup but with one pump of raspberry syrup instead, at 120 degrees (for my delicate palate), no whip. My hubby's is the same except that he gets soy. The best drink EVER.

Robee, finding my phone and snapping pics of me driving. See how well I'm paying attention to the road? That's why I have two (count them TWO) speeding tickets and TWO fender benders. Geeze Louise. I was worse, however, when I was pregnant with Robee. I gunched the LandCruiser six times in nine months; two of them happened twice in the same night. Hey ... YOU trying being pregnant with a 10 1/2 pound child and see how well YOU drive. Backing up was a joke. I couldn't even turn my head, I was so big.

And thus ends the eighth day.

My animals

Oh to be a dog, peacefully sleeping in any position, on any surface, waking refreshed without backaches, without puffy eyes, without dreading the day before you.


Porter sleeping.

Grace, the barn kitty

Abbi, our three year old Aussie.

And thus ends the 7th day.

30 posts in 30 days

Okay. I'll bite. However I'm like .... 6 days late so I'll have to catch up.


NOVEMBER 1, Saturday

Pictures today at Tae Kwon Do. Then we spend the rest of the day at the office fixing the cubicle and then we ate Golden Corral.


NOVEMBER 2, Sunday

I have no idea what happened on this day; I just know it was Sunday and it was a nice day.


NOVEMBER 3, Monday

Monday. Got up at 6 to get Felix ready for school. Watch Owen for my usual Monday watch. Voted. Went to Walmart and found cool marked down Halloween stuff for next year. Taught class at the do jo. Starbucks and then home.

NOVEMBER 4, Tuesday

ELECTION DAY!! We're every excited for this day to finally come. Worked at the office and then left early to watch the returns. However, Felix's band teacher scheduled a concert on the same night (arg!) so we also attended this while I was texting Ben to find out how the vote was coming along.

NOVEMBER 5, Wednesday

The Day After. Still happy, still looking forward to the future. Worked again at the office. Came home to take the kids to class. During class, my instructor collapsed on the floor and we had to call her parents to take her home. Rather stirring. Starbucks and then home.

NOVEMBER 6, Thursday

Today. So far, nothing. Plans however may include this: taking Owen to school for Jen because Jen is filling in for Angie who is out of town. Piano maybe or maybe a jaunt to a gift show with Rhonda tonight while the kids spend the night at her house.

Okay. I've started the Post for 30 days, Everyday in November. It may be great, it may be boring but I'm going to try.