Christmas Bells Are Ringing

This past weekend Richard and I along with C, P and my sis, headed out to the lake to take some christmas pictures to send to family. Well, let me back up. We first stopped at the mall to take some pictures inside. There is a little mall just down the street and around the corner that is pretty quiet on Sunday's, so we thought we'd do some pics using their decor. Here's a sneak peek of some of our Glamour Shots.

Tuesday Tidbits

TOYS YOU WON'T FIND SOLD IN STORES

In National News Highlights:

IRVINE, CA—Local house cat Tibbles woke up, arched his back, took five steps, fell asleep, woke up, shat in a box, brushed up against the television, fell asleep, woke up, killed a small thing, and fell asleep.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)

You'll be torn a new asshole this week by some of the top reconstructive surgeons in the country.

A Few Hours to Vegas

Sometimes my job is so hard and demanding.

Last night, my company treated me and my sweet little hubby - along with about 14 other employees - to an outstanding dinner at the Iron Star restaurant (drinks included). For months, our financial software package has been in a 'upgrade and testing' mode and it's been very stressful and taxing. Not so much for me and our department as it has been for people in Accounting, but nonetheless, we're still involved.

The project is up and running full force... and live! So, we got to celebrate the completion and the fact that now, the finance department and some of the I.S. staff will get to work more normal hours - leave and depart at regular times.

The food was scrumptious. For the first time in my life I tried Quail. It came as an appetizer and wrapped in some honey flavored bacon. I'm not one to eat odd birds, but I tried it so as not to be a stick-in-the-mud. It was pretty good. The salad was a hunk of lettuce topped with candied pecans and some sort of sauce (sweet).... which i devoured! Richard didn't touch his (said he was saving room for the real food. lol) and I wanted to gobble his salad too. Had we not been with the rest of the group I would have grabbed his plate and finished off his hunk of lettuce.

I got the Prime Rib... Richard got the Chicken and both were very yummy! There wasn't much there we didn't like... except the green beans. I'm not a fan of buttery, crunchy green beans. I kind of like mine more mushy out of the can. haha

We had a good time.... its fun to socialize with co-workers outside of the office. I got to see some of them in a whole new light! People are different when they are at work.... and obviously some of us stress alot more at work.. and relax a ton when we're out! (not referring to myself or Richard either)

There is always so much I leave out when I try to tell these kinds of stories.... but, our waitor was a drummer in a rock band! I spotted him... I knew he was a drummer because of the way he rolled his ink pen in his fingers while he was taking our orders.

There was no way he was a twirler....! lol

Richard made a phone call... got his name... and I asked him. Yep... that dude is a drummer in a local rock band. Sweet! I called it right!

Dark December

The disturbing call came while I was at work on that cold, clear, sunny Saturday afternoon. “Your mother has been in a bad car accident, is comatose, suffering from severe head injuries, and her survival is uncertain.” My safe little world came crashing down around me. These are not the words an 18-year old daughter ever hopes to hear, even if your rancorous relationship is far from ideal. Mothers are supposed to be there for loving guidance, needed counsel and profound wisdom. They should fearlessly maneuver you through the frightening obstacles of serious illness and give their unwavering assurance that things will turn out just fine. In shock and disbelief, I called my dad who was also at work and we raced up the beach heading north into Virginia for the two-hour ride to the hospital. This life-altering occurrence affected me in several ways; I grieved, I grew up, and learned to rely on a power greater than myself.

Initially I experienced all the normal stages of grief—the denial, the anger, and finally acceptance. The intense grief was overwhelming, and the sense of loss unbearable. Then the anger and outrage reared its ugly head. How dare this have happened to my mother? How could that bus have obliviously been unaware of their presence and plowed right into them? Why couldn’t she have been wearing her protective seatbelt like my sister? I thought the lump in my throat would never dissolve. She remained comatose for a month and when she slowly emerged from her dreamlike cocoon, she was severely brain-damaged needing skilled, professional care.

After the grieving, anger, and passage of time, I got my act together. Before the accident, had you looked up "rebellious" in the dictionary, you would have seen my picture. But this 18-year old rebel was forced to grow up, face reality, and see life in a new, harsh light. I was no longer the carefree teenager just a few months out of graduation. I was no longer the defiant firstborn who placed her self-centered needs ahead of all others. I no longer champed at the bit to leave home and be out on my own. I quit my job to take care of things and my sister returned to high school. My family needed cohesiveness and we pulled together to return to a semblance of normalcy. Probably the most profound change was drawing closer to God. I had prayed off and on before, but it now became a regular daily habit. I poured my heart out to my heavenly Father, begging him to make her well again. I tried to bargain and made a lot of promises, and while my prayers weren’t answered as I hoped, His loving care and critical comfort sustained me through this dark period so long ago.

Life has thrown a lot of obstacles in my path since that December day and I’ve had to learn lessons without an experienced maternal presence. She languished in a distant nursing home for about a year before pneumonia ended her existence. She missed the good and bad times in my life; however, all was not lost. Positive changes occurred as I grew as a person and I gained a close relationship with the best friend a mortal could ever have: our loving heavenly Father. Out of the broken shards of my shattered life rose a deep, abiding, and forever renewing living faith that has continued to console and comfort through these past decades. I love you, mom.

50 Cent

Is it "FIFTEE" Cent?

or.... is it "FIDY" Cent?

How do you say it?

Only in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The store owner shot during a robbery earlier this week spoke with Eyewitness News 5 about her ordeal.

Rose Yeary was robbed by two women in her store -- called Rose's Fashion Place. One of the women shot her in the knee before escaping while wearing a wedding dress. "(The robber) said, 'I've got to do this. I've got to do it. I've got to do it for my kids,'" Yeary said. Yeary said she then fought back, wrestling with one of the robbers, who then pulled out a gun. The culprits have not been found, authorities said. Yeary is recovering at home.

*sigh*

Let There Be Light

I came in to work today to find a light in the ceiling out and my desk area in semidarkness. While I pretty much enjoyed the subdued illumination and cozy atmosphere, this is a busy office and I knew a call to the hardworking *cough* boys sporting the tan Dickies (aka maintenance) would be the first order of business. At 8:15 am I dialed their dept. requesting someone to come replace the two blown tubes. All morning I sat hunched over my desk, peering quizzically at my computer as colleagues filed past my door, stopping briefly to inform me I was ‘in the dark.’ I am? Really? OMG!!! Whew! I thought my eyesight was going. So it’s not me then. *breathes sigh of relief* I came back from lunch to find nothing had changed so I dialed up their gal Friday and once again pleasantly requested assistance. I was informed D was on his way and would be alleviating this problem shortly. Within the hour, D arrived with trusty ladder in tow and proceeded to tell me I would not need to vacate the premises as he could handle it without disturbing me. Um, ok. So I’m sitting here BSing with Patrick on MSN, er, working, while our infamous bumbling resident electrician with the chilling reputation for sending the entire institution into unscheduled blackouts as he merrily cuts wires, blows fuses, and occasionally sends massive volts of electricity coursing through his body, works directly over me as I warily glance up in search of falling objects. I told him I hoped no one desperately needed me as there was no avenue to escape. Immediately the phone rings and GFR in the next office seductively whispers into the phone that he "desperately needs me" and hangs up. I laughed so hard I about startled Mr. Klutz, but in the end he accomplished his task without incident. Ah, radiance reigns supreme once again. :)

The Topfive.com’s 5 Important Questions to Ask at a Job Interview

5> "Who's that hot little beyotch with the humongous rack in the picture?"

4> "Will I get time off for the national Dungeons and Dragons finals?"

3> "Is the drug test multiple choice or essay?"

2> "Is there someone who can watch my cats while I'm at lunch?"

1> "Do the chicks here get all bent out of shape about that sexual harassment crap?"



Heinz Field
Thursday, December 7, 2006
8:00 PM - WMMS / NFL Network

The Browns are headed to Pittsburgh and preparing for another shot to do something they haven't done since 2003.
(what, win for a change?)

GO BROWNS!!!

Just a Little Diddy About My Day

It's been a rough week and it's only Wednesday!

I still find the time to build a car , hit the gym, do some Christmas shopping, a kabillion loads of laundry, remodel a bedroom, type this, tinker with Christmas lights, cook dinner, clean up the mess, gather a couple hours of sleep... and its all done with a smile!

Actually, the bedroom remodeling project consisted of me buying P a new futon and Richard breaking down his full size bed, hauling it off, vacuming the room, assembling the new futon and getting it all set up for P to use. *kisses to you babe*

Anyways, you can read about my car project on the other site. Laundry awaits me!

Sinister Snowballs

Um, this seems totally justified, doesn’t it? :)

Since we are blessed with snow this week, I couldn’t help but think of a true-life experience that deeply scarred me during those tender, vulnerable years. It seems a certain Donna, who apparently had a huge, inexplicable grudge against me, took matters into her own hands and set me up. Let me explain. Donna and I were in the same first grade class together and though the elementary school years we shared were brief (abet memorable), she acquired the dubious reputation of being a notorious busybody. Having grown up in the frozen North, a cardinal rule we were taught practically from infancy was: "No throwing snowballs on the playground during recess." While icy spheres were great fun to hurl at friend and foe alike, this risky pastime was only deemed proper during non-school hours. In retrospect, this was a reasonable request considering the amount of damage a seemingly innocent snowball can cause. There were plenty of playground accidents as it was and they were no doubt attempting to cut down on excessive ambulance runs. But I digress. Always a rule-follower, I was well aware of the “no throwing snowballs” edict from the nanosecond I started school and never in my wildest dreams would obedient little Miss Circe have flaunted that concrete command. Little did I know mischief was afoot and that the gal with a personal vendetta against me would strike swiftly and mercilessly. Sure enough, while out on the playground one winter day, Donna, aka the pint-sized tattletale from hell, sidled up to me and asked that I pick up some snow from the ground. Not seeing where this was going and being the picture of naïveté and innocence, I meekly complied. Quick as a wink, this traitorous miniature harridan streaked over to the nearest teacher and loudly and sanctimoniously informed her I was throwing snowballs! LIES, FILTHY LIES!!! Sure enough, there I stood, dazed and confused, cradling the critical ingredient necessary for snowball manufacturing in my unmindful, mittened fingers. Yes, gang, circumstantial evidence was found in my possession and felony charges were brought against a blameless child. I was immediately sentenced to the principal’s office for flagrance disobedience to do penance for this grievous crime. I sat out the rest of recess tearful and disbelieving, a sadder, wiser view of my conniving fellowman. I’ll never know what prompted that unprovoked attack of yesteryear, but I’m a firm believer that what goes around, comes around so I have no doubt whatsoever there were equivalent psychic paybacks for her further down the road called Life.

Easy on The Price

I've actually been thinking about this for a couple of days, but this morning a friend of mine emailed me and we got to talking about Happy Hour which made me mention Sonic and their Happy Hour and how anymore, a person really can't afford to get their drinks if it's not during that half price special time.

Let me go back in time....

For the past 6 months I think my local Sonic has increased their drinks prices twice. I now pay $1.68 for a medium drink. I only pay $1.27 for a medium in my hometown and I can save about .10 cents if I drive two miles down the road to the next Sonic (which i've been known to do). I've cut back dramatically on my Sonic visits... and have been frequenting other places (7-11 still has awesome deal on monstrous drinks but you have to get out of the car and serve yourself and the ice isnt the same).

Last week, C and I stopped at Sonic and got Sonic Size cheese tots.

We got our order and pulled the tots out of the bag and we both sat there looking at them. The only thing Sonic Sized was the container that held the tots. They didn't put anymore tots in the Sonic Size than they do in the regular or large. They just change the size of the container! What is happening to this place!?

I love a Sonic diet coke, but this is ridiculous. I can stop by McDonald's and get a medium diet coke which is not packed full of ice (to cut down on the amount of coke they have to give up) so I really get more than two sips and I save about .50 cents in price.

Fluff Stuff

The grand total of white, fluffy stuff we were blessed with here in OkieDokieville last Thursday and Friday was pinned down to 8-12 inches. Woo hoo! (I am forever complaining I want feet not inches). ;) Chaos College officially dismissed at noon but those living out of town were shooed homeward at 9:30am and we did not return till today. There is nothing quite like 2 four-day weekends in a row. Trying for three would be excessive and quite useless as cold and sunny with a practically nil chance of precipitation are projected for the week. Oh well.

The main roads are cleared off nicely but those side roads are another story. I certainly saw a lot of people stuck and much like Kerbear’s vehicle, one hapless car with a very long, steep driveway had slid halfway into the street unbeknownst to its owners. To my knowledge no one plowed into it, but that must have been quite the rude awakening when they hoofed it down to their vehicle only to find it tantalizingly double dog daring others to smack it. Another strange phenomenon was discovering heaps of excess snow that the city shoved into the middle of the downtown thoroughfares. Guess we rarely receive enough snow to have a problem deciding where to put it. Just as I was about to jump in the SUV for a Friday trek through the winter wonderland, I experienced a 'Marcia Brady moment' when I distractedly turned my head and got clobbered in the nose by the passenger side door. OUCH! Though unable to frolic in the snowdrifts, I’m extremely hopeful this won’t be our first and last snowfall of the season and that the prospects are excellent for many snowballs/angels/men in my not-too-distant future. Yessssss...

The Ghost of Christmas Future

My thinking this Christmas holiday is that i'm going to get my shopping done early so that I don't have to mess with the mean shoppers, so Saturday my Sis and I hit the stores and Sunday, Richard and I shopped til we dropped.

Toys R Us was a nightmare. Ok, well it really wasn't a nightmare because i've seen it waaaay worse, but it wasn't a pleasant ordeal either. I don't see why there would be such a load of those little whipper snappers running around, but there was. Don't they need to stay home so mom and dad can actually shop, and purchase, the gifts!? We battled that store and got a few Christmas gifts there...

Then, we tackled the mall.

We did... we went to the mall - on a weekend! We had a mental list of who we need to buy for and some ideas on each. We hit the front door meaning business and with intentions of getting as close to finished as possible. About an hour into the adventure I get a call from C.

Mom, your car is sliding down the driveway.
WHAT? What is going on?
Your car is sliding. I think it's on ice.
C, are you lying to me?
No! you know how you usually park really close to the garage, but this time you didn't? Well it's sliding down.
Talk to Richard.

I pass the phone to Richard and I hear a little chit chat happening while I make a purchase. Richard hands the phone back to me and says 'you need to talk to him'.

C, is the car in the road?
No, its at the end of the driveway. I think it slid until it ran out of ice and hit pavement.
Are you sure it's moved?
YES MOM! (obviously irritated with me because he's trying to tell the truth). P was outside playing and his friends told him it was moving so he came and told me!
Did you push it down the driveway?
NO! No one has been around it!
Well tell the kids not to play around it and i'll be right there.
Where are your keys and i'll take care of it?
I have the keys and NO you aren't driving it
Well, don't hurry... it's not that big of a deal
Are you telling me the truth!?!?
YES! It's sliding!
ok, i'll be right there

I was torn between running right home (I was having a visual of my MM being on the loose in the neighborhood) and continuing our shopping excursion because C loves to play practical jokes on me. We decided to wrap up a couple of other things and head to the house to check on the situation.

Sure enough! As we rounded the corner of our block I saw my MM sitting at the end of the driveway. It had in fact slid! I had parked it on a big patch of ice and I guess the right spot to start sliding. Our driveway isn't a big sloping driveway... but it's just enough to slide down - apparently! I hopped in it and pulled it up close to the garage. All the neighbor kids were standing around watching and so eagerly wanting to tell us the story.

There is no rock salt available in a 100 mile radius I don't think. Actually, we only looked at Wal-Mart... but that was enough.

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Snow city *happy dance*

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Snow monsters yesterday

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View from the patio yesterday

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Gorgeous!

Our Condition is...

This afternoon while zipping down the highway at a whopping 40mph, I managed to snap these pics to show driving conditions. Actually, the pictures don't really show how bad the roads really were. There is a nasty layer of ice all over the pavement... I think maybe the one photo kind of shows that ;)

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Blizzard warning today. (deja vu-I'm in Ohio again?)

Let it Snow, Let it Sleet, Let it Rain...

Our first winter storm of the season is upon us. Last night little spits of rain and sleet were coming down but this morning it was loud spits of sleet. The wind is blowing something fierce and its blistery cold! I toyed with the idea of whether to try to make it to work or not. My favorite weather guy and the OHP were all over the tv telling people to stay home and not to get out on the roads. After a few phone calls, I decided to try to make it to the office, but leave about an hour later... so hopefully the typical morning traffic would already be at work - if they were even going to work.

I made it without mishap - some other misfortunate people did not. I saw a few semi's, cars and trucks off the side of the highway. From what I hear, its supposed to get really bad this afternoon. We'll see how long I stick it out here.

What I saw when I opened the door this morning.... ice.

Cat Tales

This past weekend, sis and fam visited out of town and TBC and I agreed to feed the menagerie while they were gone. It currently consists of two rambunctious dogs, Ho Kitty, three half-grown kittens from her first batch and the five survivors from her latest litter who are currently confined to the bathroom nursery. TBC did the actual labor involved and Friday evening he brought their only ‘daughter’ back to enjoy a slumber party reunion with her two full brothers, Oreo and Snickers. When she wasn’t licking my bare feet she was biting my hands and her constant, restless movement resulted in me having a heck of a time snapping this slate blur of frenzied activity. I think she’s a strong candidate for kitty Ritalin. As you can see, she’s a real cutie but I’m sure she is now scarred for life after her horrendous experience with us. No doubt she tearfully related her forced overnighter at her relatives’ house with faltering meows. It seems dear Snickers thought she was quite fetching in her soft, gray-striped, fluffy coat and took quite the fancy to her, avidly pursuing her with lustful overtures which she bravely deflected. His virtuous brother, Oreo, did not mimic Snicker’s wayward behavior but treated his sis with the respect their familial relationship deserved. Though certain this predicament would rear its head (hehe) in the near future, I’m wondering if Mr. Amorous hit pussy puberty sooner than expected. After observing his relentless pursuit of, er, tail, I foresee somber snipping in his near future.


Ways Blogging is Like Sex

11. At first, you’re just blogging once every week or two, but it’s not long before you’re doing it a couple of times a day.

10. A lot of kids fool around with blogs in high school but the serious blogging doesn’t start until college.

9. People really only have one good entry at a time, but will often fake multiple entries because they think it makes their readers happy.

8. It hurts when you’ve blogged and the next day your readers pretend like it never happened.

7. You know better than to blog when you’re drunk, but it’s just more fun, even if you do it with topics you wouldn’t have touched when you were sober.

6. The day after you’ve blogged drunk, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do to your regular readers.

5. Men blog like they’ve got an audience, but women like to keep it intimate.

4. You have to vary your technique once in a while, otherwise your readers will lose interest and you’ll drift apart.

3. When you first start to blog, you don’t ever have any long term readers but all you can ever think about is blogging. After a while, you do find some regular readers, but then blogging becomes a chore and you start to feel guilty if it’s been a while.

2. Most people blog at night, in the privacy of their own homes, but there’s always some jackass strutting around bragging that he prefers to blog in the office at lunch or at the local park.

1. Everyone knows that if he ever did in fact blog in his office or in the park, he was alone and just blogging into his palm.

Gimme More!

You can see a few more Farm pictures here.

Green Acres We Are There!!!

On Thanksgiving we all packed up and headed to Cousin Tonya's house. She, the hubby and two darling kiddos live way out in timbuktu country side clear on the other side of the state. We cityfied folks had a grand ol time gettin' down and gettin' dirty. Sheri and I climbed into the cow pit and manhandled manuer (sp?) - cow poop.
We climbed on top of the huge bails of hay and ran across them. They are alot bigger than you think... and from the top they are even bigger!
Richard took his turn. Actually, we made him go first to make sure it was safe... before we got up there to mess around. All the kids had been playing on them all day...
Another Glamour Shot of us two standing high on the bails.
Us perched on the fence looking out over the countryside. I'll get more pictures posted and notice my hair is always a mess. Sheri's can blow and it's still picture perfect... I, on the otherhand, always appear to be eating mine.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I’ve always been crazy about old pathways (and apparently I’m not alone) as they are filled with romance and mystique. I love to scrutinize where a road begins, or sadly, where it finishes its vital course. Route 66 played an enormous part in the history of American highways and much has been written about “The Mother Road.”

Two of my favorite personal reminisces are of Highway 12 on the Outer Banks. Parts of it are forever washing away and as the landscape plays hide and seek with the encroaching sand, the vista changes with each passing storm. Abrupt curves in the otherwise straight road tell the tale of the constant fight to keep the highway one step ahead of the hungry ocean. The bends are the result of rerouting the road after erosion and storms gobbled up dunes and pavement.

North Carolina Highway 12, which provides access to the Outer Banks and connects its communities, is another line in the sand. The state has spent tens of millions of dollars rebuilding, relocating and trying to protect the highway only to have sections of it continually washed away by the sea. Critics say it is an exercise in futility and a waste of state and federal tax dollars. To some, Highway 12 is a symbol, not only of the problem on the Outer Banks, but on most of the state’s barrier islands.

I also fondly remember the eastward development of Highway 64 back when the extension only got as far as east of Rocky Mount. As the years past, it morphed from a sleepy two-lane ribbon of pavement winding through every small town to a bustling four-lane bypass marching toward the welcoming beach.

It is only proper and fitting that I remain completely fascinated with these most famous stretches of ancient construction…

Hadrian's Wall (Latin: Vallum Hadriani) was a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of Great Britain to prevent military raids by the tribes of Scotland to the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in the Roman province of Britannia to the south, to physically mark the frontier of the Empire, and to separate the unruly Selgovae tribe in the north from the Brigantes in the south and discourage them from uniting. The wall was the northern border of the Empire in Britain for much of the Roman Empire's rule, and also the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its use as a military fortification, it is thought that the gates through the wall would also have served as customs posts to allow trade taxation.

Sections of Hadrian's Wall remain near Greenhead and along the route, though other large sections have been dismantled over the years to use the stones for various nearby construction projects.

Hadrian's Wall was 80 Roman miles long, its width and height dependent on the construction materials which were available nearby. It extended from the west from Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth. TheA69 and B6318 roads follow the course of the wall as it starts in Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, then on round the northern coast of Cumbria. The Wall is entirely in England and south of the border with Scotland by 15 kilometres (9 mi) in the west and 110 kilometres (68 mi) in the east.

In the months after Hadrian's death in 138, the new emperor, essentially abandoned the wall, though leaving it occupied in a support role, and began building a new wall in Scotland proper, about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north, the Antonine Wall. Antonine was unable to conquer the northern tribes and so when Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he abandoned the Antonine Wall and occupied Hadrian's Wall once again in 164. It remained occupied by Roman troops until their withdrawal from Britain. In the late 4th century, barbarian invasions, economic decline, and military coups loosened the Empire's hold on Britain. By 410, the Roman administration and its legions were gone, and Britain was left to look to its own defenses and government. The garrisons, by now probably made up mostly of local Britons who had nowhere else to go, probably lingered on in some form for generations. Archaeology is beginning to reveal that some parts of the Wall remained occupied well into the 5th century. But in time the wall was abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries a large proportion of the stone was reused in other local building which continued until the 20th century. A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot.

Appian Way

In ancient times, Roman roads were considered monuments. Over a period of centuries, the Romans built an efficient network that ultimately stretched for over 50,000 miles in an area than now belongs to more than 30 countries. The first important via publica, or highway as it would be called today, was the Via Appia, or Appian Way. Known as the queen of roads, it linked Rome with Brundisium, the port city that was the gateway to the East. This road took its name from Appius Claudius Caecus, the Roman official who started building it about 312 B.C.E.

Roman roads were carefully designed and were built to be solid, useful, and beautiful, with a destination by means of the shortest possible route, which explains why many have long straight stretches. Often, though, the roads had to follow the natural contours of the terrain. Where possible, in hilly and mountainous areas, Roman engineers built their roads halfway up the slopes, along the sunny side of the mountain. For road users, this position minimized any inconvenience that might be caused by adverse weather conditions. Roman roads, then, have proved to be extraordinary and lasting monuments that one may still view today.

And who can forget that mythical trail from childhood, the glorious Yellow Brick Road? Whatever the goal, it’s about the journey, not necessarily the destination. Here’s to wanderlust and adventure!! ;)

It's Never Easy

As I previously mentioned, Richard and I avoided the public on Friday and opted to stay home and work around the house. After a few mishaps:

me stepping on a light, breaking it, picking up the string to put a new bulb in and it shocking the @#$! out of me (they were still plugged in); hanging lights all around the house only to come up about 4 feet short of finishing; readjusting half the lights to try to come up with the extra 4 feet; deciding 'screw it... we'll go buy more lights' and plugging them in where we stopped (to test the lights); finding that the outside outlet doesnt work; rerouting the extension cord thru the garage to test the lights; then finding about 1/3 of the string that shocked the @#$! out of me doesn't work and it's on the highest peak over the garage

We proudly displayed our lights on Friday night with a black space where the 1/3 of the string wasn't working, and then on Saturday, Richard and my dad replaced the bad string, added lights to finish out the house and checked out the outlet that isn't working. We now have working and completed christmas lights.

Sticking to my Plan

Do not ever attempt to go to the 'great sales' of Black Friday! Especially stores like CompUSA or Best Buy. I'm so shaken up by the whole experience I dont think I can even blog about it. It was complete and total hell. I will never do it again!

We went to CompUSA last night at 9:20ish to get a couple of things. We walked in, grab our goods and stood in line for 1 1/2 hours! It was hot and stuffy and we were tired. Then about 1:30am we went to Best Buy and the line was so flipping long that we decided to get some sleep and go back this morning to see what was left.

Nothing was left. The whole damn store was gone except the high dollar stuff (they were trying to push off onto people)... yet people were still there packed like sardines and fighting like i'd never seen before.

I have never shopped the day after Thanksgiving... and I will never try it again.

We hung Christmas lights instead.

Gobble Gobble

The Topfive.com’s 5 Thanksgiving Dishes Served in Celebrity Homes

5> Mark Foley: bone-in rump roast with Blackberry(TM) sauce

4> Pat Sajak: veal! of! FORTUNE!!

3> Madonna: not-givin'-the-baby-back ribs

2> Donald Rumsfeld: a big helping of crow, with sour grapes and humble pie

1> Michael Richards: one career, over easily

Party Weekend

Richard was recruited to take party pics. Here has is evaluating his material... and some hilarious videos that he shot while none of us were watching!!!
That's me... trying to gather all the kiddos up after the DJ had announed P's party to the party area for pizza, cake, cokes, gifts, etc. I noticed (after looking at this picture) that C stands just like me. lol
Richard shooting more video/pictures.
The party stuff. Clean. Before any pizza sauce, spilled Dr Pepper, buttercream icing or chocolate crumbs got smeared all over.
The two hot chicks there were working the party. These two add sizzle to any young man's party!!!


Finally I'm getting some time to get some of our Birthday pics out. This year, P decided to have a skating party to celebrate. We reserved a party area complete with assistant (hired) to set up, serve and clean. I love this plan! You can go here for a few more pics and some more of the story.

Conversation Took a Detour

My sis and I have been plotting our Black Friday shopping day - that's the day after Thanksgiving shopping day if you didn't know - and our conversation today went a little off the deep end, as usual. Piper is my doggie niece.

Via Email:
Me: Best buy is selling a 17" flat panel monitor for blah blah blah...

Sis: Uh no i don't think i will, So what time do you want to b there?

Me: Well, sherri was telling us we need to be there about 3am.... but dang that is early!

Sis: YEah but i can believe it b/c that is why i have never
done it b/f. Lets just go at 3 and sleep in the car if we need to we can set our alarms on our phones to go off every 30 min to make sure we are the first in line and take a thermous of coffee

Me: Okay. bring blankies. And hot choco... I don't do coffee

Sis: We can bring Piper too cuz she will keep us warm and if we get too hungry and cold we can eat her and wear her fur.

Me: No... I'm on a low-fat diet. Remember?!?! The doggie doctor said she is a fatty mcfatterson. She isn't lean meat. However, we can put a barrel around her neck with $5 in it and send her to the local 7-11 to get us beverages and snacks. That's a win-win. We get fed and warmed... she exercizes her tubby legs. :)

Sis: You know what that would work, i like that idea and maybe she will get discovered by a hollywood producer and be the star in the next big dog hit movie and we will have a HUGE shopping spree on Piper!!!!!!!!!!!

Me: Yes! Then we will have to quit and work for Piper full time. I'll be her manager because I don't mind being short with her and giving her the 'what fors'. You just be her sassy doggy momma with big hair and giant sunglasses.

Sis: Oh and we will need more bling...

Me: Yes... I like big bling. Piper is going to have to work hard
and she's going to have to get in shape. That means no more Taco Bell and no more sneaking 5lbs of valentines day chocolates while no one is home!

Sis: Yeah and no more sleeping all day, we are going to have to work harder on our walks in the morning and chase more cats... we are also going to have to get me the helium boob. Oh hell while i am at it i will get
liposuction in my cheeks (all 4) and you can have it for your boobs.

Me: Sweet! I knew that dog would be of use some day!
If she had a cell, I'd call and wake her up right now and make her run laps in the living room. I might give a shout out to the neighbor and have them bang on the wall to get her doggy butt up!

Sounds like we have the whole day planned out well..... *giggle*

Borat - The Movie

Last night we finally had a chance to go see Borat. Eric had told Richard that there was a few parts... well, one in particular that he couldn't believe he was watching, but he wouldn't divulge any details. We had no idea what we would see... but when that part came, we totally realized what he was talking about!

It was gross to see the chunky dude whackin to Pamela Anderson's picture in the Baywatch magazine, but it was even more grosser (is that a real word!?!?) to watch him wrestle Borat - totally butt naked! To watch flubber flouncing in the wind and nut sacks being shoved into another guys face and then watch as Borat was being forced to smell big dudes butthole (EEEWWWWW) while the guy sat on his face and said something to the effect of 'smell my ass' or 'lick my hole'. Heck I can't remember exactly what he said because we were too busy laughing and watching the whole circus act on the screen.

I'm so glad we sent P and C to see another movie. I hope I didn't ruin for anyone... but even though I shared just that little part, you still need to see it to get the whole effect. Oh my....

Go Buckeyes/Browns!

SATURDAY
11/18/2006
3:30 PM EST

Words of Advice

Ohio State fans are insane hooligans. Not all of them, of course. Not even most. But enough of them.This may sound like a hopelessly partisan statement, but let me explain. It has been known for many years that opposing fans, especially Michigan fans, get treated very badly in Columbus. Not only will you be cursed at, you may have beer or urine hurled at you. You may also be shoved or punched. If your car has Michigan license plates, the police will frequently ticket you for trumped-up infractions. I have not heard of these things happening with any regularity in Ann Arbor.This year, the University of Michigan sent an e-mail to fans traveling to Columbus. It reads like a State Department warning to tourists visiting a hostile Third World country. Some of the advice:

- Try carpooling to the game; if possible, drive a car with non-Michigan license plates.
- Keep your Michigan gear to a minimum, or wait until you are inside the stadium to display it.
- Stay with a group.
- Stay low-key; don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
- If verbally harassed by opposing fans, don't take the bait.
- Avoid High Street in Columbus.

Then on Sunday...


SUNDAY
11/19/2006
1:00 PM EST

I Found Your Old Pal, Sis....

OMG OMG OMG!!! I found someone on MySpace! I can't wait to tell my sista'. She is gonna crapola! *laughing hysterically*

I can not wait to tell Sheri who I found.... haha... it's one of her classmates and it's a hoot!!!

I can hear her gasping for air.... some silence... then bursts of laughter. *snicker*

Is this mean of me!?!? *giggle*

Spider Skirmish

Nothing went right yesterday and the cold and windy weather didn't help matters. I showed up for work with my attractive bloody left eye (broken blood vessel) and wearing a lovely ripped lavender sweater. And then things really plummeted downhill. Now I know I’m not the only one who occasionally comes unglued at work and unsheathes her sharpened claws but yesterday featured a Circe Meltdown of epic proportions. The first order of the day was the ongoing power struggle with the Spider right at the stroke of 8. As I have expounded upon in an earlier post, the Gossip Queen arrives promptly at 7 am, parks her rather plump posterior on one of our vacant chairs adjacent to my desk and eagerly awaits the arrivals of her cronies to trail in and join her in the morning gabfest. Chaos College’s workday commences at 8 am and in the perfect world, she would be seated at her desk in her building across campus ready to hit the ground running. Alas, this is not a perfect world. Chatting on the cell phone with sis, I rounded the corner to find the bull session in full swing. I threw my bag and purse on the desk and informed sis I wasn’t going to be able to hear her and flounced out in a huff as Gabby Bitch loudly declared, “well she’s pissed.” No shit, Sherlock! We go through this every week and you know very well how thrilled I am to see you first thing in the morning acting like this office is your personal domain. When I returned she was gone but the skirmish was far from over.

Indian Tacos were sold in the lounge and I knew she’d be over to gobble her quota. Sure enough, before noon I glimpsed her ambling down the hall in anticipation of consuming these gastronomic delicacies. I left for the gym and upon returning found her coat still slung over the rack waiting for its lazy owner to retrieve it. At 2:20 pm she finally decided it might be time to end her prolonged 2 ½ hour lunch and wandered in. By this time, I was feeling ashamed of my unprofessional hissy fit, decided to let bygones be bygones, smiled pleasantly and greeted her. And what was her reaction? I got a glare and silence for my efforts. Fine! Around 4 pm I was proofreading a document when my peripheral vision glimpsed her again entering my area in search of the Grand Poobah’s signature for her timesheet. (Oh, the irony). Never looking up, I squelched questioning her on her honesty regarding her lengthy noon break. Knowing precisely where boss lady had headed, I vowed to not offer the info without being asked and the inquiry never came.

I haven’t seen her today and doubt she’s even here as she is strictly part time. Her friends are glaring at me today so I know my "unfair overreaction' has made the rounds. Fortunately we have a three-day workweek coming up and I think it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we all long for this much needed break from our work playmates. The saga continues...

Hard Day at Work

It was freezing cold today and I've yet to warm up.

I got to spend part of the morning and most of the afternoon at a Technology conference. I sat in on a presentation about blogging in the workplace and how beneficial it can be for the employees and for business... and alot of other things that I pretty much already knew. Richard and I then made a mad dash to the Happy 45 minutes in the main Vendor area. They were doing door prizes so we stood and listened for our names. They were giving away IPod Nano's and tons of other really cool toys! I noticed that everyone seemed to have a funny looking glass of 'pop'. I surveyed the room... and the glasses... and finally found the cash bar! They weren't kidding about Happy 45 minutes! I thought for sure it would be cookies and coke/water/tea - you know, the usual. I, of all people, should know that techies do hospitality up right!

However.... our previous session ran too long and we didn't make it in time. The cash bar closed before we could get anything to drink - and that included a diet coke. We somehow managed to make it thru our next session where our poor presenter (President and Founder of the company) had to present with no mic (batteries ran down) and battling all kinds of background noise because they were tearing down the displays before the thing was even over.

All that to say..... it was cold inside too! It was freezing outside and inside the Cox Convention Center it was freezing cold... just minus the wind. I came home and made a big pot of chili (which the fam just loves cuz I rock at making it :) ) and headed to the gym for an hour of cardio to warm up. I can't wait to curl my freezing toes around Richards warm legs *giggle* He likes it best when I wait til the little moment when he's just about to doze off to sleep and then I hit him with my 10 little ice cubes *giggle*

Twist of Fate

Something I’ve been meaning to discuss is the ongoing problem of countless accidents we rural people encounter from morons who fail to negotiate obvious and clearly posted turns on the country roads leading to and from the boonies. What seems to be the problem, people? It’s not like the signs are hidden just to trick you and then all of the sudden, SURPRISE! an unexpected bend jumps out causing untold grief as you lose control and swerve wildly to avoid smacking into the fence just waiting to mangle your precious car (and sometimes you) all to bits.

There are several choices of road I can take to work and yesterday sis was in the lead by a few miles as we made our way to our respective employers. As we yakked on the cell, she informed me there were skid marks and a lone car grill stuck in a large bale of hale at the first sharp curve. Sure enough, some idiot had missed the turn completely and his vehicle became one with Straw City. Mr Excellent Driver managed to make it five miles further up the road before abandoning his dented POS pickup and hoofing it to the main highway. There it sat, abandoned, forlorn and grill-less as responsible working people of the world discussed his predicament on their morning commute. By the return trip home, no trace could be found of either one. I mentioned this incident to TBC last night and we compared notes. Apparently this accident had occurred on Sunday afternoon in broad daylight not long before TBC observed a skinny, unkempt individual swiftly walking away from said vehicle. My guess is this upstanding member of society had been high and/or drunk and could easily have found his sorry ass in jail had the cops been called. It doesn’t help that country roads are fine places to drink and drive while blithely tossing empty bottles out of the window with reckless regularity. We even offer a neighboring drug dealer to meet your hallucinogenic needs. (Our motto: you bring the booze, we’ll front the pharmaceuticals). Needless to say, this adds to the plethora of wrecks that may be found on our crafty corners.

There are two specific areas that tend to trip up the majority of visitors: 1) At what I affectionately call 'the zigzag' in the middle of my road and 2) the “Y” where two nearby lanes break off and head in perpendicular directions. The homeowners near either of these hot spots have long given up keeping their fences intact as they can count on having them run through on a regular basis. For the most part, the accidents haven’t been fatal with one exception. One pleasant early fall day two years ago, four joyriding teenagers traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the large tree on the Y owner’s property and two were killed. As much as we like to poke fun at stupid, overindulging adults missing the turns, this was a sad, tragic crash that shouldn’t have happened. This hazardous area now posts more signs than ever in an effort to avert further tragedies. In conclusion, please drive carefully when traipsing through my neck of the woods as you may become the topic of local gossip and blog fodder.

Ho Kitty

While we love our little adopted darlings Oreo and Snickers (or as TBC calls them, "BW" and "YouToo") with their playful spirit and affectionate purrs, I’ve received disturbing news regarding the female that gave birth to them. My sister shares living space with this trampy little feline named Callie along with the remnants of her first motley brood. They were all in pretty pitiful shape when sis graciously consented to take them in and nurse them back to health. Now that Mz Welfare Kitty is back on her feet so to speak, she has returned to her wanton ways. This purring vixen seductively winks at any passing Tom and if that isn’t obvious enough, her little red light in the barn, mass distribution of catnip-scented business cards and late night booty calls to her many ardent suitors requesting a ‘date’ leave them in no doubt as to what this calico seductress has in mind. Thanks to her being unable to meow the word ‘no,’ she just recently delivered Batch No. 2, surpassing her first litter of 6 by two bringing the grand total to 8 and just like the initial crew, this assortment represents all colors, creeds, and ethnic origins. Yes, before Litter Numero Uno was out of Pampers or past training wheels, this equal opportunity huzbag has singlehandedly triggered a massive cat population explosion in Okiedokieland. Brother-in-law has warned me to expect a sneakily deposited purring package on my doorstep in the very near future…

I Did It!

I passed!!!!!!!!!!!

I passed the test I've been studying for all week! I got concerned while I was taking it because so many of the questions I'd seen info on, and I remembered reading about, but I couldnt remember particulars and then when they give you so many choices for answers and then they are so similar but maybe one word, it tends to get confusing. Anyways.... I plugged on. I read and reread each question. Read all the possible answers then reread the question again and marked what was my first gut instinct.

When I had completed the test, I looked at my watch and it had been only two hours. The test is a 3.5 hour exam! I'd finished really early... another cause for alarm.

I gathered my things - which amounted to my jacket because they allow absolutely nothing in the exam room, (that includes H2O) and walked out to see the proctor.

Proctor Guy: How did you do?
Me: I guess we'll see.
Me: If I could have had one thing in there, it would have been a diet coke.
Proctor Guy, chuckling to himself: Well, now you can go get one.
Me, mumbling to myself, but outloud so he can hear too: I knew some of that stuff but then I sit there and talk myself in and out of answers and then I don't know which way to go.....
Proctor Guy: Congratulations!
Me: For what?
Proctor Guy: You passed!
Me: WHAT?
He hands me my certificate... as i'm gasping for air.

I knew it! I knew the material! I almost kissed Proctor Guy Iwas so excited! I bounced out the door jumping up in the air and clicking my heels together - and made a hundred phone calls to share the joy.

Multimedia message

Chaos

Peanut Butter and Cram

I'm so happy it's Friday! *doing my happy dance*. I've got my party pants on!!!

Not really. I'm going to go home and cram, cram, cram for this test tomorrow. *moment of prayer* I need to pass it - the first time. I'm ready to get on with the show and I know Richard, C and P are ready for it to be over too. Richard has been Mr Mom all week; picking up the house, cooking dinner, doing laundry, science and math homework, making sure kids are clean and teeth brushed. I sense that he is ready to pass some of the duties back to me. *giggle*

Weasel King

Since I’ve told you all about my dearest bud, Patrick, I thought it only fair to enlighten you regarding another important and vital net personage, K2. In his case, Mr. Canada was minding his own business 8 ½ years ago when yours truly stumbled upon him in ICQ random chat. Little did he know this would be the start of a long and enduring typing relationship. “Interesting” is an understatement when attempts are made to define our quirky camaraderie. Though our busy schedules rarely mesh and two time zones separate us, when we do manage to meet up, my frisky tail wags enthusiastically and my glowing face lights up like Fourth of July fireworks. While Patrick is considered a dear buddy, K2 rules from the lofty pedestal he was unwittingly hoisted upon as Ms Circe worships from afar. It’s really kinda funny as K2 is pretty much an average guy who quickly morphed into my ideal knight in shining armor (or in his case, a sexy green flight suit)—not an easy slot to fill yet he manages to do it with pizzazz and flair. What can I tell you about him? He’s fun and witty, clever and somewhat aloof, kooky and playful and stays just far enough out of my grasping tentacles to drive me insane with desire. Sometimes we type every day but there have been occasions in this long-distance affiliation that we have gone for months without so much as an offline ‘hi.’ Yet through thick and thin, we remain friends; flirty comrades with an added dash of mutual attraction spice thrown into this flavorful IM soup. We’ve never met and it’s doubtful we ever will but I cannot imagine my life without him as he brings depth and dimension to my crazy alter internet world. Here’s to forever, Hotshot…

Silken Thread

slender silken thread
tenuous yet enduring, fragile yet strong
forgotten for a time then persistent pull
invisible tie, silent reminder
encircling my ankle
bitter cold, searing heat
Atlantic or Pacific
coast to coast, year to year
past present future
tenacious tug, gentle tap
whisper or command
timeless, eternal
binding us together
my Canadian connection.

Thrawn Thrill

When my buddy Matt pops in between classes to say hi, one recurring theme dominates our conversation: Star Wars. We are both Star Wars fanatics and devour the many and diverse novels out there centering around our favorite subject. In all honesty, he’s the one that got me hooked on this heretofore unknown to me vast array of literary fiction starting with “The Courtship of Princess Leia,” which he lent from his extensive personal library. These well-written storylines travel backwards and forwards in time and add new dimension and spark to this particular sci fi theme. Yes, dear gang, Luke, Han, and Leia are only a tip of the intergalactic iceberg. So in addition to having a deep and abiding love of the popular cinematic giants, I eagerly read the equally exciting adventures featuring characters such as Corran Horn, Wedge Antilles, Mara Jade, Talon Karrde and my personal favorite, Grand Admiral Thrawn.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn (full name: Mitth'raw'nuruodo) is a fictional character from the Star Wars galaxy. He first appeared in Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy of novels, which are set five years after Return of the Jedi. Thrawn was his public "core" name, meaning "twisted or crooked", an apt description of his intricate schemes. He is generally regarded as the last great commander of the Galactic Empire. He was a Chiss, a species of aliens from the Unknown Regions. He was a brilliant military strategist and commanded the remnants of the Imperial Fleet in a series of stunning victories against the New Republic. His study of his enemies' artwork gave him insight into their thought processes and cultures, allowing him to create highly effective tailor-made strategies. Thrawn was considered a true warrior by those who served under him. If a battle Thrawn planned could not be won, Thrawn preferred not to waste troops and equipment in futile displays of power; he would withdraw and adjust his plans. Thrawn's greatest weapon was his mind. Unlike many egotistical Imperial commanders, Thrawn could accept valid ideas even if they were not his own. Thrawn was not concerned with his own personal glory, only with winning the fight against the New Republic.”

Mr. Smarty Pants is described as a tall, solidly built humanoid with blue skin and glowing red eyes. (That visage has got to be somewhat disconcerting...) Though pigeon-holed as one of the bad guys, his early beginnings show his reasoning, wit, intelligence and true motivation behind his seemingly destructive behavior. So while displaying a decided penchant toward evil, his sharp mental capacity and startling looks make for a fascinating combination and three-dimensional characterization. And though officially dead, the fantasy world allows for unforeseen changes making his return within the realm of possibility. I for one hope for and champion this feasible prospect. Thrawn + power = sexy. ;)

And just who might I be pitted against this week in FFB??? The Storm Troopers! LMAO

Something's Brewing....

It seems i've always got something going on.

Currently, I'm studying for an exam i'm scheduled to take on saturday. The exam is 3.5 hours of intense questions and i'm doing my usual cram session with a little bit of panic mixed with 'no problem, i can do this'. Come saturday morning (very early I might add), I'll probably have a stomache ache and be racing through my mental list of things I need to take with me and absolutely can't forget because they won't let me in the building if I dont have them, so I'll check my bag like one hundred million kabillion times to make sure I haven't forgotten whatever it is that I think I need.

Despite my tight schedule this week, I found time to go with C and Richard to the Hornets opener last night. What a great game! It was intense the entire time. I don't think there was more than an 11 point spread at any time during the game! I had a couple of pictures that I sent via Mobile Blogger but the darn things didn't post. What's up with that!?!? It worked... then bammo! doesn't!!

Fish Fable

After my busy Saturday schedule, I relaxed Sunday with my most recent Netflix selection entitled Big Fish. Fact and fiction blend and blur in this fantastic movie as father and son strengthen their tenuous connection before it is too late. This simple yet universal theme makes for a winning formula. The ‘big fish in the little pond’ refers to William’s larger-than-life dad who finds small town life too dull and claustrophobic for his substantial personality. Water plays a significant role throughout the movie as the audience along with William, wonder how many of dad’s bizarre tales are exaggerated fish stories. While Edward most certainly stretches the truth, we learn that most of his strange tales have more than a grain of truth and the characters that inhabited his life are real people.

This terrific 2003 movie directed by Tim Burton is summed up with these words:

"William Bloom (Billy Crudup) tries to learn more about his dying father, (Edward Finney), by piecing together the facts out of the various fantastic tales and legends of epic proportions he’s been told over the years. Edward was a traveling salesman, and his journeys throughout the South are the seed of the tales. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie co-stars Ewan McGregor (as young Edward), Helena Bonham-Carter and Steve Buscemi."

I don't think this test showcases my attributes in a very flattering light... :)

The Priss Deliberate Brutal Love Dreamer (DBLDf) Mature. Responsible. Aristocratic. Excuse me. The Priss. Prisses are the smartest of all female types. You're highly perceptive, and confident in your judgments. You'd take brutal honesty over superficiality any time--your friends always know where they stand with you. You're completely unfake. Don't tell me that's not a word. You're also excellent at redirecting internal negative energy. These facts indicate people are often intimidated by you. They also fall for you, hard. You have a distant, composed allure that many find irresistible. If only more of them lived up to your standards. Your exact opposite: The Playstation You were probably the last among your friends to have sex. And the first to pretend that you're pregnant. LOL. Though you're inclined to use sex as weapon, at least it's not as one of mass destruction. You're choosier than most about your partners. A supportive relationship is what you're really after. Whether you know it or not, you need something steady & long-term. And soothing. ALWAYS AVOID: The Playboy, The Loverboy CONSIDER: The Manchild Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.

Meringue Moves

A social event of the season occurred Saturday evening as Ms Circe glamoured up for a formal tenth anniversary party of a beloved Hispanic couple. After much preparation, I emerged from the nurturing cocoon resplendent in a fancy low-cut black blouse, long curve-hugging black skirt, strappy black sandals, black necklace with matching earrings (the ones I purchased at Staff Development Day) accented with crimson nails, lips and sparkly glitter sprinkled on tresses and across bared, creamy hills. The place vibrated with pounding Spanish music causing restless tootsies, swaying bodies and the irresistible urge to bust some moves. My favorite rhythm discovered when visiting the DR is the merengue. Not knowing its specific steps failed to deter my swiveling hips and dancing feet from hitting the polished pavement and once out there my timidity and shyness receded into the background. I felt extremely ‘white’ out there but gamely gave it my best and had a wonderful time trying. I even caught “S” on cell phone video doing some serious booty shaking. I’m thinking blackmail…

Dinner was a delicious mix of tempting tamales, chicken mole, spaghetti/rice/potatoes, pinto beans, salad, and several delightful desserts including a beautiful three-tiered cake. All too soon it was time to take our leave as the pulsating beat echoed through our exhausted yet happy ears. I certainly hope this isn’t my last Mexican-flavored shindig because I had a total blast. :)

Virgo August 23 - September 22
While the music will make your body move, it's the dance club's strobe lights that will make your body groove.

Raining Cats and Turkey's

Our 10:30am game got pushed back to 11:30am because of rain and when we got to the soccer fields, they announced that our game wouldnt start until about 11:45am because they were running behind and another team was using our field.

We got started a bit before noon. The first half no one scored. We knew this team would be quite a challenge... and we werent letting them get into our goal and they were doing the same. Not much into the second have, C passed the soccer ball to a team member and ding! a score!!! whooohoo! It was the only one of the game. We won 1-0 and fought hard for it!

We were going into the finals undefeated and depending on the outcome of a game being played simultaneously with ours, it was possible we'd have to play this very same team again.

They pushed back our final game 30 minutes and as we arrived at the fields to fight for tournament champs, the rain was pouring and periodically thunder could be heard clapping in the sky. We stood on the sidelines of our field watching the final moments of the game before us. Bundled up in coats and huddled under an umbrella, we were laying bets as to whether we'd actually get to play. Rumor had it that the storm was moving towards us... not away from us.

Our turn on the field... the refs showed up and we started playing. It was us against Tsunami... again. The same team we'd played this morning. We had scored one goal (them none) when lighting struck and they called everyone off the field. We hung around the parking lot for about 30 minutes waiting to see if the weather would clear and we'd get to finish... but no cigar. They called the entire tournament and we won first!

I have pictures... but for some reason they won't send (from my cell) to blogger. dagnabit!