Jurassic Park

P and I went to see Walking with the Dinosaurs last night. ROOOAAARRR! It was a good show! It's pretty cool how they move those big pieces of animal. About 15 minutes before the show was set to begin, we watched 3 guys hoist themselves up into seats far above the floor. From each of these seats, they remotely controlled each movement and sound of the dinosaurs. They were loud and lifelike. Their dinosaur size was true to size. The T-Rex and a few others would get right up in the crowd and ROOOAAAARRRRR!!!! A few times we spotted kids scrambling for higher ground. hahaha

My First Time

Baby Z is just like her momma!!! A chocoholic!

Last night, for the very first time, I put some chocolate milk in her sippy cup after she'd finished dinner. I usually give her water... so she just took a little sip and put the cup down. Obviously it dawned on her that "that ain't no ordinary drink!" That was liquid M&M's! She devoured every last drop in seconds. I craved chocolate milk the entire time I was preggers with baby Z and now, she's a lover.

Another first for her happened this past weekend. We took her to her first Blazers hockey game. I wasn't sure how she'd react, but I kind of weighed more towards she'd enjoy the people. She had an absolute blast! She flirted with the drunk guys sitting behind us and played Hide N Go Seek with the girls a few rows back. She picked at the caulking in the seams of the floor and ate funnel cake. She was an absolute dream for being up 3 hours past her bedtime and being confined to our row of seats that whole time. I'd say she's a sports fan! A cheerleader in the making!? (hope not. I'd rather her play than cheer)

Baby Z watching the game


The Blazers

While I'm Thinking About It

I talked to Circe yesterday and she sounds great! She's just gotten over the nasty flu.... but she sounded perky and energetic! Yeah! I miss her so much and I hope to get her back on here some day!

Overload

I really hate stupid people.

I thought the holiday break would refresh me and put me in a better frame of mind. But on the first day back to class, its a big negative. Stupid people piss me off. I love training. I love teaching people how to use software and about their PC/laptop. I do NOT love telling them for the f'ing umpteenth thousandth time and nothing has changed! The answer is the same as the first time I told you as it is today. Absolutely NOTHING has changed. Why the heck can't some people grasp AND RETAIN information?! It's not like its throw away info. You know, something you need right now and will never see again. It's basic login info, or how to minimize or maximize or how to find EXCEL if it's not a pretty icon on your desktop. OMG!

Oh... and what is a desktop? No, it's not what you set your papers on to write and a Window is not what we look through to see outside. Yes, these are things that come up in class... over and over and over. ugh

My fiery glares should indicate that they have reached their stupid question maximum. I'm gonna start givin them their sign!

Other than that... its a good day! :)

Something is in the Air

Yeah! My new year is off to a great start! I bailed out of bed at 5:30 this morning to hit the gym and what did I find when I got there!? SPIN CLASS!!! My favorite! So, I saddled up and proceeded to pedal my hardest for 45 minutes.

It was fantastic until about 10 minutes into it when I got a good whiff of the heavily perfumed gym rat chick next to me. Any other time she'd smell great... but not when we're huffing and puffing, trying to get every ounce of oxygen in our lungs to make it through the next pedal. I found her scent to be suffocating. Her appearances would lead me to believe she's a super clean person. Always put together well, even in the gym. So, was there a need to cover an all-niter binge of wild and crazy sex smell? Take a shower! No one smells so bad they need to bathe in perfume prior to sweating it all off at the gym!

Then about 15 minutes later comes another whiff of the opposite. Someone farted. Tooted. Ripped one. Silent Flatulence! I have breath-taking perfume on one side and fartious maximus on the other. Where do I turn!? I had no choice but to put my head down and breathe in my own sweatie shirt smell. Much better!

Sweet smelling perfume and fart do not mix. *note to self to not pedal between those two*

Starting Over 09

Happy New Years!

This year Richard and I chose to stay out of the clubs and big parties and instead chose to spend the evening with just a few friends. Some of Richards friends from college and some old (I don't mean old in age, but past) neighbors joined us and even a cycling buddy! We had fun. Did you guys catch the guy in Vegas landing on the casino... and then jumping off??? On his bike. I don't remember his name. I'm so full of helpful info! ha

Marsha came to our little gathering... broken foot and all! She got spooked by a mouse and jumped somehow and broke her foot!


My sis and I


My sweetie pie love muffin and me!

A Short Christmas Story

For a sweet little Christmas present from Baby Z to her dad, I had Baby Z paint on canvas with her favorite colors (like she knows) and I "framed" them with wild and crazy red fringe. I also framed, in red leather matching the fringe, a picture of her covered in paint. Most of the paint was on HER... not the canvas. Here's Richard opening his gift!


Us out celebrating Christmas a few days early


Baby Z wasn't ready to wake up Christmas morning. Every other morning she's up and at it!


Sheri and I in the new hats that mom got us for Christmas


Me trying to get my hat on right... and had an accidental picture taken. I kinda like it!

Mr Cullen

Richard and I tippy-toed out of the house Saturday night about midnight-ish to finally go see Twilight. I say we have to tip-toe because if baby Z knows we're going... she wants to go too! She's a "goer".

Robert Pattinson is my new crush! Johnny Depp is still my number one, but Robert... or should I say Edward... currently makes my heart flutter! Something about his pastey white skin and piercing eyes and super strength and tender, loving, kind heart that makes me melt. I remember watching Interview with a Vampire, and being in love with a vampire then... but this, THIS is SO much better!!! LOVE HIM. GO SEE IT! I can't wait for movie #2

In The Beginning

Christmas is here! Just a couple of days and we'll be sitting around the tree sipping on hot chocolate or (drink of your choice) and opening gifts. All the hustle and bustle we've done over the past month, will be over in a few short minutes. In our efforts to take a minute to "stop and smell the roses"... basically take a breather... we headed to Bricktown friday night to relax! Dinner at Zio's and a walk along the canal and club hopping. What a good time!

New Lady

Ok... I visited the new Chiro last night and I like her! I gave her a list of my "you can't do this or that to me". I want her to use the Activator (and gave the ok to use the drop table), she can't twist or turn or yank me and I wont get naked. Yes, I actually had one chiro (many moons ago) want me to get naked for a treatment. You sported a nice white gown, but NOTHING else and it was open in the back. I wasn't really hip on that method.

She did my evaluation and determined a course of action plus she put me on the stretchy rolling table. The one where you lay down and these big rollers stretch your back and does it ever feel good! I felt like a million bucks last night and I feel wonderful today! I see her again tonight and her plan of action is twice for 6 weeks, then once a week for a few more weeks and then once every month or two. That is so much better than 3 times a week for four years!

Note: I didn't go to all my 3 appointments because I was self-diagnosing and determined (my personal course of action) that I didn't need to see him that many times, nor did I have the time.

Snap, Crackle, Pop

I'm going for a consultation with a new Chiropractor today. After several years of pretty much constant pain because "its going to hurt while doing manipulations because your back has been out of place and gotten used to it", I've had enough and i'm trying someone new. I didn't hurt before I started seeing Dr 90210, I just had this nice little curve in the middle of my back and I'd very frequently pop ribs out of place while in the gym. So, to get all that fixed I've been in pain for ever! Just not right I tell ya.

Sometimes I've wondered if they don't do things to you to make you feel bad... so you'll come back and get more treatments. Typically once you feel good, you stop going to the 'doctor'. I know they preach preventative treatments and that's all good however my "preventative" was 3 times a week which I changed (self medicating. haha) to once a week and I'd skip that if I felt good.

Crossing my fingers that new lady will get me all squared away in no time flat!

Oh, Stuff It!

Stocking stuffer ideas are hard to come by sometimes. Wait... no, I think of alot of cool things but they aren't really stocking stuffers. Unless your stocking is gargantuan size. My ideas of stuffers... are too big! But, I found a list of 101 ideas. Here goes:

1. Chocolate - any kind will do!
2. Mandarin oranges or exotic fruit such as star fruit
3. Lottery tickets
4. Lipstick - buy a wild shade of red
5. Cozy mittens or gloves
6. Personalized or Christmas print coffee mug or tea cup
7. Tire gauge
8. Picture frames - buy a plain wooden frame and wrap it with Christmas wrap, glue on Christmas ornaments, paint on holly leaves or apply Christmas stickers.
9. Silly Putty - fun for any age!
10. Baseball, golf ball, rubber ball....
11. Night light
12. Christmas ornament - home-made or store-bought
13. Unique kitchen gadget like an egg slicer, grapefruit spoon, garlic press, etc.
14. Deck of cards - search for one with unusual artwork
15. Hair accessories
16. A book or magazine
17. Magnifying glass
18. Gum or penny candy - buy the stuff that takes you back to when you were a kid
19. Pot pourri - create your own easy sachet by placing pot pourri in a lace handkerchief, gather the kerchief and tie with a silk ribbon
20. Novelty shoelaces
21. Stamp pad and stamps
22. Batteries
23. Decorative wine stopper
24. Journal or diary
25. Modelling clay
26. Touque or a scarf - hand-knit or purchase in a store - you can add your own personal touch to store bought by stitching on ribbon, bows, buttons or beads
37. Yo-yo
28. Home made cookies
29. Wallet or business card holder
30. Travel games
46. Coupons for fast food, or admission to museums or other attractions
32. Underwear or socks - be racy or pedestrian, your choice
33. Candles - and there are so many to choose from
34. Slinky
35. Popcorn seasoning or spices
36. Nail polish
37. Toothbrush
38. Airplane sized bottles of liquor
39. Packets of flavored hot chocolate or cider mix
40. Die cast metal car
41. Stationary or note cards
42. Bath beads, bubble bath or scented soap - make your own or go shopping
43. A copy of the gift recipient's favorite recipe - you can add some of the ingredients, too
44. Stickers
45. Pencil or pen - try a pen with purple ink, a giant pencil, a fountain pen, a twig pencil, etc.
46. Desk or wall calendar
47. Keychain
48. Soap dish
49. The hottest hot sauce you can find
50. Seeds - try heirloom seeds or native wildflower seeds
51. Fishing lures
52. Glasses case
53. Coloring book
54. Coasters
55. Incense
56. Paper pouches in novelty shapes
57. Craft supplies - paints, brushes, wooden cut-outs, embroidery thread, beads, doll heads, kits, etc.
58. House plant tools or decorative watering can
59. Sports water bottle
60. Vase
61. Mouse pad
62. Exercise bands or hand weights
63. Snow globe
64. Cold mask (the kind you store in the fridge and wrap around your face to relieve aches and stuffiness)
65. Travel mug
66. Photos of the gift recipient as a child
67. Christmas theme costume jewelry
68. A tool - hammer, screw driver, pliers, etc.
69. Harmonica
70. Sewing, knitting, woodworking, needlework patterns
71. Poster
72. Kaleidoscope
73. Decorative bottle opener or cork screw
74. Silly straws
75. Flashlight
76. Address book
77. Cedar balls for keeping closets and drawers fresh
78. Blank diskettes, cassettes, or CD's
79. Piggy bank
80. Kite
81. Jar of homemade jam or syrup or canned fruit
82. Decorative tea towels or hand towels
83. Hand held calculator
84. Jigsaw puzzle or other puzzle game
85. Tarot cards - they only work if you receive them as a gift!
86. Small wooden trinket box
87. Small stuffed toy
88. Napkin rings
89. Model airplane kit
90. Personal radio
91. Sidewalk chalk
92. Personalized birth chart or horoscope book
93. Thermal lunchbag
94. Sheet music
95. Film for the gift recipient's camera
96. Gift certificate for fresh flowers
97. Paperweight
98. Fridge magnets
99. Travel maps
100. Long distance calling card
101. Bird feeder

Good Tidings We Bring

The cards are in the mail!

I mailed them yesterday and the little postmaster lady said that a school came in right before me and mailed 3 big boxes of Christmas cards to the troops. That is awesome! I hope they make it to them in time and I do hope they enjoy them. I also hope they can read them! Some of those little guys crack me up. Their intentions are good and you can kind of make out what they meant. The pictures are the best! One little boy drew a tank and a soldier holding a machine gun (bigger than the soldier) and said "Merry Christmas!" How sweet is that. Not bad for a 4 year old :)

Round 1

I got the first round of Christmas cards laying on my desk. Whooohooo! I hope the troops like them ... they have certainly brought a smile to my face. Not only because we're able to do them, but because of what the students write. Some are so sweet and some are just... clueless. HA

Yesterday while the kids where designing and writing I was watching over their shoulders and one girl started with "To My Significant Other", and then proceeded to write about how she appreciates this and that and Merry Christmas. After my internal hysterical laughter fit and then switching to potential child stalker scenerios and everything else that could go bad (I always switch to a dark side at some point. haha) I convinced her that addressing the card as such probably isn't a good idea and maybe should change it. She said "I dont know what that means anyways". HAHA Then why address it like that?! I guess she'd just heard it randomly and thought she'd write it!? hahahahah

Its changed and the card is good. Wouldn't some guy, or gal, just crap when they opened a Christmas card like that? haha

In a Far Away Land

I am so excited about our computer project today! I'm having the students make Christmas cards to send to the unit that was just deployed from Oklahoma. I don't know why this particular project has me so pumped... but i'm sooo excited! I guess because some troop, somewhere, over there, in the nasty elements, is going to open a little card from a kiddo in Oklahoma who thought of them :) Hopefully they will bring smiles!

Gender Analyzer

Yep. This blog is written by women (65%)

Check yours

I survived Thanksgiving 2008 and I prepare for 2009. My plan is to NOT have to spend my holiday racing all over God's creation just to eat at someones house. I am going to pick a spot to "have Thanksgiving" and that's where i'm going and that's who i'm spending my time with. I don't think Thanksgiving is a Holiday where you should be expected to make rounds. Especially when 4 weeks later, they want you to do it all again for Christmas. Makes no sense.

Regardless, its over! Yeah!!!

oh... and baby Z totally surprised me. She loves to eat what i'm eating and I totally expected her to taste test everything I had on my plate. She opted to eat NONE of it! She ate her baby food and crawled away. Even turned down pumpkin pie and chocolate pie. I think she's on her first diet! ha

Round and Round

Since the weather has gotten a bit cooler, I've not been able to ride bikes outside so I've returned to spin class at the gym. The class that i've been able to attend is taught by a chick... and as much as I like her personally, I don't like her teaching the class so much. She tries to incorporate all these aerobic moves while you're spinning your legs off. *jump up* *swing your arms* *up*down*up*down... blah blah.

I miss one of the male instructor that was hired to teach the class a few years ago. He rocked it! His music was awesome and he had been in the military and rode professionally at some point I think. He knew how to teach a spin class. Plus, he was hard core! You'd walk out TOTALLY wringing wet. LOVED IT

The chick is just too... chick-like.

WELL tonight I went to spin... at my gym... but its a class I never get to go to because of the time. However, I left work early today and made it on time. Some dude was teaching it and he was hard core! The pain and burn were awesome! I loved it! Guys really do know how to spin your wheels way better than a girl! I say keep the men!

Finished

I've had this thought ALL day long.

I'm SO sick of people trying to bleed you dry... take every little thing they can. I'm tired of takers. I'd much rather give to people who don't expect or beg for things than people who demand, expect and constantly ask for crap! I'm sick of everyone and their dog wanting donations. A person can be spread only so thin and then that's the end!

I mean THE END!

Power Drink

Chocolate Milk

There's way more to milk than just calcium. In fact, it's a damn near perfect food, giving you a lot of valuable energy while keeping your calorie count low, says nutritionist Susan Kleiner, Ph.D. The chocolate kind is loaded with calcium, vitamins, and minerals just like the plain stuff, but new studies confirm that milk with a touch of cocoa is as powerful as commercial recovery drinks at replenishing and repairing muscles.

YES YES YES!