Weekend photos...

Nothing like a plate of Riscky's!!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm--wish I had some now....

Challenges...

The new computer is up and running...sorta. I didn't realize how much work it was going to take to get everything transferred over. I can't get on messenger because I can't remember my password and it won't allow me to reset the account. Hopefully I'll be able to get some support from Yahoo on that--otherwise I may be reconnecting the old machine to try to retrieve data....what fun.

I got a card reader that is being tempermental. I say that because I got the pictures from one card loaded with no problems...but the thing won't read the second card--which has pictures from the weekend. I'll try that again later--maybe tomorrow.

I have a feeling this is going to take a few days to get everything done!

Home...

I got home about 5:30p yesterday and really haven't done anything to speak of since!--but isn't that what things like this are about?? I did stop in Ft Worth at Sundance Square and had some Riscky's (pictures later) then ventured over to Barnes and Noble and picked up two more new Lindsay Sands books--I have got to get to reading! Next stop was College Station to get the new computer--which is currently sitting on my dining table (hope to get to that tonight).

I've pretty much been taking it easy since getting home--which I could definitely get used to. (Hell, I fell asleep before 10p last night--guess I was more tired than I thought.) I took today off and thus far I've only managed to take a shower. I'm trying to get motivated to run a few errands and then to the chiropractor this afternoon. I thought I'd tackle the computer switch over after that. Maybe once I get that computer up and running I can easily share some pictures from the weekend--yes, more Oaks pics (but who knows now when I'll get the chance to catch another show). Later...

Awesome, awesome, awesome...

That's only word I can find to describe tonight's adventures. Okay, I'll come clean. I'm in Gainesville, Texas, just south of Thackerville, Oklahoma because Thackerville is home to the Winstar Casino. And although probably best known for hosting a televised poker tournament, they hosted the Oak Ridge Boys tonight. Yep, leave it to me to travel several hundred miles to see the Oaks. But hey everyone needs a vice and this one isn't illegal, immoral or fattening!!

And since I basically did nothing for spring break I figured I deserved a treat. Besides, I haven't seen the Boys since January in Galveston and I really had no concrete plans to see them again till next January in Galveston. So, off to Gainesville/Thackerville I go! And I'm so glad I did because the show was absolutely incredible!

I finally got away this morning about 9:30a--which was about 30 minutes later than I really wanted to. I pulled into Gainesville and my hotel about 3p so I actually made decent time. Despite the nasty, cloudy, grey skies I avoided any rain. When I left the temp was very warm and the humid was stiffling. By the time I got to College Station I was freezing. My crop pants and sleeveless shirt turned out to be a bad idea. This first thing I had to do after checking in was to change into jeans and another shirt before venturing out. It may be a good thing I brought some extra things!

So I digress. The show was wonderful and in the morning I head back to reality with a stop in College Station to pick up the new computer!! Oh and maybe a stop in Fort Worth for some Riscky's BBQ!

I should be....

...I should be doing many things at the moment...taking out the trash, unloading the dishwasher, cleaning out my car, getting things together the pack....I should doing so many other things than sitting around watching television and playing on the computer. I have a quick weekend trip planned and so far I've done nothing. I have no idea what clothes I want to take. I've got things I need to get together like maps and such. And yet I sit, doing nothing.

I've decided to kennel Willy. He isn't going to like it but I didn't want anyone to come in to check on him to find where he's made a mess in the floor since that seems to be his thing these days. I'm told once the bladder infection clears up that will stop but in the meantime it's like the place is one giant litter box to him and it's making me crazy! So, to the kennel he will go. Since I'll only be gone basically overnight I've decided I can probably trust Sissy to stay in as long as she has plenty of food and water. Heaven help me! We'll see come Sunday evening.

Besides a nice little weekend get-away, I'll be picking up my new computer on the way home. Wow. I won't know how to act if I have a computer that doesn't practically shut down everytime I try to do something. A computer that I can use to burn cds. A computer where I can print pictures without the entire system freezing. It should be a nice treat.

Since it's after 9p I really should get up and get something accomplished so I can get to bed at a decent time.

Hobby Lobby Finds...

So on my last day of break I decided to venture out for a bit and my first stop was Hobby Lobby since they have a huge 50% off sale on many items. I picked up these cute stamps (50% off) and these cute little baskets (30% off) for miscellaneous items on my drafting table.

After Hobby Lobby I decided to pop into Kohls where I must have tried on a ton of things that surprisingly all fit. The problem is that I didn't like the way any of it fit. So that saved me what could have been a ton of money. After Kohls I felt the need to drive into Sugar Land for some odd reason where I popped into Macys. Nothing caught my eye there. I strolled through Penneys where again, nothing jumped out at me. I decided at that point it was time to return home.
Perhaps a pedicure before the end of the afternoon/evening? Certainly a trip to HEB for cat food. I still need to make a run to WalMart but have decided to wait till the end of school zone time. I doubt I'll go for the pedi--don't need one all that badly at the moment and that's $27 I can spend somewhere else!

Tomorrow it's back to work. Getting out of bed when that alarm goes off is going to be a killer. But I take delight in the fact that it's only for three days and then I get a weekend. And I'm making it a long weekend by taking Monday off.

Lazy Day

I've spent the day being absolutely lazy and just enjoying doing nothing. I did make a donut run this morning--haven't done that in a while. Since then I've pretty much been a slug on the couch. I even fell asleep earlier and woke to find Sissy stretched out on top of me. (It should be noted that she is not the type to cuddle.) So anyway I've watched different movies and even Leave It To Beaver and even done a little surfing. Go here to check out one of the really cool blogs I've found. She's an artist and a Tim Holtz fan!

What I've done on my spring break.

If I were to write an essay on this topic the contents would be very, very boring. Although break is not over yet I have done virtually nothing. And it doesn't bother me one bit. Well, I did a few things. But very few. I did start the break with a great benefit event and seeing Joe Diffie. Saturday after I did nothing. Seriously, nothing. I don't think I ever even got out of pajammas! Sunday I went to bookclub and ran a few errands. Monday I went to the chiropractor then got a massage--and man did she find some knots. I was sore for a couple of days!! Tuesday I stayed home in anticipation of bad storms that never arrived. Wednesday brought a trip to the cleaners and Walmart--big excitement. Thursday I ventured out a bit more by going to AAA and then to Target and Lowes. Friday I did..um, nothing. And here it is Saturday and so far other than watch bad television I've only run out to grab something to eat. And I'm perfectly fine with that! I have no big plans for tomorrow. In fact the only plan between now and my return to work on Wednesday is my weekly chiropractor appointment. Who'd have even thought I would enjoy doing nothing?

A picture a day

Here's a blog where the guy takes and posts a picture each day. Pretty cool. I wouldn't have the discipline to do this too long. Hell a page a day album for a month challenges me enough and that's only once a year!

More blogs:

This one is for Timmy since there's info on Austrailia. *Did I spell that correctly???

Oh

...and I found my Tim Hotlz inks last night!

Trying...

I'm trying to learn a few new things about adding to the blog. Like how to add links. Not sure that I'm getting it though. Here is one of the blogs I found by clicking on the next blog link at the top. I'll add more when I find fun ones. This one is just a test link. Enjoy.

Okay, here's another. Check out the pictures.

Funny pic about global warming.

Cool stuff here.

Check this one out.

This one is fun too.

I think I've figured this out!!

Some progress

I picked up a couple of shelves today at Lowes for the spare bedroom/scrap room. I even managed to get them up too. Yeah me. Anyway now I'm trying to figure out just exactly what I'm going to put on them and hopefully get the room a bit more organized. I put one over my drafting table but now wish I'd gotten one at least a bit longer. I got two footers. I've decided to get the stamp pad cases off the table but only two fit on a shelf without overhang. So I have two cases over the drafting table and one over the computer. I don't really forsee it being too much of an issue since I really don't use the inks that much. Honestly I like my Tim Holtz inks---only problem is I can't remember where I put them! But then there are several things that fall into that category. Oh well, it's hell to get old!

So anyway I can currently see the top of my drafting table and am feeling somewhat inspired to work. Only thing is that I have to work on the dining table if I want to watch television (no cable in here) and if I want to use the Cricut I only have room for it in there. Not that big of a deal really. It's just nice to be able to see things in here to work with---not that I can see all the goodies. But at least I have finally made some progress in here. Not sure what more I'll get done because face it, I'm lazy and I know it. But it's really been nice taking things at a slower pace.

That's all for now and while I'm thinking about it, Happy Good Friday...and Happy Easter. And Happy Passover.

It's Thursday

... and so far I haven't really done anything to speak of. Normally I might be upset with myself for that but not this time. I've been enjoying doing nothing. I can't really recall the last time I had days filled with nothing. Some times you just have to have some down time and I'm taking advantage of this time for that. I'll be back to the daily grind soon enough. Today however I think I will try to accomplish something. Guess I better get started!

New Computer...

I don't have a new one, yet, but I am in the process of acquiring one. The new sofa will have to wait a bit. I am biting the bullet and getting a new computer. I was told probably close to a year ago that this one is nearing it's last legs and can't be upgraded anymore and that I should just get a new one. I've been procrastinating. But no more. I emailed my computer guy this afternoon and told him to hook me up. I am tired of fighting with this one. Tired of not being able to burn any cds. Tired of not being able to load new software--like the software for the camera I got last fall. (This is why you've not gotten any pictures Carol.) Tired of the entire system freezing if I try to print pictures. So hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll have a new system!

It's hardly 9pm...

I shouldn't be this tired. I can't stop yawning and I can hardly hold my eyes open. Not to mention I seem to be having quite a bit of difficulty typing. Here it is, spring break. I don't have to worry about getting up early and getting to work and at the moment I can think of little else than crawling in bed!! It must have been the massage this morning because I can't stay awake. So much for staying up late tonight!!

Have you ever...

..clicked on the Next Blog link at the top of the page?? Just for the hell of it, I did. I was taken to all sorts of blogs in a myriad of languages on a myriad of topics. If you find yourself with some time to kill, I suggest checking it out.

...that's my public service announcement for the day...

Random shots...

Heatin It Up for Hospice

Joe Diffie at the Hospice benefit...3/14/08

Sunday night...and blank slate before me...

It is indeed Sunday evening and unlike most Sunday night's I'm not heading off to bed shortly--at least I don't think I am. Laundry is done-though I wish I could say it was put away-and I can actually stay up late and read or scrap or watch crappy television or do nothing at all. Sorry to my friends and readers not so fortunate to have spring break this week.

I do still have big aspirations for the week but who knows how far I'll get with any of that! I would like to make some Easter cards and drop them in the mail. I have a couple of birthdays coming up for which I'd like to work ahead and get cards made. I want to work on some scrap project ideas. I want to be creative. But again, we shall see. Maybe I can even get some pictures uploaded (yes Carol, that includes your b-day pics.)

Friday night I kicked off the break by attending the Heating It Up for Hospice benefit in El Campo. Thanks to my friend Joey I had a VIP pass and got to see Joe Diffie. It was a fun evening. Saturday I did absolutely nothing...didn't leave the apartment. Today I did venture out because there were a few things I needed. Tomorrow I have my weekly chiro appointment and after I'm getting a much needed massage. After that I really have nothing planned for the rest of the break. Who knows what'll I'll get into before break ends!

Made it!

It's Friday. YEAH!!!!

...celebrate the little things....

Friday eve....

At times the week seemed to crawl and others it flew--like yesterday and today. But that's a good thing--at least parts of it.

Got to have dinner with the big brother before he returned to the frozen tundra that is Ohio. That's always a treat. Mediocre Mexican food and drinks and lots of laughs. Oh and some serious stuff too. He says he'll be back sometime in April. We shall see as when he ran through before Christmas he said he'd be back in January...and he just returned last week.

My spring/Easter break kicks off tomorrow with the local hospice benefit. Joe Diffie's the headliner. I've only gotten to see him one time...a few years ago at the rodeo so I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Other than that and book club on Sunday I really don't have much on my agenda for break. Take it easy. Try to organize this scrap room--maybe finally find the shelf I want for in here and get it put up. A much needed massage scheduled for Monday. Do some scrapping...do some reading...do some relaxing....

Having time like this off-paid-is one of the good things about working in education.

Since when??

Just when did being a single parent become a legitimate excuse for things? More and more when something happens it's because she was a single mother....or he/she was from a single parent home. I hear this statement on a constant basis.....I'm a single mother so....fill-in-the-blank. It's one thing I seem to feel less and less tolerant of.

Just this morning while getting ready for work there was a piece on Good Morning America about the woman who sprayed her kid down at a car wash because the child was throwing a temper tantrum. I'm not saying it was right but what really pissed me off was the comment from the interviewer, 'she's a single mother about to be a mother for the second time and she was doing the best she knew to cope in the situation'. WTF????? She's a single mother and about to be a mother again????

I guess I'm old-fashioned because I am amazed by the number of unwed women continually having children and when something goes wrong the reason is because they were a single parent (said in a snarky tone). No one seems to take responsibility anymore and I'm tired of my tax dollars paying for these people who sit at home on their ass and continually have kids by every Tom, Dick and Harry. It's time for some mandatory sterilzation.

It wouldn't surprise me if next we hear she's suing the attendant who reported her because the strain of it all caused stress. And heaven forbid that unborn child has some sort of birth defect for there will be some lawyer to link it to the stress caused by the fallout from her having sprayed the first kid.

And while I'm on my soapbox....did you hear about the lawyer who's suing the casinos for her gambling probem? Some moronic lawyer-I forget where-has embezzled money from clients which she then used to support her gambling addiction which she blames on the casinos for not recognizing she had a problem and cutting her off. Once again, WTF???

Lifts in my shoes...

...actually just one lift in one shoe. The latest attempt at fixing my back issue. Ok, maybe not fixing but at least working towards doing something. My pelvis isn't level--I know, sounds like a personal problem. But thanks to everything being out of kilter my right hip dips down so in an attempt to lift it, I have a lift in my right shoe. It's kinda like a heel cup but not really. It does feel a bit funny when I walk but just standing for a few minutes I thought I could tell a difference. Maybe it's just a mental thing since I know it's in my shoe. It's only been in my shoe since this morning so we'll see what happens over time.

More later....on other topics, I promise.

Four more days....four more days....

...four more days. Ok so technically it's nearly five but since it's already Monday I'll consider it four....or more specifically I could say four more mornings, four more mornings. Four more mornings to get up and off to work then I get 11 days (yep, e-l-e-v-e-n days, count em) off....spring and Easter break fall together this year so we get the two days after Easter this year. Yippee!!

So far..so good....

With this blasted time change I first woke at 5:30a--which in current time was actually 6:30a and I should have gotten up then but didn't--so I slept till 8:30ish and finally dragged out of bed around 9a. I should have gone to the grocery store but instead I just picked up breakfast. After sharing a honey-butter chicken biscuit with Willy--because he drives me crazy if I don't--I actually got off the couch and got started. So far I've cleaned the nasty litter box and my bathroom and started the final loads of laundry. Now there's still lots that can be done but I think I'll just vaccum and straighten the bedroom, living room and kitchen then shower and the rest of the day will be mine. So...um, maybe another half hour???

Some progress...

Despite a slow start, I feel I am making at least a little progress. I probably would be further along if I hadn't decided to run to Target this morning.

That quick trip to Target turned into most of the day. I stopped by Hobby Lobby-ran into Joey and Ruben. After Hobby Lobby and since it was near noon I stopped at Dickey's BBQ for an early lunch then headed to Target. Sixty bucks later I decided to cross the river and head into Sugar Land because I somehow managed to run out of cat food so I needed to run by PetsMart. It's a bit more expensive but they carry flavors that Willy likes that I can't find here in the sticks.

Before PetsMart however I felt the need (read want but I'm sticking to my story) to go by Macy's. Just my luck I ended up with three shirts I really, really liked so naturally I had to bring them home. :) I walked over to Barnes and Noble but contained myself and didn't buy anything there. I happened to be there just in time to hear the Elkins High School Orchestra--nice. So I left the culture and drooled my way through Williams Sonoma before heading back to my car and the much needed trip to PetsMart. After PetsMart I decided to check out World Market. I found a couple of things that interested me but once again I showed restraint and left empty-handed. (Afterall, I'd already spent enough between Target and Macy's.)

So anyway I got home and decided to tackle the spare bedroom/scrap room. This is going to quite a task and not one that can be accomplished in one evening--probably not even one day. I can now however, see more of the floor than I've seen in some time. I've picked up a bit and things are a bit more tidy. Still can't quite get to the drafting table but the possibility of doing so should soon be reality. I got the new bookcase put together and put in it's spot which means I can put away a few more things. Oh and I've started a load of laundry.

There are a few domestic things I would still like to tackle in the morning but I think after that I'm going to spend the day playing will all my scrap goodies.

I will...

I will be productive this weekend. I will accomplish something this weekend. I will get some scrapping done this weekend. I will work on organizing all my scrap things this weekend (because saying I will get it done/finished knowing the size of the task is just setting myself up for failure). So there are my goals for the weekend. Wish me luck!

Finally Friday...

Thank goodness it's finally Friday. It has seemed like the longest week but I suspect next week will seem even longer since it's the week before spring break.

It's only 8pm

...but I can't seem to stop yawning. Maybe it's the cold, rainy weather. Or the fact this week has felt exceptionally long. Whatever it is, I'm wiped out. My eyes want to slam shut and my body tells me I need to stretch out and sleep...sooner, rather than later. I may just call it a night if I can get Sissy to come in out of the crappy weather--goofy cat wants to be outside in this mess.

SEI set to arrive today...

The March mini-kit from SEI is due to be delivered today according to UPS tracking. Hopefully the driver today will be as kind as last month and leave my package at the office if I am not home so that I'll have my goodies tonight and not have to hunt down my package. So far tracking only shows it out for delivery. I can use the little pick-me-up the package should provide. It's just one of those days....

People DON'T listen....

Seems this is becoming more and more of a problem along with them not wanting to read or take responsibility for themselves....

Where the hell did my night go??

Actually, I know where it went and it sucks. I left the office at 3p for the day for 'lunch' which was really my Monday chiropractor appointment. Since I never got away for lunch on Friday and was having to work tonight--I didn't really want to reschedule my appointment to tomorrow. So anyway, I left at 3p and went to the chiro then grabbed a bite to eat-since I hadn't had lunch. I got home and had about an hour before I had to be at the local high school. That little event didn't end till 8:30p and I needed to make a run to WalMart for a few things. It was just after 9p by the time I got home and suddenly it's already after 10p. So much for getting anything done here tonight. I had big aspirations of actually doing something creative tonight. Maybe tomorrow....

A Willy story for Leann....

A coule weeks ago Willy and Sissy both were being a handful. Seems about once a week or so someone decides to pee on the carpet--I suspect it's Willy. So I'm fighting the battle of the cat piss. Anyway Willy was being quite a handful one night. I'd had the patio door open since it was cool (and they still haven't given me a screen so the door is really open). There was another cat outsitde taunting Willy and I hear Willy start to hiss and carry on...my cue to drag him in and shut the door. Usually he comes in without too much drama but not that night. That night he decides to be a real handfull, hissing at me and carrying on. I finally get him in but he's still displaying quite the attitude and hissing and swatting at me. Sissy was just sitting there minding her own business (for once) and he walks over and immediately attacks her--he was in full claws out, ears back attack mode. I managed to break it up and get my hands on him trying to calm him down--even with him hissing at me still. Crazy I know. After a few minutes I let him go and he walks over by the door and starts clawing the carpet by the door--which is another on-going battle. I hit him with the spray bottle of water and tell him to stop. The next thing I know he has assumed the position and is crapping right there in the floor by the door and on one of my shoes! I could have killed him. Once he finishes he calmly walks off despite my yelling at him. So here I am scubbing the carpet-and my shoe. The next morning as I'm leaving I notice a dark spot and thought he had managed to make a hole in the carpet-wrong. Overnight he has left another gift for me in the same spot as the original scene of the crime. Damn cat.