Rain Rain Go Away...

I didn't think I'd be saying this this summer.... but I'm so happy it rained yesterday and last night! It's stormed here most of the night and given us some much needed rain - even though we had 40 days and 40 nights of Monsoon season in June. Our weather also has been very in tune with what's happening down south. Hurricane Dean. That hurricane will most likely cause us quite a weather change as it's projected to hit Texas with quite a force and when that happens... we get some kickback from it.

Not only am I intrigued with the storm because of what will happen here in Okieland... but we just returned from Cozumel and it's supposed to hit Cozumel/Cancun at a category 4 or 5. It's so sad because the island looked so nice while we were there! They'd gotten it built back up from the huge hurricane years ago and now they are facing it again. I pray the hurricane turns and spares them... or at least lessens in intensity so the damage isn't so severe!

Those thoughts lead me to post a few pics of the beautiful beaches and sunset we saw while in Mexico. It's hard to believe that out of that beautiful sky.... comes a mean-@#$ storm!







We found a remote beach on the southern tip of Cozumel. It was beautiful! White sand, big waves and a little restaurant with a few little shops and a bar. People would be traveling and stop for a few minutes to take a swim and grab a drink...


My sis and I heading to the water...

You Big Boob!

Bein's how i'm preggers and all.... I not only grow in my belly, but the boobage gets bigger too!

I love that for sure! Richard certainly hasn't complained... but this week the whole world has made note of the twins.

Yesterday morning I was asked to a 'meeting' about something that did NOT warrant a meeting. It was something that could have been mentioned in an email... but the guys seemed to enjoy talking to me. One even mentioned that I had a nice top on.

Then, I go to lunch with Richard. I sat across from him jabbering away... while his eyes gazed at my chest. I looked down... looked back at him... he said "I can't help it! They are just there!" ugh

So, i grabbed them and did a little jiggle for him.

Later in the afternoon I stopped to speak with one of my big bosses and while I was talking he'd look at my eyes.... then my left boob, right boob, back to my eyes, left boob, right boob... the entire time I was there!

DANG!

This morning, I head to another location with a tech and while we're there fixing a scanner, the operator gets to chatting with me. I immediately notice that he's having problems finding my eyes... heck he cant even find my face at all. But he has found my boobs. The tech looks at me, looks at him... back to me. He's noticed that the guy is having problems.

After our job is done, we walk into the break room to gather our things and tech says "um, did you notice that the driver had a hard time finding your face!? You need a shirt that says THOSE ARENT MY EYES" HAHAHAH

I hope they stay this way :) I like the big... hehe I should use this time to my advantage.... maybe i can get some things that i've beeen wanting (at work ;)

Color Me Crimson

A newly-hatched academic year kicks off here at Chaos College as faculty hath returned. Following close on their scholarly heels will be the fresh batch of quivering collegians doggedly determined to push their collective noses against the educational grindstone and take their studies seriously. *chuckles* Who am I kidding? Actually they will concentrate on getting wasted and laid, and not necessarily in that order. Things will be frenzied and frantic for the next several weeks, so please bear (rwwrr) with me, mmkay?

Monday night I attempted a French manicure on myself. While it didn’t turn out too horribly, it most definitely looks like the work of a rank amateur. I’m hoping practice makes perfect. Yeah, I've removed it already and am sporting silver talons today.

My exterminating notoriety ("guillotine of death") has expanded to include Cardinal Killer. Yeah, I was driving to town last Sunday and there sat this vibrant male cardinal standing smack in the middle of the road, probably nursing a nasty hangover from the night before, trying to remember how to get home, dreading the inevitable quarrel with the missus regarding his nocturnal whereabouts. Trickling its way through his birdbrained haze came the realization that a vehicle was heading straight for him and he’d better quickly dash out of harm’s way. However, his tiny, feathery synapses weren’t all firing in birdy synchronicity and he flew headlong into the SUV of Death resulting in one colorful, crimson lifeless corpse lying in an ignominious heap on the roadway. Poor guy.

And speaking of red, faculty and staff are gloriously bedecked in our matching ruby Freshman Orientation t-shirt glory (Sveltana is modeling the shirt. That is the back view) topped off with jeans/gauchos/shorts/slacks/hula skirts, etc. Personally, I’m wearing navy blue capris that are giving me a serious wedgie. In less than an hour, a picnic motif meal will be served in the cafeteria for all to enjoy and I for one can’t wait to wolf down this most excellent cuisine. Yeah for Friday!!!

Tulum Ruins

While we were in Mexico, we took a ferry to mainland, rented a car (previous post shows POS) and drove to Tulum to visit the ruins. They sit on the coast and surrounded by the most beautiful beaches!

I have to start off with the best picture of all. Us!!! hehe






This is looking north towards Playa (but you can't see Playa)


Me... pausing to look at Richard... taking a picture of us walking... and it's flippin' hot!

Penis's Have Personality

Richard scored us passes to the Premiere of Superbad, so last night we joined what seemed like 100's of others, to preview the good Superbad.

Security to get in the theatre was more than what we experience at the airport. One at a time (or a couple) they checked cell phones and if you had a recording device, they took your phone, tagged it, and placed it in a big pink bag for you to retrieve after the showing. They searched purses and then once you were past this point, they actually scanned you with a metal detector. We both passed :)

Rich and I anxiously awaited the start of the movie by munching on our popcorn and woofing down a diet coke (we were starving for some dinner!) It began.... penis and va-gay-gay conversations everywhere! This is not a movie for the children! Leave the innocent precious angels at home. It is definitely a movie for those with sick minds (like us) who love movies like Knocked Up, American Pie and Porky's (old school).

Sweet little Evan reminded me of my precious Richard. He totally respected girls and wanted so bad to be good to them and nice and precious! His buddy, Seth, is such a pig. HAHAHAH It was hilarious!

Gym Rat

Our community wellness center here on campus is closed this week for cleaning or something. *shrug* I understand the need to spit shine the facilities before we break open a new semester, but an entire week seems excessive and harsh and makes for too long of a break workout-wise. Needless to say, the regulars (including myself) have indulged in loud, extended grumbling. Not wanting to ax my walk time, I wandered over to the old gym at lunch yesterday and felt like I had entered a parallel universe as so much sand has slipped through the hourglass since I've past through its P.E. doors. As I circled the recently waxed floors, I thought back to days long past. Years ago I had taken Line Dancing for a physical activity. Not thinking straight, I had selected the Early 8 class which meant perspiring profusely while I learned the intricate moves thanks to the sweltering temps of August. I still recall the embarrassment of feeling sweat trickle down my nose as I two-stepped with Scott. Back then the weight area was up the stairs in this long, narrow room. Many were the times I walked on the treadmill as my fellow buds and I either watched soaps or music videos. And years ago, in the hopes of boosting my metabolic rate, I started doing wind sprints in this very gym which resulted in a painful bone spur. After limping around for several months, it finally calmed down but I never again resorted to that dubious method.

When I worked for College Relations, I used to help out with our annual College Night as various colleges and military units cranked up their student wooing to full tilt boogie. The uniformed guys looked particularly dashing as they turned on their rugged charm. We always had a refreshment table set up for these various reps and the time I wore my lovely pink silk dress happened to be the occasion I bit into a cherry tomato which promptly spewed out of my mouth and all over the front of said frock. (Yes, the dry cleaners got the stain out!) Fortunately it was at the end of the evening when most were already homeward bound and my humiliation was kept to a bare minimum. Sure, the new center has state-of-the-art equipment and makes the gym routine easier and more accessible, but periodically it’s soothing and reassuring to revisit an ‘old friend.’ :)

Can't Judge a Book

A few weeks ago I had my annual fix of live, outdoor theatre when I caught Shakespeare in the Park’s rendition of Cyrano de Bergerac. Though technically not a penned by the Bard, it’s from the hand of Edmond Rostand, this comedy/drama came replete with colorful costumes and excellent acting and made for one lively, fun-filled evening. Once again, the locale of this literate outdoor troupe has changed and is now staged at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. While this is truly a lovely setting complete with tiered seats, the constant sound of honking horns, ambulance sirens and landing jets, did try ones concentration. However, Mz Circe sat transfixed and spellbound while the tale of love and bravery wove around each audience member’s soul. We all remember witty Cyrano, don’t we?

Cyrano de Bergerac, guardsman and poet, is cursed with an enormous, bulbous, blossoming beak of a nose. To compensate for his fixed belief that no woman can ever love him on account of this affliction, he has made himself renowned in Paris for his personal bravery and charming verse. Cyrano's beautiful and wealthy cousin, Roxane, is much sought after. When Cyrano receives an urgent message from her, he is encouraged to believe she may actually love him. He finds, however, that she imagines herself in love with the handsome Christian, newly enlisted brother guardsman in Cyrano’s company, and wants Cyrano to bring them together. Putting aside his own love, Cyrano offers his powers of expression to Christian to assist in winning Roxane. Cyrano's eloquence in the many letters signed by Christian's name and the feeling in his voice as he declares his love under Roxane's balcony one dark night, bring about the marriage of Christian and Roxane just minutes before the company is ordered away to the siege of Arras. Though both men are at the front and in great peril, Roxane daily receives a letter signed by Christian. Irresistibly drawn by these letters, she dares to drive through enemy lines to reach her Christian's side. When Christian sees the power that another's letters have had over Roxane he suddenly realizes that it is Cyrano and not himself that she really loves. He insists that Cyrano tell her the truth and leaves the scene. Before Cyrano can divulge the secret, Christian is carried in mortally wounded. After Christian's death Roxane goes to live in a convent and for fifteen years Cyrano visits her there daily. Then one Saturday as he proceeds to his call, an enemy pushes a log from a window causing it to fall onto his head, breaking his skull. He hides his injury from Roxane, but begs to be allowed to read Christian's last letter which she carries always next to her heart. When in the gathering darkness Cyrano reads the letter all the way through as if knowing its contents by heart, Roxane realizes that Cyrano wrote the letters—she has found the soul she was in love with all along. Cyrano removes his hat, revealing his heavily bandaged head. Roxane exclaims that she loves him and that he cannot die.

As darkness enveloped the hushed gathering, Cyrano collapsed, gasping out his final utterance while his beloved Roxane bent over his dying form and gave voice to her belated grief and sorrow. Brimming tears spilled from our eyes as we too joined her in mourning the passing of her true love. *sigh*

Random

okay... These are some of our vacation pictures. Random.... that's for sure! There are tons of stories to tell, but I can't get it all spilled out tonight so I'm just posting some of the pics to show us! :) I'll try to get more organized and do a better job later. I've got tons to show from Tulum and the beach!

This is me and my sis in the JEEP we rented to drive around the island.


Our pool (ocean in the background) at the resort.


Picture of our resort.


Our first rental car... POS. We rented the JEEP the next day. I can't believe they thought 5 of us would fit in this little squirrel cage! We did it... but not comfy.


Picture of Playa Del Carmen from the Ferry we took across to the mainland.


A HUGE a@# grasshopper that jumped on my sister during dinner at Senor Frogs. He caused a HUGE scene (she helped).


Me and my baby on the Ferry to Playa.


Apparently they were having a deep conversation.... and I wasn't paying attention.


One of the many pictures of our beach.


and...... I saw a lady who was way bigger preggers than me!!! hehehe

First of Many Nervous Breakdowns

OH MY GAWD!!!! This is such a devastating day for me. Here I am minding my own business... chatting with my buddy from Chaos College, checking on our friends on myspace, when I decided to check C's page (haven't checked it all summer).

OH MY GAWD!!!! Right there it was! A girl had posted a pic of her hugging my precious baby!!! She's hanging all over him! Loving up to him like ... I can't even explain it, its so upsetting.

My stomach hurts from even thinking about it.

I'll take him out of public school and homeschool him! The thought of some girl latching onto my baby boys just rips my heart out! They are so sweet!!!

I'm going to need counseling....

And I was having a good time trying to go through my vacation pictures... deciding on what ones to post and WHAMMO! Hit by the huggy girl! *crying hysterically*

I'm Baaaack!!!

Me-hee-coe is HOT! I don't mean 'omg, this oklahoma heat is sweltering' hot. I mean I was sitting on the Equator HOT at about 130 degrees temp. That was on a cool day! I'm glad to be back to our hot summery weather!

The trip was a blast though! I'm still editing pictures so I hope to get some out in a few days!

Frying Pan & Fire

Now that we’ve climbed out of the water bucket we’re staggering over to the sweltering oven where it looks like we’ll be baking, boiling, roasting and fricasseeing for some weeks to come. I just checked the Weather Channel’s ten-day forecast and it’s Triple Digit City for Okieland this week. Today portends to be a balmy 101 degrees followed by four days (count ‘em, FOUR) of blistering 103s. And that doesn’t even reflect the heat index will should easily put us above 110. Oh joy! I’m really grateful that I slather on moisture-proof makeup each day as otherwise it would all be sweated off by 6 pm.

Chaos College upgrades to Office 2007 this semester and training is scheduled today in the computer lab. I’m still debating whether I want to hit the morning or afternoon session. But the truly ecstatic news to wind up our workweek is that our illustrious honchos are having a two-day slumber party at the lake as they “brainstorm” and pretty much waste valuable time that could be used to prepare for the nail-biting onset of our biggest, most chaotic of all times, *drumroll please* fall semester! Oh well. Guess the peons will do what we always do, keep on keeping on. And we do a stellar job of that I might add. ;)

To my undisguised pleasure, a friendly missive from a Ms Melanie Flowers arrived in my mailbox this week. Here is a replica of her delightful missive:

Hello! I am tired today. I am nice girl that would like to chat with you. Email me at timj@mailmessagecenter.info only, because I am writing not from my personal email. Would you mind me showing some nice pictures of me?

I was terribly sorry to learn of this lovely child’s fatigue and yet greatly moved knowing she was willing to surmount that daunting obstacle and expend her time and what little energy she still possessed in offering photos of herself to an unworthy recipient such as me. Does that not just warm the cockles of your heart? While I’m still debating the efficacy of her offer, I’m more than happy to share her generosity with my fellow bloggers and urge all of you to help her feel wanted by writing back in the affirmative to her charitable proposition.

Today is My Friday

I will miss you all while I am on vacation! *hugs*

I hope to come back with tons of great pictures to share! I will be frolicking around on a sandy white beach wearing my two piece thong with my little basketball belly smeared with 30 SPF sunscreen. I can't wait! My baby girl will be tan when she's born, fer shur! ;)

One of our fellow bloggers is a new daddy! Congrats Egan! Anna is a beautiful baby!

Adios Adjunct!

The most cantankerous, complaining, difficult, (bewhiskered) adjunct instructor in the world quit last week. Woot! I wrote about her pissy ways, demanding attitude, and insistence on immediate resolution to any snag she encountered back in March when she first came on board. Several factors refuted her self-proclaimed special status and I shall enumerate them now.
1. She was here on a grant. 2. She was not a mainstream instructor but rather came under the heading community service. And C. She was adjunct for godssakes! For those of you not familiar with the educational system, let me provide a helpful definition. (crucial words bolded by moi):

ad·junct /ˈædʒŋkt/ Pronunciation Key - [aj-uhngkt] –noun

1.	something added to another thing but not essential to it.

2.	a person associated with lesser status, rank, authority, etc., in some duty or service; assistant.

3.	a person working at an institution, as a college or university, without having full or permanent status: My lawyer works two nights a week as an adjunct, teaching business law at the college.

4.	Grammar. a modifying form, word, or phrase depending on some other form, word, or phrase, esp. an element of clause structure with adverbial function.

–adjective

5.	joined or associated, esp. in an auxiliary or subordinate relationship.

6.	attached or belonging without full or permanent status: an adjunct surgeon on the hospital staff.

---

[Origin: 1580–90; <>adjunctus joined to (ptp. of adjungere), equiv. to ad- ad- + jung- (nasal var. of jug- yoke¹) + -tus ptp. suffix]

As you can see, Mz. Pain-in-the Arse had no reason in the world to throw her pseudo weight around and assume long-term staff would instantly jump at her bossy commands. Nosireebob! Here’s the scoop. Apparently she was informed her grant was not renewed for this upcoming semester and though she could have continued on a part-time basis, she threw a colossal hissy fit, loudly demanding to be made full time. When told this was not possible, she immediately quit. Arriving in our area toting her school loaner laptop, she cryptically proclaimed she had “had it” and she wouldn’t “be fooled anymore,” (whatever that means), handed it back, ordered the erasure of its hard drive, blew kisses to GFR and flounced out the door. We got off easy. We later heard threw the college grapevine that she inflicted her displeasure on the finance office by refusing to turn over her keys, insisting her office first be inspected and when a higher up acquiesced, proclaimed they were not to enter her inner sanctum under after work hours. Who is running the show here??? At any rate, those of us whiling away the last few minutes of the workday in my reception area last Tuesday discussed the days events while a blizzard of confetti rained from the ceiling, party hats and noisemakers magically appeared, and celebratory bubbly flowed from stashed, clandestine bottles in joyful observance of the surprise departure of the Adjunct Bitch from Hell. (Remember gang, she possessed the fitting extension of 666. Really.) Lady, hope the door didn’t hit yer ass on the way out. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Straight From Arkansas

I realize this is their business and their decision....

but really. Isn't enough enough!?!?

LITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas couple had a baby daughter Thursday — their 17th child and seventh girl — and the pair say they're still not ready to give it a rest.

Jennifer Danielle was born at 10:01 a.m. at a hospital in Rogers, Arkansas, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar said in an interview.

"We'd love to have more," Michelle said, referring to baby girls. "We love the ruffles and lace."

Jennifer joins the fast-growing Duggar brood, who live in a 7,000-square-foot home in Tontitown. All the children — whose names start with the letter J — are taught at home.

The oldest is 19 and the youngest, before Jennifer, is almost 2 years old.

"We are just so grateful to God for another gift from him," said Jim Bob Duggar, a former state representative. "We are just so thankful to him that everything went just very well."

Jennifer joins siblings: Joshua, 19; John David, 17; Janna, 17; Jill, 16; Jessa, 14; Jinger, 13; Joseph, 12; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 9; Jedidiah, 8; Jeremiah, 8; Jason 7; James 6; Justin, 4; Jackson, 3; Johannah, almost 2.

Read it here.
They also have their own website and there is another special on next month about their family. I watched the special before they had the 16th baby... it was crazy!! I really thank God that he understands i'm not cut out for a couple of baseball teams!

Will the doctors ever tell her "ok... you're done"!?!?!?

Uncle Sam

This weekend we get to shop tax-free!!! There are limits.... we can't buy houses, cars, cigarettes, liquor, etc tax-free, but we can buy school supplies and what-nots!

This means the long weekend checkout lines will be even longer!

Brainy Brouhaha

We endured a marathon departmental meeting yesterday afternoon that featured laughter, tears, pathos, and the very real threat of physical violence as a heated verbal argument escalated and came extremely close to breaking out into geek fisticuffs. Yes, Phoenix, I borrowed the cat pic from you. :) And that was between the gals! JK. Svetlana and I just looked at each other bug-eyed. It’s just a good thing the parties involved were seated at opposite ends of the room. ("R" may be humongous, but "M" looks like a feisty little scrapper.) To add to the mayhem, “L” bonked his noggin (hence the tears) on the large flatscreen dangling from the ceiling which provoked loud, spontaneous applause and cheers. Yep, we nerds are vicious and unsympathetic. ; ) He flipped us off under the table in response. As we exited the room, GFR pulled the ancient There’s Something on Your Shirt trick on Charlie Manson by telling him he had spilled mayo and when CM glanced down, flicked him on the nose. Only GFR could have gotten away with it. However the highlight of this bull session occurred when “L” pontificated on the evils of IMing and how this would be forbidden when our new policies and procedures go into effect only to show his laptop’s display screen with no less than three IM protocols up and running. To add to his embarrassment, “S” messaged “L” from his laptop thus popping up yet another incriminating rectangle. Ooops!

Recently, our darling CruiserMel over at Ramblings posted her selection in regards to her Dream Desk/Fantasy File/Vibra Vault. In no particular order here is my Top Ten list:

• Mark Wahlberg. Eye candy in underwear.
• Jon Stewart. Funny and smart. Dynamic dual combo.
• John C. McGinley. Sarcasm, wit, smoking bod and my fav TV show all rolled into one.
• Gary Sinese. Have to agree there. Didn’t notice him till "Forrest Gump" and I was smitten. Sexy as hell with or without legs.
  
• Jay Hernandez. "Crazy/Beautiful" indeed.
  
• Harrison Ford. Retains sexiness as he ages.
• John Cena. I don’t watch wrestling crapola and I prefer him with a baseball cap and shirtless, but damn he’s fine.
• Heath Ledger. Can’t resist a knight.
• Tony Gonzalez. Which makes me favor the Chiefs after my Browns.
• Colin Firth. Who can resist that British accent?

Former stirrings:

• Fernando Allende from Flamingo Road. Watching him and Morgan Fairchild get steamy together is forever etched on my feverish brain. Damn he was hot! Whatever happened to him?
• Vincent Spano in “Baby It’s You”
• Charlie Sheen. “Platoon,” “The Chase” Rwwwrrr.

Priority Payback

A few weeks ago, while convalescing from my painful injuries, I popped in the movie, Click and to my delight and surprise, found myself engrossed in this moving tearjerker. Known mostly for his goofy characters, Mr. Sandler flexed his acting chops in this funny/serious role and proves once again (thinking Spanglish here), he can go the distance as a versatile actor. Yes, there were humorous moments and silly sight gags (thinking fat suit), but the “Christmas Carol”-like storyline focused primarily on his workaholic existence and the unforeseen fallout that would result.

“As Michael discovers that the remarkable device has the power to muffle the barks of the family dog, zoom himself past an irritating quarrel with his wife, and even allow him to travel back and forth through time to different points in his life, the rush of being able to skip straight to the good parts in life soon leaves him feeling as if he's missing out on the total experience. Only when Michael begins to realize that the he has lost control of his life and the remote is now programming him does he finally learn that life is as much about the moments he'd rather forget as it is the moments he will always remember.”

What would you skip over if you could fast-forward your life and would the expense be worth the price? In skipping over the everyday hassles might we miss out on experiences that are intrinsic to our very existence? *hums Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle*

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Steal This Post

I've read Lawyer Mama's blog a couple of times (maybe just once?) but anyways... today I thought 'I think I'll check that site'. I'm glad I did! For years I was team captain of a team formed by Chaos College and we collected donations and did the 12 hour walk to help raise money and fight cancer... for the American Cancer Society. I havent been able to participate in the past two years and I miss it greatly! I plan on getting involved with it again here in the city.

Anyways... reading her post she writes about Why Mommy's diagnosis. Go to her site and read! I've heard about inflammatory breast cancer before, but I think it's often misdiagnosed. I've had a few friends and family members battle breast cancer (and win! yeah!!!)

I really wish the very best for Why Mommy! This is her post - which i stole. Feel free to copy and post it on your site too!:

We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?

I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.

Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.

There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.

Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

The Simpsons

We went to see The Simpsons Movie last night.

I saw Bart's twig and berries!!!

HAHAHAHAHA

Full frontal male nudity. It was a hoot! Bart had been dared by dear ol dad to skateboard downtown... neeekid. Bart wasn't going to do it, but Homer called him a chicken and the next thing you know you see his unclothed butt cheeks scooting down the road. His goods was strategically hidden by different things as he passed through the streets. A leaf here, or a ball there. Then all of a sudden he skate boarded behind a fence of some sort and the only open space was right where the goods were. You saw nothing of Bart... except the family jewels. HAHAHAHA

It was a pretty good movie. It brought alot of laughs for sure!!!

We Dig Baseball

One of the perks at my job is I can get my grubby little hands on tickets to the Redhawks baseball games. Not just any tickets either, but tickets to our suite! This is of great importance now that i'm eating and breathing for two and its mega sultry hot outside. The suite is airconditioned! yipppeee! So we enjoy taking in the baseball games.



The view of the game from our suite. The Redhawks played the Beavers *snicker* and beat them by a ton. So much, I cant really remember. 14-4 or something...


Our little angel in the making apparently likes very hot and spicey food because in the last few months i've put away some weird things - that I would never eat myself! Alot of hotter salsas... and now jalopenos on my nachos!!!


Me... 22 weeks with our little sweetness.

Every Rose Doesn't Have a Thorn

Yesterday was a good day at work. Actually... all day! The two biggest jerkwads that cause me the most grief were gone. Nowhere to be found, seen or heard! It was a glorious day *insert heavenly music here*

Richard came home sporting me some beautiful roses!!! He said they were for me because I had a wonderful day! How awesome is that!?!?!? They smell yummy too!

Copier Conundrum

This morning I decided to update some documents and bopped across the hall to make front and back copies. Now how hard is that? I’ve done it a zillion times and I know what buttons to push, but by golly the copier refused to let me choose that option. Prez’s assistant came in to help and even dug out the dusty manual. No dice. Then another VP’s right-hand (wo)man joined us making for one puzzled little trio pondering the complexities of this confusing apparatus. The contraption kept asking for an “ADU,” (Annoying Diapered Unicorn?) whatever the heck that is. I remarked that it sounded a lot like "IUD" but I really doubted it needed contraceptive protection. I could be wrong. After a meeting of the minds we concluded that this massive, blinking machine was not equipped to handle front/back duties and I/we were SOL. Great! Blonde assistant graciously offered to take my originals back to her copier and complete my request and this is indeed what she did. Mission accomplished!

I’m sure you are all waiting with bated breath to learn about my courtroom experience yesterday and you shall now be rewarded. TBC and I met in the parking lot and entered the ornate halls very much resembling a business-like couple who had possibly just stepped away from their snooty bank jobs prior to enjoying a tasty lunch at some elegant bistro. I wore my ladylike burgundy skirt suit with black heels and carried an impressive black file folder neatly holding paraphernalia deigned to corroborate my story and strengthen my defense. Sitting in the waiting room allowed TBC and I to view the crème de la crème of our fair county adorned in their finest judge-impressing attire. It pretty much consisted of ratty, uncombed hair, slovenly t-shirts, dirty flipflops, big honking tats and grubby little tykes in tow. As I perched front and center I was able to watch my fellow lawbreakers plead their case (sometimes with attorneys) and receive their just desserts. The DUIs were quite entertaining and I especially enjoyed eyeballing the orange-jumpsuited motley bunch who had spent the previous night in the pokey. At any rate, before my turn at bat came I was called aside by the congenial assistant DA and we efficiently hashed things out without ever employing the judge. The gist of it is that another court date has been set and after Mr DA gets in touch with the supertrooper either the case will be dismissed or I go back to Square One to duke it out in person with the HyPo. Oh joy! I should know by the beginning of next week and I’m praying it’s the former and not the latter. Have a great weekend! :)

Zoom Zoom

Though sore and bruised, I managed to attend the McConnell AFB Open House on July 14^th along with over 101,000 (good heavens!!!) enthusiastic souls and it was well worth the extra effort. After all the excessive rain and constant clouds we endured during the week, a sunshiny Saturday greeted the assembled masses. Nothing quite beats uniting with a huge (sweaty), happy crowd watching the talented zoomies do their thang. Decked out in my Cleveland Browns regalia complete with Browns earrings (that look similar to this), I accompanied my bro-in-law, his son, and sis to the action-packed show. I even got a “Go Browns!” within the first 10 minutes of arriving thanks to "wearing the colors." No airshow is complete without refreshing beer and though I snubbed the ‘lites,’ I thoroughly enjoyed downing several plastic cups of "Flying Monkey" from the Miller tent. Good job, guys! Also, thanks to the sweltering day, bottled water was passed out with abandon. You all know the drill. First you stake out your spot and plunk down the folding canvas chairs (fittingly, mine is a Blue Angels one) for maximum viewing pleasure. Then you head for the static displays and ooh and ah over their sleek power and macho image (the planes, silly, though this could certainly apply to the sexy flight suits snugly covering their flirty owners.) And while you would love to take the time to walk through the wide array of choices, time is of the essence and your selection must be pared down to a limited few. This year, sis and I picked the Osprey and the AWACS plane (out of Tinker AFB) to scrutinize. While in line for the AWACS, we naturally got to visiting with fellow aircraft enthusiasts patiently waiting to snake their way to the front. Darn if I didn’t hear a voice in the back saying, “Indians.” I whipped around to discover the guy directly behind me sporting an Indians ball cap! Apparently this spot was Buckeye Central as the guy behind him also hailed from my home state. Of course, this started the conversational ball rolling and we yakked away the rest of the wait time with him and his wife. After the informative tour, it was back to our chairs to catch those high-flying daredevils, the ever-popular Blue Angels. I may have viewed their air acrobats many times before but they never fail to thrill, amaze and leave me with shivery goosebumps. It wasn’t until leaving the grounds that the true ramifications of the relentless, beating sun hit me with full force and I thought I was going to pass out from heat exhaustion before reaching the car. Apparently I wasn’t the only one as I heard from another coworker who was there who said she’d been told the base hospital was full of affected spectators who had succumbed and been rushed to the facility. Though getting somewhat sunburned and certainly dehydrated, I still had a wonderful time and am counting the days till the next one. ; )

I'm Pretty Logical

You Are Pretty Logical

You're a bit of a wizard when it comes to logic While you don't have perfect logic, you logic is pretty darn good Keep at it - you've got a lot of natural talent in this area!

How Logical Are You?

"Crash" Course

Hello my darlings. I must apologize for the long delay but it’s been crazy around these here parts. For starters, thanks to my recent vehicle altercation the nickname “Crash” has now been bestowed upon me. Er, thanks. Not to be outdone in the emergency department, another relative of mine ended up in the ER with excruciating pancreatitus last week and has been an ongoing patient this entire time. They are sending him to a specialist today to determine why this keeps developing. I did make it back to work last Wednesday and was warmly greeted by friendly, huggy coworkers. Thursday I zombied through a three-hour dept. meeting and though it was an abbreviated workweek for me, finished up utterly exhausted and brain-dead.

This morning we once again ran the thunderstorm gauntlet as buckets of water poured down from the heavens in time to enhance our 'walking in' experience. This lousy start was pleasantly offset by a male coworker finding my long-lost lipstick that had gone AWOL back in March. Concealed under my computer desk, he scooped its naughty, replaced, shiny ass off the bug/raisin/Dorito-strewn carpet and with a flourish, presented it to its overjoyed owner. She is getting such a spanking for making me so distraught!!! ;) I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say the janitor doesn’t clean much in our area.

This Wednesday Mz Circe, I mean “Mz Crash,” gets to go to traffic court and tearfully plead her case. I cannot tell you how much I look forward to this chore. Hopefully, this unwarranted ticket will either get dropped or drastically reduced and I’ll be able to put all this nonsense behind me. Here’s to better days...

Slip Sliddin' Away

I remember back in the day when Slip N Slide was just one lane and we had to take turns. I saw at Wal-Mart (it was an emergency trip... I swear!) the other day, a two lane AND a three lane Slip N Slide!!!

I had to buy the two lane and try it out. The neighbor kids have had a ball on it!

Debbie Does Daycare

I had a coversation with the little neighbor boy last night...

G: Kerry, have you heard of Pinography?
*racing through racks of information in my head to try to figure out what Pinography was*
Me: Is that like Stenography? A Stenographer?
G: Yeah, Pinography.
*obvioulsy a confused look on my face*
G: You know, when there is stuff on your computer that isnt good?
*big bright eyes*
Me: OH!!!! (obviously hit me) You mean Pornography!!!!
G: Yeah, Pinography... or pornography
Me: why would you know about that!??! *growing ever concerned because he is too small to be thinking of such things!*
G: My dad's girlfriend teaches and that was found on her Superintendents computer and he got fired.

Well good grief, i'd hope so!

P: what's Pinography?
*so happy he's not into knowing what that is*
Me: you mean pornography
G: I'm not explaining it... Kerry you better explain it

First of all, why a little 3rd/4th grader knows all the ins and outs of it is beyond me and secondly, I should have let him explain it to see if he really understood what it was!

Me: Well, P... it's dirty pictures of people doing naughty things and it's too trashy to be looking at. It will get you in trouble.

G: Yeah, so and so said he saw some Pinography with little 3 and 4 year olds
Me: ok!!! Just stop!

I had to end the conversation. I figured there was probably more between them when I left.... but it was so weird to hear it all from such little people. They shouldnt hear about this until..... at least until they go to church camp or something!

He's Still Precious

Last weekend Richard and I went to a club with a friend of mine to listen to a band play (dont remember the importance of the band)... and to meet up with a coworker of hers and other friends.

Here's our sweet Glamour Shot that night...



And then I loaned Richard out to other girls for photo opportunities...

Freaky Monday

I either over did it in the gym yesterday.... or pulling weeds last night. I doubt it was the weeds.

My stomach muscles are aching... hurt actually. Every time I rolled around last night, I woke up and it took every muscle in my body to position myself because I was making every effort NOT to use my stomach muscles. I couldn't even lift my legs this morning while trying to shave them silky smooth. I got the job done.. I just had to bend over at my 'waist' and go to my legs instead of bringing them up to me.

I think i'll take it easy tonight... maybe walk less time or slow down a bit at the gym. I've tried to keep up a good fast pace - as much as I can considering my air intake is somewhat limited these days. I've changed from lifting heavy weights (doing fewer reps) to lighter weights and higher reps... so that shouldn't be an issue. I think its the race/walking I do. I guess I could cut out some of the chocolate chip cookies I eat so that I would be able to get away with less exercise...

I also dreamed about having spiders in my ear. This is the second time I dreamed this dream... about the spiders. In this particular dream, my sister was talking to me and them screamed because she saw a spider in my hair. She got to looking for it, and then noticed a whole trail of them in my right ear. They had set up house in there! My dream ended with me heading to the doctor to have the spiders removed.

The Weather Channel

For about a month or so it's been raining like... well like the Central U.S. was suddenly a rainforest during Monsoon season with a few hurricanes passing through sporadically. Translation: It's rained a flipping ton here! We've gritched alot about it.... but one thing the rains did bring was cooler weather. Although it would be in the 70's or 80's, it would feel like 100 because of humidity.

Well, today its registering 97 degrees PLUS humidity... so that means it is HOT and SULTRY.

I'm not complaining. I'm just sayin'. Its hot. I'm really glad the sun is out... but it's really hot!

Oil & Water

Eight interesting facts about TBC and me (courtesy of our beloved Burg):

We met through his close friend who had moved to the beach after me but prior to TBC’s arrival. TBC was originally headed for Okiedokieland in what turned out to be a massive migration on his family's part but in a last minute change of heart, decided to give the beach a shot thereby heading toward the land of ocean and sky rather than wind whipping down the plains. It was there that rather than meeting a lovely, genteel Southern lass, he spied a skinny, shy, tongue-tied, blonde Northern transplant. (yeah me) Nevertheless, her striking beauty *snicker* intrigued him and the abbreviated chase was on to win her elusive hand. Not one to succumb without a fight, Mz Impossible only capitulated after an interested eye was cast in her sister's direction. After a brief courtship, TBC and Mz Circe were joined in marriage by a justice of the peace and have been battling it out ever since. A few years after our hasty vows, TBC dragged his kicking and screaming spouse to Tornadoville and for the most part we have resided here ever since.

TBC and I seem to prefer "M," "N," and "O" (Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oklahoma) states. I have no idea why we have a predilection for living in the middle of the alphabet (and country) but we do.

TBC is the polar opposite of me personality-wise. He’s a gregarious extrovert who never met a human being he hasn’t for the most part, liked. I, on the other hand, am the reserved, shy and somewhat suspicious introvert though I’ve emerged from my shell more and more as the years have passed. No visit to any establishment is complete without his chatting up friends, neighbors, workmates, acquaintances, etc. because this man knows everyone. I believe it may stem from his small town roots where everyone knows everyone else’s business, while I retain my big city ‘MYOB” demeanor.

I’m an avid reader who always has a minimum of three books and/or periodicals in various stages of reading progress going at one time while TBC pretty much only cracks a tome when absolutely forced to. A deep, rocky chasm divides non-readers who think readers waste perfectly good time on copious amounts of mindless drivel and readers who secretly believe non-readers are shallow, clueless morons. TBC’s pretty much given up breaking me of this “useless, boring habit” and arguments regarding this particular bone of contention have fallen by the wayside. Singles need to factor this potential problem in when considering the pros and cons of mate material.

We both come from loving nuclear families though they differed in size, location, and economic status. He’s one of six, mostly male siblings (No. 2) and I (Numero Uno) have one younger sister. He grew up in a small town in northern NY and well, we all know where I hail from. *round on the end and high in the middle* Evenly divvying up the economic pie, not to mention time and attention among so many siblings certainly differed from the simple half division I enjoyed.

Much like Kerbear and Richard, we both love to travel and grew up road tripping on family vacations. This tradition has carried on as together with our two beautiful Circettes, ;) we have seen most of the contiguous United States. Driving duties are divided between us but for the most part, he plays chauffeur to my helpful, passenger side navigator. As much as we love the US, we are woefully behind in observing how the rest of the world lives. Plans are in the works for a tropical island vacation early next year and then European trips in the future.

We were both rebels as teenagers but my vanilla version of rebelling paled in comparison to his wild, rowdy ways. Yep, I married the bad boy. The pseudo fairy tale version of how this all works out in the wash bears absolutely no resemblance to grim reality. Plan on weekly, if not daily, hell.

Much like Weather’s hub, TBC projects a “good ole boy” image to the outside world but living with him day in and day out is a whole other story. I’m not sure one can change a control freak/bully but it sure makes for an obstacle-riddled existence for an easygoing, fun-loving, ‘peace at any price,’ free spirit like me. It’s not all bad and I will enumerate some of his good qualities in a future post, but I know for a fact I would never consider going through this continuous 'mountains out of molehills' drama again and will cherish my freedom when it happens. I leave you with this wise old adage: "Marry in haste, repent in leisure."