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September 29, 2006
Urophobia
The 10 Worst Chick Flicks for A Guy to See according to Playboy magazine. (I heard this on the radio.)
10. The Notebook
9. Sleepless in Seattle
8. Fried Green Tomatoes
7. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
6. Dirty Dancing
5. The Bridges of Madison County
4. Bridget Jones’ Diary
3. Steel Magnolias
2. Ghost
1. Beaches
I have seen every one of these movies except The Bridges of Madison County. For some reason, I just never got around to that one.
I agree these movies are chick flicks and some of them will make you cry, but I still love most of them. My favorite out of all these would be Steel Magnolias. Ashley and I can watch that movie any day of the week.
***
Here are some sites I want to pass along:
This is one to play around with:
Oh, you must see this List Of Phobias And Their Meanings
Look up: Ithyphallophobia in that list.
Weird, huh.
Posted by tami at 8:33 AM Comments (3)
September 28, 2006
Turning 5
My fraternal twin nieces, Jesse and Sydnee were born five years ago on this day. I hope you enjoy their photo gallery! There are 17 pictures on two pages.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by tami at 8:03 AM Comments (3)
September 27, 2006
Freaky
Maybe I am too easily freaked out.
I can be sitting here at the desk, reading blogs and minding my own business when all of a sudden Guido starts barking, well, not really barking, but kind of growling, but not really growling either because he doesn’t growl at anyone. You get my meaning though. He makes this throaty sound. I am home alone. I didn’t hear anything, but if he’s making that noise and looking towards the door, then something must be wrong, right?!
We walk through the house together. No one is there. The locks are still in place. No glass is broken. So, I come back to the desk.
I guess I shouldn’t totally rely on what he barks at though. Yesterday, I drove past someone’s Halloween inflatable display (they have about 10 inflatables) and Guido began barking at those. He knew they were out of place, meaning: not normally there, so he barked.
Speaking of things being out of place, if we lay a box or a purse in an unusual place, Guido will bark at it. He doesn’t deal well with change, but neither do I.
Church, our cat, can totally freak me out too. Normally, he’s relaxing somewhere, be it on the bed or the floor. So, if he’s suddenly looking down the hall very attentively, I worry. What is he looking at? Is someone standing right around the corner?
Last week, he was lying on the bed behind me while I typed away on the computer. All of a sudden, I hear a hiss. I turn around in the chair, and he’s looking up in the air, as if he’s starring at something. I say something to him and he meows.
That rather spooked me because Church never hisses at anything. I have only heard him hiss when another cat has been in the house and he didn’t like it. It was a weird moment.
Maybe I shouldn’t depend on them to be my watch cat and dog, but they make excellent bug and spider radars!
Posted by tami at 7:43 AM Comments (3)
September 26, 2006
Keep In Mind
This was sent to me in email. I have no idea who wrote it, but it is very poignant, no matter your beliefs.
Your alarm goes off; you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
***
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.
***
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
***
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
***
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
***
You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
***
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
***
You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
***
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.
***
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
***
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
***
You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
***
You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
***
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
***
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
***
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
***
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
***
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
***
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told.
***
You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
***
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.
***
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him!
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G.I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom
Posted by tami at 8:03 AM Comments (1)
September 25, 2006
Project: Shelters
Ashley’s class has been assigned to make Indian (Native American) shelters. She has to construct four different types of Indian shelters at home and be creative with the entire thing for a grade.
In my opinion, this didn’t sound too bad until Ashley started repeating what she had been told about how tough each shelter would be evaluated.
Apparently, the village needs to be sturdy enough to withstand a tornado. I am being smart-alecky here, but you get my point.
We spent hours on Saturday shopping for the materials needed for this project. The local “super center” didn’t have near the items needed, so we headed over to Lexington to shop in Michael’s.
We spent around $20 on materials there, but they didn’t have brown crepe paper, which was suggested on the instruction sheet. Therefore, we knew we would have to go somewhere else. (We are trying to have Ashley follow the instruction sheet as much as possible in hopes of her receiving a better grade.)
As we headed for the checkout in Michael’s, the heavens opened up for a torrential rain. With our $20 in materials well protected by bags, we headed for the truck, and then on to Garden Ridge to see if they had brown crepe paper.
No luck there.
We then headed for the party store. I figured if anyone had brown crepe paper, they would.
Nope.
We bought white crepe paper and figured Ashley could paint it brown. That didn’t work though. Crepe paper is much thinner than we thought and it tore with each brushstroke. Kevin is considering having Ashley glue the white crepe paper onto the shelter and then spray painting the whole thing brown. (The crepe paper is supposed to simulate bark on a Longhouse.)
Kevin has been helping Ashley with this project and he says there is no way a ten-year-old could construct all of these shelters without help. If a ten-year-old did do all of this alone, the grade in the end would show that.
We still haven’t found real-looking Indian figures …
Posted by tami at 2:16 PM Comments (3)
September 23, 2006
It's Here!
Autumn is officially here!
You can find us HERE celebrating its onset.
Posted by tami at 6:50 PM Comments (2)
September 22, 2006
Hell No! He Won't Go!
Andrew is dying to go into the National Guard. Two of his friends (these kids are still in high school) have enlisted. He sees them doing it, so he thinks it’s a good idea and sounds like fun. In Andrew’s words, “They get to go play with guns this weekend.”
The boy’s parents had to sign for them because they aren’t 18 yet. However, we won’t sign the papers. Andrew told me last night he has people who want to talk to me. Yes, I’m sure they do. Those recruiters are like a car salesmen. They try to push and push and push. They keep asking questions so they can give you the answer they think will turn you around. There’s nothing I hate worse than someone trying to push me or convince me to do what they want. My son’s life is not worth the recruiter getting a bonus check. No thanks.
A few nights ago, a recruiter called and asked to speak with Kevin. (Kevin’s name popped up on a list because he is attending college.) He asked Kevin if he was interested in enlisting. Kevin laughed and told him he is 37 years old with a family – no way. It aggravates me that the college freely gives out lists of this kind.
Back to Andrew …
In my opinion, he can do what he wants when he turns 18. Until then, I am not signing over his death certificate. We are in a time of war, so I hope he thinks very carefully. He will be 18 at the end of March.
It’s kind of frightening to me that he will be able to sign over his life like that. Those recruiters make so many promises and they make it look so good that it’s hard for him to see past all that even though we have tried to tell him it’s all lies. No one we have EVER talked to, no matter what branch they went into, got what the recruiter told them they would. Not one!
Furthermore, if they can make him such good offers now, they should be able to make them in six months time.
In the end, he will do what he wants despite our warnings. He is as hard headed as his mama.
Posted by tami at 12:25 PM Comments (3)
September 21, 2006
I May Be Cheap ...
On the radio this morning, Bob & Sheri were talking about being cheap versus being frugal.
There are those who:
* Go to the movie, find a used popcorn bag in the garbage or elsewhere and get it refilled with popcorn free.
* Find a restaurants used empty drink cup, take it in, and get it refilled free.
* Pick half-smoked cigarettes out of cigarette bins and smoke them.
* Reuse paper plates.
* Unplug appliances during the day. (One listener knew someone who actually unplugged his Glade Plug Ins during the day.)
* Reuse tea bags.
* Take a large supply of toothpicks or straws home from a restaurant.
* Take large supplies of salt, pepper, or ketchup home from a restaurant. (I have done this before, but I don't now.)
* Do not turn lights on during the day.
* Take toilet paper from work.
* On Sunday mornings, pose as a hotel guest and eat the free continental breakfast.
I believe those things to be frugal, and in some cases stealing.
Some examples of people being cheap:
* Ordering a Happy Meal instead of an Extra Value Meal.
* Ordering water for dinner instead of coke.
* Looking at someone else’s newspaper. (My parents used to let me have their newspapers.)
* Sharing magazines. (My aunt lets me have hers!)
* Picking pennies or other money off the ground. (I think it would be silly to leave it!)
* Taking the soap and shampoo home from your hotel room. (I always do this. I figure it’s included in the cost of the room.)
* Use Wal-Mart bags for small garbage cans. (I do this!)
One woman called in and said she is a Dumpster Diver. She said she goes through the dumpster at Bath & Body Works and gets lotions, Christmas balls, body sprays, etc. She said they just throw away the testers.
As far as I have been told, this is not illegal. Once you put something in the dumpster, or you put your home garbage can out on the curb, the public can go through it and pick out what they want. This includes your personal papers. This is why I own a shredder and use it!
Posted by tami at 9:18 AM Comments (7)
September 20, 2006
Sometimes It Takes Me A Minute
Okay, this is NOT going to be a PC entry, but I can’t help it. If stuff happens, it happens, and it’s not always going to be PC.
I am driving Ashley home from school. She’s in the back seat saying, “Mom, you just have to see this Cancer Barbie! She’s beautiful!”
I’m thinking to myself, Mmmm, would she be wearing a pink dress? You know, because pink is the breast cancer color.
“Really, Ashley? Cancer Barbie?” I ask her.
“Yes!” she’s still gushing.
Now I’m thinking, Is she bald? Is Cancer Barbie wearing pink and bald?
Just as I’m about to question Ashley, she pipes up in the back, “Yea, you know how they have Aquarius Barbie and Gemini Barbie.”
“OH! CANCER Barbie! I get it! Okay!”
I was so relieved! I had been wondering how in the world Mattel could get away with making a Barbie who had cancer. Now I know.
In case you’re curious, here’s a photo of Cancer Barbie a Zodiac Doll.
In researching this Barbie, I found the Pink Ribbon Barbie which The Cancer Blog refers to as, Breast Cancer Barbie Doll.
Posted by tami at 11:51 AM Comments (3)
September 19, 2006
A New Game
Yesterday afternoon, I watched about 10 minutes of Oprah. In that ten minutes, she and her friend, Gayle, began playing a game called “Would You Rather?” This sounded like fun and I’m always up for a new game, so I wrote down the name.
This morning, I went to the “Would You Rather” official website. The reason I am not linking to it is that they let anyone who wants to, pose questions. Many of the questions are dirty and juvenile which ruins the spirit of everything, but I did find a bunch I like.
You must choose between the two possible fates:
Would You Rather:
Go to jail for one year OR have your best friend go for five?
Be deaf OR blind?
Be on a date with bad breath OR bad body odor?
Be burned alive OR drown?
Be known worldwide as a racist OR worldwide as a child molester?
Have a T.V. OR a computer for the rest of your life?
Find your parents having sex OR have your parents find you having sex?
Marry an ugly billionaire OR marry a hot poor person?
Work OR go to school?
Be able to fly OR read other people’s thoughts?
Be the son/daughter of Michael Jackson OR have no parents and live in an orphanage?
Be 3 feet tall OR be 9 feet tall?
Have lice OR athletes foot?
Hate your life but everyone liked you OR have everyone hate you but you enjoyed yourself?
Get a bad tattoo OR have bad teeth?
Only eat your favorite food OR never eat it again?
Those are just a few questions I found interesting, but there are hundreds more. I can definitely see this game promoting more conversations. In fact, I wonder if my family would enjoy playing this on Thanksgiving …
Posted by tami at 8:05 AM Comments (2)
September 18, 2006
Bag Balm
Gardenwife asked me a few days ago how Guido’s Armpit Allergy was coming along.
**If you see the picture in the link above, I want to note that this is much worse than the picture shows. I wouldn’t dare show the extent of this or people wouldn’t come back!
One armpit (is there a prettier word that I am unaware of?) looks much better. It is a natural color and hair is growing back. The other one is softer, but still red and raw looking. We had to quit using the spray the vet gave us because it made the area hard and crusty. It got so bad the skin would actually peel off as if he had sunburn.
For a few days, we used Neosporin, but I am hoping I have found the miracle cure. Years ago, my aunt told me about the power of Bag Balm. She told me to rub a little on a scratch and it would heal better. It also softens like you’ve never seen.
I found some Saturday at CVS in the beauty section. It’s an ointment that comes in a small, green tin. Here’s what it says:
We are praying this works!
Posted by tami at 8:50 AM Comments (2)
September 15, 2006
On Blogging
Kevin passed this along to me with the heading “funny article”:
How to Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger
The writers may have been trying to be funny, but they also make some valid points.
1. Find five completely random blogs, and read them daily for a month. After thirty days, you will absolutely dread your self-imposed requirement to read all that dreck. Any blog you create will most likely be on par with what you've been reading. Don't put anyone through that.
This doesn’t apply to me. I don’t consider reading blogs a “self imposed requirement”. I truly enjoy the blogs I read and would miss them were they gone.
2. Consider that your voice, even if it is truly a good one, is a tiny peep against the massive wave of tripe out there. The odds of anyone you don't already know finding your blog are low.
This, for me is very untrue. I believe the number of people who do not know me and read this blog, greatly outweigh the number of those who do know me.
3. Write on a regular basis in a text editor instead. If that doesn't satisfy your urge, and you feel that you must post your blog online, then you might just be craving attention and validation--which you'll never truly find in a blog. If you give up on your Wordpad journal after about three days, you'll do the same with a blog that just takes up server space.
This is also incorrect. I rarely post complaints and I rarely tell the horrid things that happen in my life. Granted, I DO complain on here, but not near as much as I could. I rarely post pictures of myself. Actually, I don’t post pictures of myself because I DON”T want attention. I don’t want you to look and dissect everything there is about me. I applaud those who can post pictures of themselves. To me, this symbolizes confidence and trust.
4. Ask yourself if you really have the time to commit to a blog. What about that treehouse you wanted to build? Or the book you wanted to write? Or the car you wanted to fix up? Or the restaurant you wanted to take your significant other to? Or the new career you wanted to pursue? Instead of writing about pretty much nothing, or whining about all the things you wish you were doing instead, start doing something that'd actually be worth writing about. And if it's really worth writing about, you'll be having too much fun doing it to tear yourself away from it.
What I write about may mean nothing to some people. It may not be the best thing you’ve ever read; the grammar or punctuation may not be perfect, but I really don’t care. I write about the things that are important to me. In my eyes, blogs were never meant to be a place only reserved for great writers. That would scare too many people off. No, blogs are online journals, snippets of a person’s life there for you to read, flawed or not. If I thought my readers were scrutinizing every word I said, I would give it up right now. For me, this is a place where I can share things. Hopefully, things you will enjoy or take something from.
Posted by tami at 8:18 AM Comments (2)
September 13, 2006
Celebrities
I can’t seem to get my mind off of Anna Nicole Smith and her recent tragedy. She seems to have been through so much already. This is just heartbreaking.
Someone I could care less about is Tom Cruise and his freakish life or his freakish beliefs. He has gone out on the deep end and I don’t think he’ll be returning any time soon. It’s a shame he fell for Scientology.
I’m not sure how I feel about THIS. On one hand, I feel he loved her so much, he didn’t want to let go. On the other hand, it is sickening and appalling. I don’t want to dwell on it too much.
Posted by tami at 12:04 PM Comments (3)
September 11, 2006
Halloween Things
Halloween things have started coming into the house:
I bought the two pails in the dollar bin at Target.
The Great Pumpkin Hand Soap and Pumpkin Fragrance Spray was bought at Bath & Body Works. If you go to their site, it lists the hand soap as $10, but if you go to the store, it’s actually 2 for $10; a much better deal.
Kevin volunteered to go to Wal-Mart and get Guido some treats. However, not only did he buy treats for Guido, he also bought treats for himself and the rest of the family!
The orange pumpkins are so addictive, they’re evil!
My mom found this Halloween popcorn tin at Big Lots
Going through my sister’s neighborhood, I cannot believe the people who have already decorated outside for Halloween – not fall, but Halloween. I’ve had serious thoughts about getting my Halloween decorations out, but I have stopped myself thus far. All of my things are for the inside of the house anyway and I prefer to wait until October 1.
Posted by tami at 8:53 AM Comments (3)
September 8, 2006
No Way!
Ashley pains me sometimes. She used to be such a girly-girl, and she still is, but there is one exception: her hair.
I am not allowed to put it in any style, using any pretty things.
I have a whole drawer full of these:
But, if I even suggest using them she gets herself in a tizzy.
Just this morning I suggested using something pretty in her hair and she very adamantly told me no. I put it in a plain old ponytail and that was it.
It was a big deal that she even let me do her hair this morning without a fuss. Four days out of the week, she goes to school looking like this little girl:
from The Ring.
I know her teachers think why doesn’t her mom do something with her hair? Believe me, if I had my way, she would be dolled up every day.
I don’t know what happened.
Posted by tami at 8:22 AM Comments (2)
September 7, 2006
Odd Photo
There is no reason why I should show this to you, but I got the idea in my head and now it refuses to leave. I think I was looking through a magazine and they showed a medicine cabinet. I thought to myself, hey that’s something I haven’t taken a picture of. So here it is.
My medicine cabinet:
Posted by tami at 3:59 PM Comments (1)
September 6, 2006
Current Selection
Since my book section pooped out on the sidebar, I’ll tell you what I’m reading.
I finished Teacher Man: A Memoir by Frank McCourt.
Let me say, I think there is something in this book for every teacher to learn no matter how long you have been teaching. But, this is the third book in a series of memoirs, so it would be better if you read Angela's Ashes: A Memoir and Tis: A Memoir first.
After, this I read Spies Among Us by Agatha Christie. This book actually had three separate murder mysteries including:
* They Came To Baghdad
* N or M?
* Murder in Mesopotamia
I can’t describe the feeling I get when reading an Agatha Christie book. Just wrapping myself up in the English people makes me feel good. Everything from the words they use, the things they eat, or their hobbies – this is all enthralling to me.
I have just begun reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Kevin read it over a month ago and really wanted me to read it also, so I finally picked it up.
Now that you are caught up, I need to go and read for a bit!
Posted by tami at 8:21 AM Comments (1)
September 5, 2006
This And That
I was very sorry and shocked to hear about Steve Irwin yesterday. I’m sure he never imagined a death of that sort, a croc maybe, but not a stingray. It’s consoling to know that he died doing what he loved.
Today was Rosie’s first day on The View. It’s just amazing the difference in this show already. She brings an enthusiasm that no one else there seems to have. She’s quick witted, funny, and has a terrific personality. Just because her opinions may differ from mine, doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy her - and I will enjoy her.
Tonight is the season premier of House. This will be the first time we have watched this show at its real time on TV. Our neighbor let us borrow season 1 on DVD. Then, we watched reruns of season 2 on FOX this summer. I think we’re ready now! Bring on season 3!
I want to know two things. If you know the answers, please leave them in my comments.
1. When does Dr. 90210 premier? I looked at E! Online and couldn’t find a thing.
Also,
2. When does the new Surreal Life premier and who’s living in the house this time? I looked at VH1 but I don’t know what season they are on, so this didn’t help.
I missed the last Surreal Life :(
One last thing: Can you believe someone would pay $500 for THIS?! I don’t like eating after anyone. Germs are germs.
Posted by tami at 1:11 PM Comments (1)
September 4, 2006
PKI
Yesterday we got up early and traveled via chartered bus to Paramount's Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ashley rode her first roller coaster - The Italian Job: Stunt Track. She also rode The Adventure Express. After those two, she said she never wanted to ride another roller coaster again. In fact, as we rounded a curve on The Adventure Express, she looked me in the eyes and said, “I don’t like this.”
Now that I think about it, she did ride another roller coaster though. She rode Rugrats Runaway Reptar, which is a roller coaster and rated just as high as the others we rode as far as the scary factor is concerned.
You can find the photo gallery HERE
There are 25 photos on three pages. I have disabled the comments in the photo gallery, however if you want to comment on a photo, just leave it in my regular comments.
Posted by tami at 8:41 PM Comments (4)
September 2, 2006
Plates
In yesterday’s comments, Stacey asked about my plate and I told her it was Fiestaware. You can find a large selection HERE.
I think it’s beautiful when I have a lot of people over for dinner and the table is filled with color. I also like Fiestaware because it is sturdy and thick. Washing a thin plate makes me nervous!
Here are the colors I have:
As you can see, the spring colored plates are on top, very shortly I will switch them around and have the darker colors on top for the fall. That way, when I grab four plates for dinner, they are all fall colored.
That may seem silly to some people, but color matters to me and can have a great effect on my mood.
Posted by tami at 11:32 AM Comments (2)
September 1, 2006
Texas Toast
I want to pass this website along to you:
You can send one of our military personnel stationed oversees a free postcard. It’s very easy and only takes a few minutes. You don’t even have to come up with something creative to say as they have many comments to choose from.
*****
I cannot believe August is over! Do you realize how soon Christmas is? We need to start shopping! Not a lot, but a few gifts here and there wouldn’t hurt.
Here is a random picture from our dinner Monday night. Spaghetti and Texas Toast:
Posted by tami at 8:04 AM Comments (3)