Coming July 2008

Peanut II

Maybe will come up with a better name by then.

You're what?

tin roof.

rusted.

Chicago #3

Ok, this is my last post on Chicago. I know, you guys are probably pretty excited for me to change the subject.
Early the next morning we stood outside in line. The crazy girls that got up at 7 am got really good spots in line, and yes, those of us that showed up two hours later cut! We camped out and chatted

Ok, this isn't the best picture of the line, my phone can take three photos and put them together but as you can seen The Cookies By Design sign is a little off, but you still can see the really long line that wrapped around the building. This picture was taken a good hour before they let us in the door. We were camped out pretty close to the front of the line near Zanie's comedy club.

But after hours of waiting they finally let us in the doors and allowed us to sit. We were able to get pretty good seats even though the people in front of us were able to hold as many seats as they wanted for the people in the back. The service sucked.

But finally we got what we wanted!

This picture was taken by a sweet girl named Amanda. I met her, she's a big fan of Steve and Becky too. Of course. For the next couple of hours Steve and Becky (or Elizabeth and Jason on General Hospital) entertained us.

My favorite picture of the whole weekend! I actually had my wits about me and spoke them and told them how they were the reason I took my first plane ride ever! The flight home was easier. O'Hara wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and my friend Lorna bought me that stuff you take to make you less nausaus. Then once we landed my friend drove from Kansas City back to her house where I picked up my car and drove to my house.

The next time I fly it will be out of an airport that someone drops me off at and picks me up from!

Next post: Exciting news

Chicago Post 2

Sorry guys.... life.

We landed in Chicago with no problems. Lorna and I were to meet up with 4 other gals at the Hilton. On the little map of the airport it looked like "walking distance" HA. HA. A lady from the airport was there to pick up my friend in a wheelchair, she was having hip replacement the following week--anyway, the airport lady double timed it to the Hilton. I was out of breath by the we made it, she of course was not, she does that all day long. Oh well.

Moving on, we were able to recognize the girls we were meeting up. They were all wearing shirts I had designed and sold on at Cafe Press. One of the girls who had arrived about half an hour before we did had not made. She didn't have the airport lady double timing it through the airport. Also, she had to pick up her rental car. The three that had been there a while were getting a little cranky and wanted to leave her. I insisted we wait... there was a mess... but the six of us finally made it to Chilis and had some lunch.

(Lorna, Jaime, me and Cindy)

After lunch we split back up. The girl with the rental car had promised to pick up a couple of the other girls who were arriving within the hour so she headed back to the airport and we headed to the hotel in Vernon Hills.

Beth and I with the help of various people arranged a Meet and Greet gathering in the hotel conference room that night. The hotel staff was amazing in having everything set up the way we had asked and found last minute things for us to use. I made name tags and set at a table outside the room. I loved that job. Meeting people for the first time. There were people from three different message boards gathering. Several members of the board I post at are members of the other boards which is how they got involved (it also helped pay for the room and the catered food which was bonus!)

Me at my little table. Those are the name tags too in the bottom corner, they were really cute!

(Karen, me and Ella)

The night ended with our techy girl (who had a horrible time getting there, her original flight was delayed then canceled) hacking into her computer at home with her lap top and turning on the TV tuner in her computer that had recorded General Hospital that day and let us watch it. It was great! We also watched some old scenes of the couple we all love and adore. By the time we had to give the hotel back their room I was exhausted and ready for bed. Much like tonight. I'll try to do better with the next update.

Chicago- Post 1

There is so much to say and so few brain cells awake at 8:30 this Monday morning that I'm going to have call this Post 1. I have no idea how many there will be. I guess as many as I need.

About three months ago it came to our attention that Steve Burton and Rebecca Herbst would be in Chicago in October doing their first ever fan event together. In all the excitement about 15 of my friends arranged their schedules to fit this event in. I could not be left out so of course I jumped on this boat. Luckily we were able to split up the financing, the plane ticket and ticket to the show had to be paid for then and the money I save from doing weddings was my "fun" money.

Thursday afternoon I left work at 2 and headed north. I had never flown before and my sweet friend Lorna had hooked me up with her travel agent to get me on the same flight as her flying out of Kansas City. Now, for any of you too lazy to get out your maps, Kansas City is about 260 miles from Enid and there were three major airports closer to me, but like I said, I had never flown before and was a little nervous.

Friday morning at 4:50 we got up and got ready to leave. We drove in the dark until the sun started coming up on the plains. It was a beauiful sunrise, one for the books. We arrived at the Kansas City airport in plenty of time, made our way through airport security and found a seat. The airport had wifi and I was able to communicate with the world somewhat through my phone. Part of me wishes I had taken my laptop just to play with, but I'm glad I left it at home so that nothing bad could happen to it.

The time arrived for us to board the plane and the stomach was all a flutter with butterflies. Lorna gave me her window seat! During take off I said goodbye to the cows that were totally ignorning us and held on. Take off isn't bad, it feel like racing. Once in the air I was in total awe of the view.

The butterflies stayed with me for the whole flight but I managed to keep the barf bag in it's place. A lady behind me had two small children with her and one kept pulling my hair as he was grabbing on to the seat. At one point I grabbed his hand and held it for a second. He didn't pull my hair anymore. I felt sorry for the lady trying to keep up with the kids and I could smell at least one of them being sick. It was gross, but the view was amazing. We were only in the air for a little over an hour so it was great.

The tops of the clouds. I found this amazingly beautiful. It reminded me of fresh powder snow.

Up next--- Chicago, the Windy City

Countdown

Thursday I leave for Kansas.

Friday I'm getting on a plane headed to Chicago.

Saturday I'm going to party with friends.

Sunday I'm flying back to Kansas.

Monday I'm sleeping in.

I can't wait!!!

Smelling Roses

Life is good.

School is going well. I have not killed TheAnnoyingKidThatSitsBehindMe. I find it's always good to not kill your classmates. He's actually toned down a bit, the girl that sits across from him, she's next on my list. I kind of feel sorry for her. Kind of, but not really. She's obviously still in highschool and a little on the brainy side so she probably doesn't have many friends. Last week we were wrapping up the day's lecture talking about genetics and TheHighSchoolGirlWhoKnowsNothingAboutRealLife had to give an explination or example for EVERTHING. One girl actually left the room because she wouldn't stop talking. The teacher got quite upset. Not at the chick that wouldn't shut up, but at the girl who couldn't take it anymore. It's probably good I don't carry a knife to school. I'm just going to leave it at that.

Every fall I manage to fill up my schedule. Me, the girl who loves quite weekends at home will be going almost non-stop until... oh, about 2008. As I already posted we went racing last weekend. I'm doing my LAST wedding this coming weekend, you have no idea how excited I am to put this wedding coordinating behind me. And not to say I wouldn't help a friend out from time to time but sacrificing my quite weekends for other people who expect miracles is gone. Put a fork in it, it's done!

October is filling up quickly too. I'm going to Chicago around the middle of the month and the following weekend will be spent at Lake Greenleaf with family. (AJ, I'll give you a call when it get closer and I know what our exact plans are). There's other stuff going on but I haven't finished my coffee yet so at the present moment I can't think of what they are. But hopefully I can squeeze in a Saturday afternoon nap sometime there.

Well, the roses smell great, time to get back to work.

Love ya!

Banana Pudding

Yesterday we left Oklahoma behind and headed north just across the boarder to Ark City, Kansas for then annual Nostalgia Races at the Mid America Dragway. First stop was the car show. We saw lots of cool cars.



Peanut is getting pretty good at distinguishing between the different Chevelle's. This one was a....70.

Later on we hung with friends and family until well past sunset. Nickel wanted to stay the night but knowing how Sunday nights are on a regular weekend I wanted to come home and get as much rest as possible. Peanut was very upset with me but after meeting this little blonde she forgot about how mean I was. This girl is 9 and in her Jr Dragster (not pictured, this one was for sale because she had outgown it) did a quarter mile in just over 10 seconds. Just to give you some perspective, a couple of years ago when I raced my camaro I made the quarter mile in 17 seconds.

Today, I'm tired and have blisters on my feet. Life is good.

Ursa Major

I watched them dance the other night,
A ballet I had seen a thousand times,
Dancing on the midnight stage,
Miles beyond what I could see,
The choreography had not changed,
Full of batterie and tour en l’air.
No, time to them means so little,
For night after night they must perform.
A dancer appears to fall from grace,
Quick, say a wish.

The Award

To Leslee with the Fresh Cut Flowers, from whom I first learned to respond to the nice folks who comment here, and who happens to have been my very first commentator, I also give the

First, let me say that I am truly honored to receive this much undeserved award. It feels like months since I've really blogged and even more since I've kept up with your lives. There are lots of reasons for that none of which are you, my blog readers/friends. I've been traveling through life on a path I'd rather not be on and it seems easier to not talk about it. Perhaps someday I'll talk about it but it's not fun stuff and I really don't like to talk about stuff that isn't fun. I'm don't like being depressed, it doesn't suit me well at all. I will find the light, I promise I will and I'll return to my normal, so-called life.

But, back to the award. I was given this award by my friend jrh of Turkey on Whole Wheat. He is a very kind man that often reminds me of my own dad. And I don't think he'll mind me saying that as we have established I'm the age of his own children. jrh showed up on my blog around February this year so of course I had to check him out. He has a fun way of counting down his blogs. I don't know what he'll do once he actually reaches 1, but look forward to seeing it. He tells stories of his past and present. Stories of Lela touched my heart deeply because I could feel the love through the strings of words he used to tell their story. If you have a moment stop in at his blog, I'm sure he'd like the company.

Have a great weekend ya'll!

Peanut

Some mothers push their babies on a walk. Others drag them.

An Anniversary Tale

Nickel and I got married eight years ago. Here's a picture. Weren't we just the the cutest couple alive? Ok, so you can't really see all of Nickel's face, but he's a cutie.


That's my brother in the back ground. He was the cheapest preacher I could find -free. My colors were purples and yellows. It was a fun little wedding.

Anyway, that was 1999. Our first year of marriage was by far the most difficult. Nickel and I hadn't really known each other that long, but I knew he was who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. A month after that picture was taken we moved over three hours away from my momma. I had moved out of my parents house six months before that but still went to my mommas house almost weekly and talked to her on the phone daily. Being so far away was an adjustment. Then after being in the new city where I knew NO one for a couple of weeks we found out we were expecting a Peanut.

So just to recap, we got married in June, moved to Enid in July, and found out we were expecting a baby early August. That was a fun six weeks. I was lonely and hormonal. It's a wonder he didn't send me home to my momma's!

But we managed to survive both the first year of marriage and the pregnancy and have the ever so fun loving Peanut to show for it. But after eight years I finally feel like I know this man. I know how he takes his coffee -black with LOTS of sugar. I know more about comic book characters then I ever thought possible (which has actually won me brownie points at work), I can even actively listen when he talks about cars, Camaros are his favorite but he likes Chevelles, El Caminos, Corvettes, Novas, Malibu Station Wagons....

For our anniversary this year, being on a Tuesday, we dropped the Peanut off with Grandma and went out to dinner. We decided that downtown stood the best chance of not being crowded. Did I mention that Nickel hates crowds? He doesn't like most people. We drove by one place, it looked too crowded. We drove by a second place, there were a few cars, but the third place looked empty. And it was for the most part. I think the whole time we were there there were three couples served. We talked and enjoyed the good food for about an hour and a half without interruptions, except from our waiter who actually asked Nickel if he wanted a straw for his beer.

Nothing elaborate. We don't exchange gifts for our anniversay. We just usually enjoy a dinner for the two of us. That's fine with me, I don't want stuff. I just want his attention and it was mine, mine, all mine, for an hour and half on our special day.

Psalm 3

1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
"God will not deliver him."
Selah
3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
4 To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
Selah
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.
7 Arise, O LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Selah

I got some disturbing news yesterday from my doctor. They'll retest me in October. God will take care of it by then I'm sure. Until then, this is my prayer.

Inflation is out of control!!!

So my house payment goes up every June (except that one year it actually went down but still, in June) and they always tell me in my May statement what it's going to be. Well, I got my May statement today. And you guessed it, it went up again.

Me: Honey, the house payment's going up.

Him: Great.

Me: Yeah, I'm going to need to put some extra money in the bank from now on.

Him: How much.

Me: Well, I don't care if you do it all at one time or a little bit with each check.

Him: How much more a month do you need.

Me: 43 cents a month.

Happy Birthday Peanut

My Peanut turned 7 today. I'm depressed.

Foul

I'm in a foul mood. Be back when I've changed my attitude.

Time keeps on a tickin

Sorry I haven't had much time to blog the last few days. There's been plenty of stuff to talk about just not time. Peanut lost her first tooth last Saturday. This of course was a big deal. What's sad though, is she already has two of her adult teeth growing in behind her bottom baby teeth so when you see her "toothless" smile you see a row of teeth just one is further back then the others. She's working on a couple of the top ones and then she'll really have a toothless smile. Sorry, I don't have a picture. I'll try to take one soon.

So, in other news due to a miscommunication error Nickel's family will be coming to town this weekend. I was expecting them the next weekend. It will actually work out better for us for them to come this weekend but that means I have to really clean my house a week earlier and I really don't want to.

I've got everything I need to do at work done. This is good and bad all at the same time. For the rest of the month it'll just get to pay a bill here, pay a bill there, do a payroll, and little stuff that'll come in. This is so not fun when I have a million things I need to do at home and am stuck here bored out of my mind! And by the time I get home I'm not at all in the mood to do a darn thing on my list! Oh well. That's what the mad grab and stash two hours before the MIL gets there is for, right?!?!

Be good! I'll check in when I can!

Feeling Good

I was going to post some song lyrics but decided I didn't want to do that so I'm not. But the truth is, I do feel good. The weather is gorgeous! The sun is shining and we have no more snow!! It's even starting to warm up with temperatures close to 70! Hallelujah! I bought a Michael Buble' CD and am loving it!!! If you'd like to listen to him head over to his website: MichaelBuble.com I think you can even hear the Feeling Good song there but first read my post and comment because I like comments.

I've got to send out the invitations for Peanut's birthday this weekend. We're having a Bratz party in a couple of weeks. I think we're going to do hair, makeup and maybe nails (maybe not...might be a bit messy) and have cupcakes. Then I'm going to invite the family to come over around lunch time and have some family time. Peanut's cousin is also having a birthday party that day but later at the skating rink. We'll see if she makes it to that one. Depends on if any family come up for her birthday luncheon and what we end up doing that afternoon.

Nickel and I are going to go to another Hornet's basketball game this month. They play the Knicks here at the end of the month and Nickel loves the Knicks. He wanted me to take him to NYC to see them in the Garden but I just couldn't afford that. The Hornets will be going back to New Orleans next year so I thought this might be the last chance to see them and the Knicks for a long time (at least until we get our own team and who knows how long that'll be). The seats are in the nosebleed section but I think we'll still have a good time. Peanut's going to spend the night with one of her grandmas so she'll love that!

Yeah freedom is mine -- And I know how I feel-- It's a new dawn-- It's a new day-- It's a new life-- For me-- And I'm feeling good--I feel so good.

Makeup

I may not need it, but I'm still going to wear it!

Friday Caption Contest

Got a funny caption for this picture? Leave it in the comment section for everyone to enjoy!

Thought for the Day

It's a proven fact that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population.

The Pets

MICE
So, thanks to my friend Parker the mice have found a home. I asked him Sunday if he needed them and he laughed and said no. But then he suggested a teacher at Peanut's school (where he use to go as well) that might be interested. I called her and she was indeed very interested. I won't tell you what she wants them for...but here's a hint: snake.

She was also very pleased to have the mommy and daddy mice because most pet stores won't sell female mice because they don't want you breeding your own. But now she can.

CATS
Peanut was a little sad that I had given the mice away without her being able to say goodbye but I reminded her that cat would have kittens in just a matter of days (Please dear God, let it be 2 or less!). That made her happy until she remembered that I had let the cat outside last Thursday and she hadn't come home yet. But God heard her prayers again and sent the pregnant cat back home yesterday so that Peanut can hold her hostage until the kittens are born. Then I'm having the cat fixed. I say this every time, but I mean it this time!

DOG and FISH
I'm thankful every day that the dog is a boy and that the fish is alone in its tank!

Tornado Season!

Ok, call me weird. I know you want to and I'm giving you permission. This last weekend the weatherman said the weather was almost perfect for a tornado and I got a little bit excited. Now, I'm not mean spirited. I know that tornadoes can do lots of damage and people loose their lives every year to weather related conditions such as tornadoes. In 1999 Nickel and I watched a tornado hit the Electric Company's power plant across the river and it did plenty of damage and I was plenty scared because we lived on the top floor at the end of our apartment building. But there's something about the weather conditions that make me excited...warm air. I like warm air. You see, on Valentine's Day the temperature was hovering around something like 4 degrees (honestly, I don't remember what it was but it was cold enough to freeze the water pipes). I don't like cold weather and I'll be the first to admit it! Then last Wednesday it was something like 74 degrees and I was so happy. So if the weatherman tells me that the weather is optimal for tornadoes I'm going to smile, because that means that warm moist air is present and that means it's gotta be close to spring. Right?


ADDENDUM: Ok, so thinking back I remember talking about weather at least once before on this here blog. Here's a little something I wrote a while back about thunderstorms if you're interested.

10 is ENOUGH!!!

So a couple of weeks ago Nickel brought home 2 pet mice for Peanut. I was less then thrilled but didn't put up too much of a fight. Nickel and I had a pet rat when we got married. Bebee was a sweet little rat and Nickel cleaned out her cage and all was good. Bebee died before Peanut was born. This morning Peanut was commenting on how fat the black one was. I told her she better not be pregnant because we don't have room for baby mice. Well, that's just too dang bad. After sending Peanut to get me a Kleenex she came back almost hysterical.

"MOM!" she exclaimed. "My two mice are married!"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"They had babies, they're grown ups now and married now!"
"What do you mean they had babies?"
"Come see, they got married and now they have babies!"
Yep, 8 babies. I'd say they're grown ups. Oh, and the cat that Peanut's been holding hostage since she came home three weeks ago, she's pregnant too. Probably have her litter within the next few weeks. Guess we're gonna need to build on to the house now.

Here's the proud daddy keeping his babies warm while momma got a drink of water.
Did you know they were born bald? I didn't. Now I need to go google mice and see if there's anything I need to know.

She's 8?

Peanut's birthday is next month. She's going to be 7 but everytime someone asks, she tells them she's going to be 8. She's quite convincing at it too, I had to actually pause and think about it the other day. She doesn't understand why she can't be 8 yet. So my question is, why can't we be what ever age we want to be? Why do we have to follow these stinkin rules that say we have to go in order!

Dove Promise: There's no excuse not to dream.

You think it's bad...

So I haven't had the bestest last couple of days. But I refuse to let it get me down. Valentines day kinda sucked becuase our water pipes were frozen. They thawed out but Nickel and Peanut used up all the hot water that night so I had to wait for my shower. The kitchen sink still isn't pouring any water except through the sprayer...explain that one, please.

Thursday I decided to be sweet to my honey since V-Day sucked and buy us supper from one of our favorite resturants. I even got a happy meal for Peanut. By the time I got home I realized my honey was in a very very fowl mood. When he finally started talking he told me that the motor in the truck was locked up (luckily it waited to lock up until he was home!). Doesn't that sound like fun?

Friday we manged to work around everyones schedule to get Peanut to school, and he and I to work. I needed to have January balanced and reports ran by 5:00 pm because the finance team likes to have a look at it before their meeting which is Monday night, but that just didn't happen. The numbers refused to balance. Friday night I had a headache so bad I crawled very slowly to bed around 9. Woke up around midnight to the same intense throbbing. I crawled to the kitchen, found my migraine meds, some water, and a cold eye mask and crawled back to bed.

Saturday I got up and went back to work to attempt to get the numbers to jive. They did not. Two hours later I was so frustrated and my head was starting to hurt again that I went back home. I crashed on the couch and dozed off and on for about two hours before just watching TLC. Around three in the afternoon Nickel had figured out what was locking up the motor told me to go to bed (he could tell my head was really hurting again) and he took Peanut to the automotive store. I slept until 5 when the phone woke me up. Nickel had fixed his truck and it only cost me $108 bucks. Better then a car payment!

Sunday was pretty quite. I fixed breakfast and after two bites tossed mine. The eggs were under cooked, the pancakes over cooked and I wasn't in the mood. Peanut and I went to church and I'm sure glad I did. It was a wonderful service. The sermon was very touching and made me look at things a little different. The rest of the day was spent lounging. My headache was gone for the most part. We watched the beginning and the end of the NASCAR race and napped in the middle, the way it's suppose to be.

So now it's Monday. The meeting where my numbers have to jive is in 9 hours and thirteen minutes and I don't even want to look at those stupid numbers! But I must. I want to keep my job and I know my life will be so much easier when the numbers balance.

Question of the day

If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?

I'm back!

Hey everyone I'm back. I had a wonderful birthday. Thank you all for your birthday wishes and e-cards! I love to get attention!

We didn't do anything wild and crazy. I got some money from my mom and Nickel's grandma so I hit Goody's to look for a new warm winter coat, purse, and watch. I found just what I wanted and everything was on sale! The three things came to exactly what I got so I was a very happy girl! As I mentioned a few posts ago I was given tickets to a Hornets basketball game in OKC for last Thursday night. Nickel's brother and sis-in-law were suppose to meet us but they had trouble getting a sitter so Nickel's uncle took the sis-in-law's ticket. We met at a wonderful Mexican restaurant and ate chips and queso until we were full (I had some real food too)! The game was exciting, the Hornets won in double overtime! Nickel didn't want to stay the night in the City so he drove us home while I napped. The next morning we just relaxed and did a little bit of shopping before I had to go to work at 1. I only had one day of vacation left before my rollover date in April so I split it between Thursday and Friday. Made it seem like a long time off!

The rest of the weekend was quite. I got to take a nap Saturday. Nickel made lunch and a birthday cake on Sunday (my actual birthday). He even washed the dishes before and after lunch! He's such a good man! He's not into romance like some men and refuses to send me flowers. His reasoning? They're just going to die so why waste the money. My rebuttal? So is he but I still waste my time and money on him. He's still not convinced. But that's ok, I buy what I want when I want them and you know he pays for it in the end. My momma sent me some extra money in my birthday card and told me to buy some flowers. I bought a pretty red Begonia and some coffee from Starbucks!

My favorite present? Peanut read me two of her books for my birthday!

It has begun

In kindergarten Peanut got her first marriage proposal. She quickly turned him down, she wasn't ready to be tied down at the age of 5. We knew at that moment we were in for some difficult times ahead with all the boys wanting her attention. Now, she's matured into a first grader and from time to time Peanut talks about all the boys in her class that have crushes on her, and I do mean all the boys. Of course, she's beautiful, smart and funny, who wouldn't be in love with her??!?! She talks about the boys she likes and why she likes them. She would even go so far as to talk about her friends' boyfriends liking her better then her friends. A couple of weeks ago she mentioned that Crack-Baby had three boyfriends. I told her I thought three was too many. And we talked about how you can only marry one person and how hard it was to have more then one boyfriend at a time. She nodded as though she understood and I smiled trying not to laugh out loud but I was really quite tickled at the whole conversation. Then last week, she started talking about PE Boy. PE Boy is in one of the other first grade class rooms but they all have PE together. PE Boy told Peanut the other day that she was pretty and sweet. At 6 that's all she needed to hear to make him her boyfriend.

But then tonight, after she had gone to bed the phone rang. Not recognizing the number on the caller id I answered the phone. It was a boy. He wanted to talk to Peanut. I told he she was in bed but that I would tell her in the morning that he called. He was a very polite young man. He was not PE Boy. I told Peanut's daddy about the after hours caller. "Oh God! It's begun!" he said. It's a sad moment. I think he just realized that he's not the center of her universe anymore even though she is still his.

Picture taken this summer by PhotoGuy

Blonder then I pay to be

So we did manage to get out of town this weekend. Saturday morning we left Enid and took a short drive over to Stillwater. There are a couple of places Nickel and I like to shop there that we don't have here. After trying on 10 pair of jeanss and only buying one Nickel took me for some BBQ. It wasn't that great but edible. We piddy-poked around that town for about four hours before heading west towards home. But instead of going home we headed South for a bit and visited the quite town of Kingfisher. There wasn't much open by 4 in the afternoon but we did manage to find one Antique store open where Nickel picked up a very old comic book for a buck. We were on our way back home and I, being a little tired, was being very silly. From time to time I'd read billboards or other random signs. Nickel and I would race to find the Historical Markers along the highway or discuss the names people came up with for their businesses. We realized that it was really time to go home when we came to this sign.

"Look," I cried. "A big red triangle!"

Friday Caption Contest

The weather has me in a pissy mood so I'm just going to run away for the weekend, oh wait, I can't because the roads are too bad where I want to go! I'm still going to try to do something this weekend to improve my mood. You can help by participating in this week's Caption Contest.

Got a funny caption for this picture? Leave it in the comment section.

Ok, it doesn't have to be funny funny just leave a comment and I'll smile.

You know the tune...

I got this in an email today and it made me laugh. Probably because for the 4th weekend in a row we have snow, sleet, and/or ice (I realize that this is normal for lots of you but it isn't for me). This doesn't make me a happy girl. I don't like cold weather, that's why I live in Oklahoma and not Maine. Anyway, to the tune of Oklahoma here's our new State song.

SNO-klahoma,

with the cold fronts sweepin' down the plain,

And the piles of sleet beneath your feet

Follow right behind the freezing rain.

SNO-klahoma,

ev'ry night my honey lamb and I

Travel home from work and hope some jerk

Doesn't wreck our car in passing by.

We know we belong to the land

But it could use more salt and more sand!

And when we say

Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!

You're slick as snot SNO-klahoma,

SNO-klahoma, Oy Vey!

Peanut 6:28-29

And it came to pass in the 7th year of the new Millennium in the first month and 28th day that the Peanut cried out unto the Lord saying,

"Oh Lord! My heart is sad for my cat has been missing for days. Please, dear Lord, send my cat home that I might feed her and pet her and make her play with me in my room."

And that day the Lord heard the Peanut's prayer. And on the day of the 29th, as foretold by the Prophetess named Momma, when the Peanut returned to her home from a long day of school and after-school care the cat awaited her at the back door. And the Peanut did rejoice because the Lord had heard her prayers and sent the cat home.

ADD?

So, is it ADD when you have to tell your child 3 times in 2 minutes to brush their teeth or just their age? After eating breakfast I looked Peanut in the eye, told her to go brush her teeth and asked what she was suppose to do. But somehow between the kitchen and the bathroom she forgot and went to primp her hair. I was trying to gather my things in the living room but I knew there was no water running in the bathroom. I chased her out of her bedroom and into the bathroom where she grabbed her tooth brush and and toothpaste. I have a sensory aversion to watching people brush their teeth (I HATE TOOTHBRUSH COMMERCIALS!) so I went and started the car. I came back inside to check on her. She still wasn't brushing her teeth but checking them out in the mirror. I grabbed the tooth brush and put the paste on it and handed it back to her and went into her pit to find her coat. Before I made it to her closet door she hollered that she sang her ABC's very slowly and was done brushing her teeth. I told nope, do it again. Finally we got done. I'd probably get to work at 7:30 every morning if I didn't have to repeat myself so much.

Random Outburst

I'm looking forward to this weekend. It's not suppose to snow...much. I don't like winter. I don't like being cold. I don't like having my family couped up in the house for days on end! Nickel gets the winter blues and drives me crazy with his moodiness. Peanut's been sleeping on her floor, I don't get it either so don't ask me to explain. I'm ready for spring and summer. Nickel and Peanut pulled the motor out of my camaro last summer and I'm ready for them to go back to work on it. It would've come in handy to have it running yesterday when I couldn't get my new (but lovingly used) car to start and ended up walking Peanut to school. $233 dollars later I have a new ignition switch module and a new set of keys... but I have to keep the old ones for the doors.
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A couple of months ago I was given 4 tickets to go see the Hornets play on the 8th by a guy I know who has season tickets but can't go to all the games. I'm excited because I'm considering it an early birthday present (my birthday is Feb 11). Nickel's brother and his wife are going with us. Yesterday E, Nickel's brother, asked if were getting a sitter to keep Peanut all night so that we could stay the night in the City. We hadn't thought about it but now that he mentioned it, that does sound like a really nice idea! It'll be pretty late when the game is over and not getting home until midnight doesn't really sound like fun. So I'm going to be making some phone calls today and see who I can get to keep Peanut and if they'll take her to school that Friday morning. It might end up being a really nice early birthday present.
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I'm not Catholic but the last couple of years I've participated in Lent. During Lent (which begins on Ash Wednesday and runs 40 day and 6 Sundays to Easter) many people make a self sacrifice and "give something up". Every year that I've done it I've given up all soda. One year I gave up chocolate at the same time. That was very stupid...chocolate and coke at the same time.... I think you understand. And I've learned it's not so much as what you give up and to what you take on, using that extra time to get closer to God and focus what what His life really meant and still means today. All that to say that today I got a really cool free book in the mail today. It's called Journey to the Cross/40 days of discovery. Each week has a little devotion and so does each day. It has recommended reading and then space to write down any thoughts. The back of the book has several pages to write down prayer request. I'm very excited about it and am looking forward to digging in to study guide next month.
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Anyway, hope ya'll have a good weekend!

South Carolina

Peanut, as you know, has lots of wisdom to bestow on us mere mortals. The following is an actual conversation I had with her this morning.

Mom, I want to go to South Carolina.
Okay. Why do you want to go to South Carolina?To see the Penguins. Duh. I really should've known that!

To read more about penguins and other animals from Peanut you can go here to last May.

This is the way we brush our teeth...

The B&W one is baby Peanut. She took forever to grow her hair!!!

Thought for the day

Meet me half way...

...you need the exercise.

Family Bonding?

The weather turned frightful early Friday. Small beads of ice started pouring from the sky but there was much to do. Reports had to be run but stuff for the reports had to be posted first. It was time to buckle down and just do it. Nike would have been proud. By noon I printed my reports and stared outside at the now white parking lot. There wasn't a car outside that didn't belong to an employee. That's ok, it meant I was able to do what I needed to do without interuption.

By two the decision to close the offices as soon as we were done with our work was made. I didn't have to be told twice, I don't like driving on ice. Nine years ago I was with three of my friends returning from an out of town trip. Hammer, the only boy in the car was driving, because that's what men do, right? He was trying very hard to impress the girl in the front seat but all he did was make me sick from the slipping and sliding. He took a corner too fast, started fish tailing and my head as soon next to a 50 or so year old tree, part way down the steep hill in the Ozark Mountains. I decided to go ahead and get Peanut then. They weren't going to close schools early but I didn't really want to be there an hour later with all the other parents in an icy parking lot.

As I left I realized that because it was sleet and not freezing rain (there is a difference) falling there was actually some traction. I picked up Peanut and we went to the movie store. We managed to pick up three movies, one for each of us even though two were cartoons. Made a quick drive thru at Starbucks for my last cup of goodness for several days and started home. I felt my car slip once and decided no more stops...except the Dollar Store to get some kitty litter. You never know when you're going to need kitty litter.

Saturday past with only one big fight. Seems the Peanut didn't want to go to bed and I was insisting. She gets unbearable when she's out of her routine so I insist on her going to bed within 30 minutes of her bedtime.

Sunday brought the last of the sleet and snow (mostly sleet). Peanut actually attempted to clean her room. I did several more loads of laundry and watched a couple of movies. I had forgotten how much I loved Sweet Home Alabama. That's such a good movie, ya'll. We even ventured out to the store. I had stocked up on non-parishables Thursday but didn't buy anymore meat so we braved the elements 7 blocks to the store. Peanut wanted lots of things like another bottle of juice, some Kool-Aid, jello, etc. Nickel wanted meat so I bough him a roast to cook tomorrow. I wanted a couple of magazines to look at. I should have bought a fountain coke there because Sonic was closed. I was sad.

Work has been called off for tomorrow. Peanut didn't have school because of the Federal holiday so at least this will be one snow day they won't have to make up. The weather forcast says it'll start warming up on Wednesday, above freezing for a few days.

I'm a little worried about my friends Aunt Jo and Uncle Joe, and their Jo daughters. They live in the part of the state that got hit the hardest. The weather company is reporting about 20,000 customers without power this evening, mostly around their side of the state. There's no doubt in my mind that they're ok, but I've seen 6 year olds when they can't watch tv.

My pastor is trying to get back home from a mission trip in Romania. He's not having an easy time and it's not all the weather's fault. Hopefully he will be home soon because he's very much missed.

Well, this is turning out to be a really long post and I didn't really intend that when I sat down today. I hope you all are well. Drop me a line in the comment box so I can have some emails to read, ok? Thanks!

Good night!

Busy busy

I hope you all can forgive me for lack of deep intersting posts. I also hope you're not sick of my childhood pictures but I'm really enjoying them and hey, they beat posting nothing!

As the finance girl January is my busyest month. Normal months are a little hectic for me as I live in last month and the current month for the first 10 or so days while I close out the last month. But January...well, there's years involved as well as months and everyone wants all their tax information.

So, unless the weatherman is right, which of course is possible even though none of the local ones can actually get close to agreeing, I might be stuck at home for the weekend giving me plenty of time to post something you all are use to, or not, but maybe at least I can get caught up on all your blogs!

Here's a picture of some winter weather we had in days past. I'm pretty sure we didn't have to go to school for like a week after that snow!

Land Run?

As you may or may not know, Oklahoma became a state in 1907. This year there will be lots of attention on the fact that Oklahoma is almost a hundred years old, at least here in Oklahoma there will be.

I'm not sure why I was dressed up like a prairie girl, but this picture makes me chuckle! That's my big brother in the picture trying for some reason not to laugh. Don't you love my bonnet? I loved wearing it when I was little!

This is true love!

Candy Cane (on the left) and I thought it was lots of fun fixing my dad's hair when we were 4.

Peanut thought so too... 20 years later.

Life Story #76

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should get used to the idea.

Idiot Driver

Despite the fact that I took the blame for my car accident last October I really am a good, safe driver. I don't like to pull out into traffic with the hopes that other people will stop or at least slow down for me. I always look before turning and look while turning as well. Well, tonight I met an idiot and I'm sad to report she was a woman. This is my story of the Idiot Driver.

The South Office (starbucks) is located just south of my home church. I was actually running a little ahead of time (instead of late) so I thought I'd take advantage of such an occasion and to grab me a grande Carmel Macciatio. Coffee doesn't prevent me from sleeping at night so drinking it at 6:30 pm would do no harm. I get my coffee and am on my happy way to church. So I go to leave the shopping center parking lot. I get to the place I will be exiting from and turn on my blinker to let the world know I wanted to make a right hand turn. Before I had a chance to really see what oncoming traffic was like in pulls a nice new white Trail Blazer and stops blocking my view of on coming traffic. Now, let me point out that the Blazer obviously sits higher then my Maxima so I cannot see anything except this Blazer. And the blazer sits there.

Blocking. My. View. For. Ever.

After a little bit I hear a honk, but it isn't coming from behind me and then a couple seconds later a red jeep drive past and from the sound of the motor was changing from a lower gear, I can only assume, but I think this jeep wanted some coffee too but this blazer was preventing anyone else from entering the shopping center parking lot by sitting there. I look in my mirror and there is now a guy sitting behind me. Probably wondering the same thing I was. What's this chick in the Blazer waiting on. He must've gave up because soon afterwards he went to a different exit. I checked her front end. Here headlights were on but her blinkers or emergency lights were not indicating to me that she was not having any car trouble. I rolled down my window thinking maybe she'd do the same so I could ask her what her deal was and why she was doing everything in her power to prevent me from moving. I shrugged my shoulder to her indicating that I didn't know what she was doing. I could see her inside her vehicle but she cared not to roll her window down to speak with me so I rolled mine back up. She sure didn't seem at all worried about the fact that I couldn't move until she did. I was starting to get a little irritated. Finally she pulled up a couple of inches allowing me to see partially around her. I pulled up just enough to not get my nose whacked off my a pickup. She pulled up a little further finally giving me the view I required to be able to make this turn without having to shopping for another car tomorrow.

After what seemed like eternity I was able to pull out to go to church. As I was driving away I looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see her making a sharp left turn into the Curves parking lot. Um, yeah. She wasted all that time , knowing I couldn't go until she moved but not wanting to move because it's not a large enough parking lot to pull in a little ways and turn around just to avoid blocking traffic for 10 minutes! Good grief manard!


Ok, just so this isn't just a total rant about stupid idiot women drivers of White Trail Blazers here's a picture of me being a good driver. See, I had my hat on, both hands on the wheel, and was NOT blocking the view of on coming traffic!

Hottie-Boom-A-Lottie

Nickel and his friend, J are coming up with a movie, starring themselves of course. It's based on at least one if not several of their favorite comic book characters.

Tonight, after playing a couple of rounds of Scene It Marvel Edition (which was the perfect Christmas present for my comic book loving husband) we came up with my character's name. An original character was needed for the movie and of course my husband can't create a movie without me. Me, the actress!

My name-

Hottie-Boom-A-Lottie

I'll have to get back to you on what my super powers are, but I'm sure with a name like Hottie-Boom-A-Lottie it's going to be something great! I wonder if I'll need the cape my mom made me when I was little still just a little hottie?

(I'm the short one if you couldn't tell.)