Just one more chair

Global Warming

2012-01-27T17:21:00.000-06:00

It's going to snow here this weekend. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal here in Michigan in January. But this year it is. We've had to use the snow blower once this winter. We've had more ice days off than snow days off. Right now, the side yard has little to no snow . We should have FEET of snow. Many, many feet. We have nothing. It was 40 degrees outside today.

It's really, really strange.

Battles....

2012-01-23T13:33:00.000-06:00

Yup. We have an ice day today (and maybe tomorrow, although it's a bit early to know for sure) and the boy is trapped inside. Why? It's raining. Pouring actually. On a hard snow pack and ice....so it's like a skating rink out there. A wet, nasty skating rink. The road is glare ice, the porch and paths are 3 inches deep in water. When it freezes tonight it's gonna be awful.

We put up new shelves in the boys room this weekend and so Max and I are putting stuff up on them today. They aren't exactly done yet- a cover still needs to be attached on the bottom supports- but I'm tired of the toys on my dining room table..... He's decided to put up his "precious" Star Wars stuff and some of the Lego's kits he's made up there....I wanted stuff that he didn't want to play with as much up there...but- again- pick your battles. He'll get tired of getting the step stool or one of us to grab a toy. I hope.

These are the shelves over his desk....

These are the shelves that just went up on the bed wall....the supports along the very bottom are going to be covered up with wood painted the wall color. He won't be tempted to hang off them, I won't see them....win win.

Some of his masks over the door now....

So we still have work to do (including a lot of painting- both the shelves and the trim) but he was invested in this project so hopefully he'll start keeping his room a bit cleaner all on his own. Of course, if he takes after his father...all bets are off. ;)

Stay warm, dry and safe.

Some things you can live with.....

2012-01-20T10:37:00.000-06:00

and some things you can't. It's just a case of picking your battles. I can live with dusty floors- even carpet with dead fern leaves on it for a while at least. I can live with a dining room table that has piles on it (not forever mind you...but a while) I can live with my sons room being a sty. He's 7, it's normal....but I CANNOT stand a dirty kitchen.

Last night I went to bed without cleaning it. I was tired, drained from taking care of the boys. I wanted to shower and sleep. So, this morning I was greeted with this....

I have to remember not to do that again-in a kitchen this small you just have to stay on top of things...... I just about heaved at 6 30 this morning. It was tough making breakfast and the home lunch for the boy. I had trouble getting to the coffee maker. I had no sink space. It was gross. At least all the food was put away properly last night so I didn't have to deal with garbage too....

1 hour later and I have this...

Counters, cabinets, walls and floors all washed and clean. Dishes in the washer put away and the machine re loaded. Sinks scrubbed out. Microwave cleaned out and stove top polished. It would have taken me less time but I straightened out the pantry too, and re did the corner area where my calenders are AND did the filing! A productive morning if I do say so myself....

now, on to the laundry!

Fantastic Friday everyone!

Happy Thursday

2012-01-19T16:18:00.000-06:00

School is back in (although in all honesty, the roads were so awful they should have called it off this morning) the Mr. is no longer throwing up loudly and often, and I have the house back to myself. It's not clean, but it's coming back to life. It's amazing that one small child stuck in the house for two days and a sick husband can destroy an entire house...but it happened.

I am hopeful the weather clears by Saturday and I get out shopping. I have been trapped in this town since before Christmas and I desperately need to get out. Wish me luck.

Not again.....

2012-01-17T12:36:00.000-06:00

Snow day....or maybe it was an ice morning. I don't know which one it was, but it's keeping us all inside- even the dog won't go past the porch right now. I haven't heard a car on the village main street for hours. I guess we've had another 4 inches? of snow with an underlay of ice on top of the other 6 inches on the ground. I know, it's not much for this time of the year...but last week I was walking around in a spring jacket and flip flops. I saw dudes at Lowes wearing shorts....and now....a freakin winter wonderland.

The boy is drawing and watching the Muppet's on tv. The Mr. is sick. I am bored. I've been windows shopping this morning and trying to get some inspiration for the office re do that is staring me in the face. I know that I want the office re do to come in under 100 bucks, and the smaller boys bedroom re do to come in under 50. So, budget in hand I need to get to work.

stay warm and dry everyone.

The sun will come out.....

2012-01-14T18:04:00.001-06:00

Today! It came out and suddenly everything just looks a whole lot better!

This is one of my latest projects. Behind my bed is a large window that overlooks our neighbors house- so no loss of view there! The Mr. bought a 6 dollar bed at an estate sale and we used the headboard here...attached it right to our frame- it stops the pillows from falling behind the bed at least! Then I took the brown curtains that used to be in our dining room and hung them high over the bed. It's dramatic. It keeps the light and cold out. I like it.

The white thing on the floor is a pillow for my poor dying dog. He's failing fast. I'm just trying to make his last days on earth more comfortable....

I cleaned out my closet. I organized the tiny thing and got rid of a ton of stuff - 87 items so far this year (the entire list of what I have removed from our home as of right now is on my 5 a day page on the top bar). I have found I have too many jeans and not enough long sleeved t shirts. All in all though, I'm OK. I stay at home and rarely go out except to go grocery shopping so I don't actually need a bunch of dressy stuff....just comfortable clothes that don't make me look or feel like a slob. Or 17. Because I'm not. 17. I might be a slob..the jury's still out there...

Next project- the office. I know. It's only 8 years of reading about me planning this office. This year..it's gonna happen. Really.

snowmageddon!

2012-01-13T19:13:00.001-06:00

Last night we went from nothing to.....

yea. we have 6 inches now on the ground. No school today. The village had no power (except our street...we had power but no cable or tv or internets...) all day until after 4pm. You would think Michigan had never seen snow before the way everyone was acting.....

7 days and counting....

2012-01-09T14:01:00.001-06:00

I have insomnia. Often. For many days at a time. Last week I slept 6 ish hours ( in 1 and 2 hour intervals) in 3 days. Then, over the weekend I actually slept on Saturday night/Sunday Morning (from 2am to about 8 am, then again until around 11 am) but last night (Sunday) I got no sleep. zip. I am dead on my feet...zombie type dead. I'm not growling but it's close....

Now, before anyone mentions pills. I can't. I am not only an insomniac, but a sleepwalker. I would be one of those people who grab their keys, drive to the McDonalds, order everything on the menu and eat it all and never remember a moment of it while on those things. I have tried Valerian root, and it does work a bit for me..but I get very vivid dreams with it and that wakes me up....so the point of it is kind of lost on me.....

No matter what is going on....I do have work to do. Except when I had my H1N1 infection last year, I have stuff I have to do almost every day. I have to get the boy ready to go to school- pack his lunch, make sure he gets dressed etc... I have to do at least one load of laundry. I do a load of dishes every other day (today was that day). I don't "have" to do much, but I do need to get this stuff done, and I am just dragging.

The Mr. is going to pick up the boy at school today since I can't be trusted behind the wheel of a car right now, and I am going to try to go to bed, or at least lie down. Maybe put on "Ancient Aliens" and giggle myself to sleep....

2012- so far, so good.

2012-01-06T10:24:00.001-06:00

Today is the 6th of January, so according to my self imposed rule of removing 5 items per day from my home, I should have gotten rid of 30 items. I am actually at 42 items. I took a HUGE bag of karma to the Goodwill yesterday- kids clothes and mens dress clothes mostly. I haven't even started on my stuff and household extras. Bonus, I am finding out what we really need to replace. It's such a win-win.

The second part of my resolution was to eat better. That too, has been good this week. No fast food at all. No take outs, not even coffee so far, although I am not against that really- I drink regular coffee with some cream- no huge whipped frap things. I have cooked all week long. Lasagna, hamburgers (with beef from our cow), pork chops (from our pig) and last night I cooked for my parents too and made beef broccoli stir fry (again, from our cow). Tonight I'm making us tacos. I am even going to make the pico...... PLUS my parents are going to visit my Aunt (today) and I sent them with 3 containers of home made food to give her- chili, beans and hocks and turkey noodles. My Mr. even took lunch to work with him one day this week (out of only three there...) so that's better than normal. He eats at the University often due to his work with groups so I know he eats very well there and they make everything from scratch too.... so really one or two days is all he needs and he can keep out of McDonalds....

Everyone have a great weekend. We're off to a hockey game tomorrow and to help the Mr. move into his new offices.....

2012

2012-01-03T15:09:00.000-06:00

Resolutions.

Stuff I should have doing all along, but somehow don't.

My big '2'

1. Get rid of some more stuff. Make some more room in my house. I am getting rid of 5 items per day- up from the 3 items of last year. Yes, I really did get rid of a lot of stuff last year..but I keep bringing more in. I like to think of it as upgrading. I'd like to at least......

So, 5 items every day is 1825 items.

That's a lot of items.

You can't count stuff you would normally throw out- garbage stuff...like pens that won't work and junk mail.....unless you would normally keep them that is. Example...I won't count a newspaper as an item....but I will count a magazine clipping I have kept from a year ago and now decided to toss....does that make sense?

I am going to eat better. NOT less, or fat free or anything like that. I said BETTER. No crap. Less take outs. More real food. We got a cow this year and a pig. No more factory farm stuff. I am not giving up bacon, but maybe it doesn't have to be with every single meal.

that's it folks. My big "2".

Does anyone else have some resolutions in need of sharing?

Holiday Break!

2011-12-29T14:46:00.000-06:00

I got a new roaster! Magnalite 8 qt- It's chicken sized!

I got new trim for my office door!

The boy will be getting a new bed frame and a wall o shelves!

This is what the boy is working on now....below is Lego pod Racers, above is the Millennium Falcon from Lego. The pod racers are done...the Falcon is close. The Falcon has 1251 Lego pieces....the pod racers had a bit under 900. I don't know what job skills can come from Lego construction....but the boy can really follow Lego instructions and build....

Have a great Holiday weekend!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T12:50:00.000-06:00

It's been a rough December. The dog is dying. We have NO SNOW. Our bathroom doesn't work right. I'm allergic to our Christmas trees. The Mr. is going to need surgery this winter.... BUT!

the Mr. just got a huge job promotion (with more money!) and we are all healthy (yes, even with the surgery) and happy! So no complaining from me!

we are going to open up a Lego Land north....

making it Rain up in here!

too many toys for just one little boy!

have a great day and Merry Christmas!

It's that time again....to elf yourself.

2011-12-07T08:32:00.000-06:00

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/Hbn7gn0kZR6x6NVm?cmpid=ey_url

Click on the above link and it'll take you to my sons elfyourself video at office max. while you are there...make one of yourself too!

we have tree!

2011-12-02T07:47:00.000-06:00

Before everything was put on it...

and after. I like this tree. It's one of the nicest we've ever cut.

Plus...it came with a brother. A free kids tree -

The tree, not the kid was free. The free tree was actually 5 1/2 feet tall and we had to cut it down to 4 1/2 to make it seem less like a forest in here! It is nice though, for the boy to have his own tree so his star wars and hot wheels ornaments have their own space....let alone his HUGE collection of nutcracker ornaments. He loves them for some unknown reason.....

Post holiday let down...

2011-11-29T11:23:00.000-06:00

Or not. I don't know. Thanksgiving dinner was great. This is my 9th annual family dinner (and about my 20th Thanksgiving dinner I've done for a group) so there was little to no pressure with the menu or the table or anything. I put the turkey in the oven and spent the time before the family arrived online.

I made-
a 19lb turkey with dressing (apple dressing this year)
mashed potatoes with home made gravy
roasted sweet potatoes
roasted carrots
green beans
home made corn bread
home made cranberry orange relish (the Mr. did this actually)
Banana cream pie (because I HATE pumpkin pie with a passion)

It was so good, I didn't even get a picture before people started eating.

We didn't do black Friday or anything that weekend at stores. I'm getting really anti-consumerism right now. It's actually making me really mad. Christmas is NOT about how much crap you purchase. Don't get me wrong. I buy way to much stuff for my son for Christmas. But he's 7. And he's my only kid. And I can. BUT I refuse to be part of the corporate machine on that weekend.....pushing and shoving...near rioting over 2 buck waffle makers......making retail employees miss Thanksgiving. Nope. Not going to be a part of that.

Good news though! We have our tree! More about it soon- it's the nicest tree we've had so far I think. The Mr. and boy cut it down on Sunday. It's beautiful

The New dining room......

2011-11-20T17:49:00.000-06:00

Here is the new improved more adult dining room. The color is by Eddie Bauer called "Woodsmoke". It's a grey/blue color that I really like a lot.....

The fireplace on the right is electric...I am putting up more pipe to go into the wall so it looks more realistic....

The vintage blue medicine cabinet that started the rush for a new color...

The desk area...

The window area with new curtains up...

Some art I brought up. I got this charcoal about 10 years ago...

I still have to have my horns and skulls.....

whole thing was 34.96. One gallon of paint. I had everything else, including paint brushes and rollers.

wow. What a week.

2011-11-19T13:06:00.000-06:00

We had a short week due to deer hunting season starting Tuesday- or as the school likes to call it "safety day". The kids got Monday and Tuesday off this week- supposedly so that kids waiting for the bus didn't get shot to death on Tuesday by stupid downstate hunters who mistake them for a deer. Yea, we don't buy it either. But, it's some time off.
Monday the Mr. had a procedure done at the big hospital in bigger city. He might need surgery next year. Probably actually. We'll know more later next month. Then I got 4 new tires so I don't slip off the road this winter. I love my Vibe, but 8lb 6 ounce baby Jesus- those tires are expensive!

I painted the dining room too. It's a blue/grey now. I primed it last year and then lost all interest in following through with the actual paint job. I love this color- but it changes a lot depending on the light. In some pics it looks very dark- but it's not. This is a very light color and I love it in the room. In some pics not as much.....

This is what it looked like before. I was super tired of the orange wall and painted that a greige color first.

I forgot to get true before pics...here is where stuff has been moved and colors tried and I started to cut in the paint....

Funny story. That built in wall thing actually has a mirror back that years ago I painted. I took off the trim to hand a picture over it since then, and the drywall is a bit...gape-y around it. I'll fix it soon but it's covered up now.....Well, when I was painting around it today I looked through the hole in the wall I saw two eyes looking back at me. I just about peed my pants...then I realized that they were MY eyes...the mirror must be bigger behind that than I knew....

Here is one of the reason for the color change. I brought up my vintage medical cabinet to use up here. I love it, it's odd I know, but then again, so am I.

see how the far wall and the door wall look different? That's the light. It's more like the door wall- less baby blue more grey in the dining room.

I like it with my floor. I have to put that trim up and the electric outlet cover though.

More when I put the room together. It needs to cure now.....

snow!

2011-11-11T17:30:00.000-06:00

what I woke up to this morning...

It is too soon for this crap.

I'm painting my dining room this weekend. Pics up when it's done!

I try not to hate people....

2011-11-02T08:02:00.000-05:00

only things. But I think she qualifies....

You are the fruit to my loom.....

2011-10-25T17:27:00.002-05:00

Why hasn't this been sung about before? This is freakin genuius....

It's just a dream....

2011-10-20T10:38:00.002-05:00

Opening up and draining a can of Mandarin oranges I pulled a muscle in my back. Yea, I'm not sure on the mechanics of it all, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. SO, after laying on the sofa all day in one of the three positions that didn't make me cry I took some meds and went to sleep.

I had a dream. A nightmare. My sweet husband was trying to kill me. Now I am unsure as to how he was trying to do it...I do remember he was trying to grab at my ankles and pull me down the stairs into the basement. That's as far as it got because he woke me up because of all the noise I was making in my sleep. Uh, yea I was making those noises because you were trying to KILL me dear.....and I got out of bed and moved to the sofa. Next morning he comes in and asks me why I'm out on the sofa since my back is all jacked up. I said...because I couldn't sleep next to someone who was trying to KILL me sweetie. He just shook his head and went to the shower......

Things were a bit tense all day. I know...it's just a dream but still- very vivid. Very lifelike.

He comes home last night with a "I didn't really try to kill you it was just a dream just get over it" present.....a painting I saw 1 1/2 years ago and have wanted ever since. He went out and got it for me to make me feel better. It was so sweet and nice and then he asked where I wanted to put it.

And he recommended the basement.

True story.

A rainy Friday morning....

2011-10-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

Today is generally a big cleaning day for me....I don't clean on the weekends. Sure, I throw a load of laundry in the machine and we at least try to keep the dishes from overflowing the sink, but the weekend is for us to hang out as a family-not to catch up on cleaning. That said, I am having some family over tomorrow for dinner and she's a very clean person. I have to step up the routine a bit....

It's 10:16 as I sit down to write this (this is a break for me) I have been up since 6.15. I get the boy up and fed, his lunch put together and catch up on the over night news. The Mr. took him to school this morning so at about 7.30 I get to start cleaning. By 8.30 I had a load of wash in, both bathrooms cleaned-toilet, sinks and floors but not the shower, the bedrooms picked up, beds made and the dirty clothes taken to the laundry room. By 9.30 I had my hair and makeup done, the dishwasher unloaded and loaded again, I made myself breakfast and read two chapters of a book I wanted to start. I have cleaned the kitchen counters and the stovetop. I still have to do the floors and the microwave, but that will take less than 4 minutes..

Someone asked how I do this as fast as I do. Easy.

1. I have no children at home to slow my roll. I don't homeschool. I am alone.

2. I plan my time. When I go down the hallway I have a load of stuff with me....I do everything in an order that works for me. Like....I take all the hanging clothes from the laundry room with me when I go down to the bedroom. I start at the back bedroom- put those clothes away, make that bed, straighten that room, then move on. The next room gets the same treatment. Then, I clean the bathroom since it's across the hall. I clean from top to bottom, except when I vacuum- that I always do first in a room since it actually kicks up dust. I try to figure out the fastest way to do a job with the least amount of movements. Silly I know, but it keeps me sharp.

3. I clean to either music or movies. Music if I have to do it fast. I have a playlist and know how long it takes me to do a task (putting the dishwasher away takes me one song. My Sharona is 4.04 minutes and I can do the entire dishwasher and countertops in that time so when the next song comes on I can be ready to go on to the next job) Next on my list is cleaning the living room...I have on a video on PBS on my computer on about the war of 1812. I can learn something and clean and organize the living room- including washing the windows, the dining room, and the laundry room during that time... and probably have to pause it for a few minutes while I vacuum.

4. I realize that this is my job right now so I treat it as such. End of story. I want to be able to spend as much time with my family when they are all together as I can, so getting this stuff done when they aren't here makes sense.

So, that's it. This is my day today. Next week I am starting to put more stuff on my Etsy shop so I'll probably share that with you all here too..... maybe I'll even go to the city and do some shopping since the Mr.s birthday is next weekend.....

Little Thor....

2011-10-13T15:30:00.001-05:00

It's 12.02 on Wed. afternoon.....

2011-10-12T11:09:00.000-05:00

This is my life....

what I have gotten done this morning....
1.Laundry- 1 load ( I do one load every day ) both washed and dried.

2.Vacuum   The living room, the dining room, the boys room and the hallway. The vac is now DEAD....we will have to replace it soon....

3. Cleaned the boys closet- that included....
    A. Color coordinating his hangers
    B. putting away shorts and summer stuff in storage

4. Painted my bedroom door. I primed it last week or so... first coat is one the outside only, not the inside

5. Cleaned the bedrooms (2)
    A. made the beds
    B. picked up the dirty clothes
    C. dusted

6. I got myself dressed, did my hair and makeup and spent entirely to long on both facebook and email.....

That leaves me with only cleaning the main bathroom, putting the clean clothes away and running the dishwasher. Then, I have to go pick up the boy at school and start making the broccoli sauce for the pasta tonight..... yippee.

Music I am loving right now....

2011-10-11T10:35:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Mom....

2011-10-09T11:27:00.000-05:00

She collects pigs...my brother and I paint skulls.....

Just another pig for her collection.....

spiraling out of control....

2011-10-08T21:01:00.001-05:00

I'll be back again soon. Just not right now. Things are going on, things have to be dealt with, things need to be cleaned up. I will have more later.

dinner date outfit

2011-09-15T10:15:00.001-05:00

dinner date outfit by thefarmersdaughter featuring leather handbags

1 minute 49 seconds of your life you won't get back....

2011-09-11T16:31:00.000-05:00

but I like it.....

Founders Day

2011-09-02T16:22:00.003-05:00

Honestly, this video is awful. Shaky and rather boring. BUT- at approx 12.19 is my dear husband talking about the university and its founder. Watch it on You tube and it's easier to jump to that spot. Thought I'd share.

I am letting stuff go...I promise.

2011-08-31T10:09:00.000-05:00

I have decided to stop over planning my life. As some of you know, I was with Franklin Covey for years. I organized, I planned. I taught others how to. I charged a lot of money for that little service. I was very good at it. But, I'm letting it go.

Now, some things need to be planned- my son has swim lessons, we have to get him out of the house and in school (and that involves a drive of no less than 25 minutes when there is no ice or snow) I still have to cook for the family, do laundry, dishes, keep things clean. I plan on doing more volunteer work this year. BUT- I am not going to stress out over this. I am not going to over plan my life so I can't just drop stuff to have fun with my son or husband. I WILL accept last minute dinner plans like we did this past weekend.

It's a struggle. Internally, I have a voice telling me that I have to do the dishes. I have to do the laundry. I shouldn't go out because my dining room isn't clean. I CAN NOT live in a dirty or messy house. But, I don't want to be tied down to my house either.

This year has been a year of changes. My baby isn't a baby anymore. He's 7 and going into 2nd grade on Tuesday. He needs more responsibility and me to let go a bit. I have lost enough weight to go down two sizes. I can't tell you the pounds, because I don't care enough to weigh myself. I just did some simple cut backs and basically am eating less. The same stuff, just less of it. It's working. The Mr. and I are getting along much better this year than probably in the past 5.

I'm just trying to find a balance- like everyone else in the world. That's what I'm working on this year- working on my family and myself and not how often my laundry is done.

This is my favorite song right now. I'm going to play it and dance with my son.

Have a happy day.

I can, because I'm from Texas.....

2011-08-23T16:23:00.002-05:00

Hey! new to me furniture!

2011-08-22T15:59:00.000-05:00

Thank you Aunt Candy! We love the sofa!

This is when I decide to stop worrying

2011-08-09T14:46:00.000-05:00

stuff is going to get done. Sometime. I am not going to worry about how clean my house is anymore. I am not a hoarder and I take the garbage out. I am going to enjoy the last few weeks of summer before the boy has to go back to school and I have to figure out something to do with my time.

The end.

The one where we are in over our head.....

2011-08-05T10:03:00.000-05:00

We're building a retaining wall to hold our hill up. The hill is just sand and roots. It's been more than hard to sink posts and dig postholes. The above wheelbarrow has already given it's life to the cause..... what you are looking at is the first of 3 walls (the tall posts are being cut down flush with the boards you see....hopefull the dirt gets here soon.....

A guitar mural and question

2011-07-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

So, I got the boy this guitar mural for his wall..it's HUGE and I have no idea how to hang it.....I am thinking grommets on hooks (It's temporarily up on alligator clips right now so I can get a visual...) but there's also the rigid foam back that's an option....I just don't know. I'm usually much more decisive than this.... it's this stupid hot summer that I blame...

beach....

2011-07-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

It's super hot and steamy here...miserable outside and honestly not very nice inside either.... so I took the boy to the beach...

it was great- and the water was COLD! I love summer!

We've come a long way baby!

2011-07-18T10:54:00.000-05:00

We have lived in this house for a little over 8 years in October. It's gone through a lot of changes since we first got it. It had sat empty and abandoned for 3 years prior to us getting it....the outside was trashed and the inside was 1970's ranch in all it's glory- shag, mirrors, paneling, you name a bad decor trend and we had it. Well, here's the outside...

This first pic is really of the horrid wood thing someone had attached to the house. It had lattice on it too..but this pic was taken after we removed that and had painted the house green.....

see, here's the house being painted green.....those big things aren't flowers by the ladder, those are weeds...

So, below is two pics of the house that I have combined so you can see what it looked like once we removed the portico thing, made the porch (out of that wood) painted the house green and added shutters.

Here is what the house looks like now....

and here is with some of our flowers blooming.

We still need a new front door, and soon, it's be time for a new roof and new siding. Yippee (not) but it's come a long way baby.

keep dreaming!

The bottle tree....

2011-07-16T23:16:00.001-05:00

I have 14 different planting beds and areas around my house. There is the front area that is broken down into 5 areas, the east side is 3 areas, the south side is 5 areas on two different elevations, and then there is the rock garden. I had to break it down into that many areas just so I could work on them without killing myself. I tend to go 200% in at breakneck speed and wear myself out. Breaking it down I can focus on one section and get a sense of accomplishment and completion and stop. I don't know- it works for me.

Today I worked on section 8. That is on the south side, behind the deck. It's the upper area with my bottle tree bush and birdbath. Friday I went into it and pulled a wheelbarrow full of underbrush and limbs out of this small (10x5 ft) area. Today I planted a few new (and some transplanted) plants and mulched. It's cleaned up!

I looked all over for a before picture...but can't find one. Just picture it covered in undergrowth, poppies (I HATE poppies) and odd small bushes before Friday. Next year I have plans that include more daylillies behind the fence (which is really an old iron head and footboard) and some more traditional bottle trees on the hillside...but that's next year. This year it's just cleaner.....

OH! I just found a picture of this area from 2009.... imagine it like this but really overgrown..

I don't know why there is a chair in there...I don't ever remember that...

Untitled

2011-07-15T16:28:00.001-05:00

Untitled by lojo43 featuring rick owens jacket

It wasn't the biggest fireworks display.....

2011-07-10T10:31:00.000-05:00

but it was a lot of fun!

from the tailgate of the truck!

Deep in the heart of Texas....

2011-07-01T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Austin botanical gardens

At a gig out in Dripping Springs with my brother- the band he's in the Twilight Trio was playing at a venue- it was hotter than hell that day

We went to the Tx History museum on the day the new NASA space craft based on the Orion was visiting on it's way from California to Florida-making one of it's only 3 stops so the public could view it. We lucked out- we were there early before any lines and the boy got to talk to a former shuttle commander who was in space one on one and some spokespeople from NASA who talked to us about what this craft can and will do. He looked inside the craft and everything.... It was super cool....

Welcome to Texas

2011-06-30T10:18:00.000-05:00

The boy at the Texas welcome center...which due to road construction is impossible to get into. We were the ONLY people there. It was creepy. Last time I stopped there were a couple hundred people milling about.....

The Texas capitol. It's beautiful...and has just about the only green grass in the state. They are in a 4 year drought. Rivers and lakes are dropping by a foot a day in some locations. Cattle are being sold off because there is no hay or grass to feed them. Everything is dry and brittle....except the capitol lawn. That is lush and green.

good by cruel world....

2011-06-13T19:12:00.001-05:00

for 3 weeks or so....taking a long, extended road trip back home to Texas. Pics when I get back....

have a great June!
lori

The (NON) accent wall

2011-06-12T07:44:00.001-05:00

I used to have an orange accent wall in the dining room....

since I have orange Herman Miller chairs and a large orange piece of art on the opposite wall it seemed to make sense. It also though, made my room very dark.... and the room is a north facing room so it's rather dark to start with. After 4 years I finally decided to do something about it.....

The Mr. likes the color so much, he wants me to paint the entire dining room this color. He mentioned putting up crown moulding and shelves on the far wall. If he does that- I believe that the entire room will go from white to this tan color. It does look really nice with white...and since I painted all the trim and doors white last fall it would make sense...I just am not thrilled with having to paint such a huge room again.... oh well. It only takes a few hours! Maybe after vacation!

It's a new chair!

2011-06-11T13:01:00.001-05:00

Since this blog was started to showcase my horrid chair obsession, and I haven't shown any new chairs in a while..... I thought I would plop a pic in now.

I am going to clean it up, raise it up (it's only suitable for little people the way it is now) and use it in the kitchen at the computer station.

I also bought a new lamp- it's alabaster and walnut...

I'll post pics of my painted wall soon Alana...I promise. I painted it this morning and it just needs to dry.....you can sneak a peak of the color behind the lamp (and dirty floor)

Rollin, rollin, rollin, keep those babies rolling....

2011-06-06T17:59:00.000-05:00

The boy and I are headed on our great western adventure/road trip in 7 days. We'll be gone 3 weeks or so (no posts so heads up for that) maybe less, maybe more. Depends on what we decide to do and see.
I've been driving across this country for my entire life. As an 18 yr old, I got into my car-pointed it west and just drove. Getting ready for a road trip meant throwing some spare clothes in a duffel bag, making sure I had a lot of film for my trusty Nikon- and getting behind the wheel. No maps, no supplies, just money and clothes (and often not a lot of those-laundry mats were my friend!). I'd go where ever I saw something interesting-I slept in rest areas and ate at roadside dives. Apparently, I had little fear of death.

I drove through a blizzard in New Mexico once in a jeep I had never really driven before. I had to find a mall parking lot (everything was closed due to the storm) to figure out how to put it INTO 4 wheel drive. Then I had to teach myself how to DRIVE it in 4wd. I have awesome pics of me at Monument Valley- I still don't exactly remember how I got up there- I know I never planned it. One afternoon I ended up in San Diego because I got bored in Phoenix. I've seen the meteor crater in Flagstaff, Arcosanti, Talieisn west, spent weeks in Sedona and Santa Fe, hiked in the Grand Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, the petrified forest, learned to LOVE Jerome Az (perched on the side of a cliff with awesome artists), I've gotten up in the morning-hiked Enchanted Rock in Tx and then driven down to South Padre to look at the gulf at nightfall. I've never had a second thought getting behind the wheel of a car and just going where ever (and when ever) I wanted to....

Now though, with a kid, a road trip is a serious packing matter. DVD player with movies, all sorts of electronics (phones, games, cameras) and the chargers that go with it. Books and paper so he can draw his movie storyboards. I've actually packed OUTFITS for us. I have a map. And an atlas. I have reservations for the first nights stay on the road. I've gone online to find interesting things for us to find along the way- not just letting fate decide for us. It's sort of sucking the fun out of it for me.

But I'm still going. And it's going to be fun. Just, a different kind of fun.

(this is a picture of a picture I took about 20 years ago I guess- film you know...)

life

2011-06-05T08:38:00.001-05:00

life by lojo43 featuring flower jewelry

nighttime

2011-05-29T10:19:00.001-05:00

nighttime by lojo43 featuring high heels

Real life interferes again!

2011-05-26T14:20:00.000-05:00

Jase blew up our second car- my old car. My meth head cousin and her low life husband are running from the law. I had an appointment with my oncologist. Jase has to go in for exploratory stomach surgery. I got called up for jury duty.

BUT- we got a new truck- 1800 bucks in all it's glory-

The cops will eventually get my scofflaw relatives and besides, we have already got their kids out of that hell hole and that's what's really important, my Dr. visit went ok (just waiting on my test results now) and maybe they can find what's wrong with my husbands stomach and fix it...and the trial I was supposed to be a jury on had a last minute plea deal- no courtroom time for me!!!!

bonus- I leave for vacation in less than two weeks!!!!

Life is ok. It's just busy sometimes....

have a happy holiday weekend.

My sons school....

2011-05-04T09:32:00.002-05:00

suck it Donald Trump

2011-05-02T05:26:00.000-05:00

Mulher Skull wall decal

2011-04-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

Mulher Skull wall decal by Upper Playground for Blik Surface Graphics

I'm really thinking about doing a decal in the dining room- something very....different. Like this one.

what I'll wear to school on Tuesday

2011-04-23T16:46:00.001-05:00

what I'll wear to school on Tuesday by lojo43 featuring leather tote bags

my going out outfit for texas....

2011-04-23T10:40:00.002-05:00

my go to going out outfit by lojo43 featuring ruffle tops

VERY similiar to what I have, except my top is more geometric than animal print.... the rest though is the same.....

texas trip

2011-04-17T10:13:00.001-05:00

texas trip by lojo43 featuring a white tee

spring has sprung.....

2011-04-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

There is no snow left in my yard, the bulbs are up and we finally are over the stomach flu and H1N1. Yea for us. But that flooded mess you see above is my back yard. Snow melt always equals flooding.

Happy spring....

It's just Michigan in Winter....

2011-03-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

Part of the kitchen, part of the dining room- a little bit of nothing....

2011-03-25T09:34:00.001-05:00

Between the dining room (which was the original living room) and the new living room (which is an add on to the original house) is a small 8x8 square walk through area that used to be the old dining room. When we got the house it was carpeted in tri color shag and had an old brass and glass light fixture that they pulled up to the ceiling with a bread tie. Really. A bread tie.

It really wasn't a part of anything- it wasn't part of the kitchen, it wasn't part of the dining room. I kept a buffet in here for extra storage. Then, my husband got a huge butcher block top from a friend doing a kitchen remodel and he decided to make a bar/counter/computer area for me. Plus, it would have the added benefit of covering up an ugly heat duct that we had to pull up through the floor and go into the wall because that's an exterior wall and the laundry room add on had no heat. We didn't want to go through the foundation so the wall was the only option- but it was ugly and stuck out like a sore thumb....

BEFORE- Here they are putting up the cleat for the bar area.... the Mr. is standing in the old exterior door- which now goes to my interior laundry room. We just removed the entire door and gave it to my parents for their barn (it was a good door)

This is opposite the wall above, the kitchen just ended there and the stove was in the middle of the walk way....

Here is where we extended the kitchen floor another foot to add a cabinet and a cart to extend the kitchen into the old dining room area..... I wish the entire area was the same floor- but it's not and it won't be for a while- no money honey!

We also built a fake wall between the bar area/kitchen to the dining room. It mirrors the wall going into the living room and helps to visually make the dining room a separate room from the kitchen area......

-NOW-

I am going to re upholster these stools this summer- ideas on fabric or should I go with leather? Past the bar area is the door to the laundry room. I painted all the trim in the house white last spring, since brown was so horrible.

This is how it looks from the dining room looking into the kitchen/bar area.... and looking into the living room.....we removed the old brass/glass bread tie fixture and added pot lights above for task lighting...

Below is from the living room looking back into the dining room....

The box to the right of the wine rack covers up the duct work going into the laundry room... this desk is used by me about 6 hours a day- we do homework up here, computer stuff, watch tv and movies on the computer, sort the mail, pay the bills etc... I eat lunch here. It's very useful. I was against building it at first, but I spend more time here than almost anywhere else.

Above is the new cabinet that keeps the stove from being the end of the kitchen. I will go into this more in depth for my next post which is my doll house sized kitchen. But since this is part of the old dining room technically, I thought I'd add this picture.... I so wish we could put in one new cohesive floor but that is just not in the picture now- not with us needing a new roof.

So, now you've seen the tiny entrance, the dining room and now the computer area. The kitchen is next. Maybe, if I can clean it and keep it clean. That's an ongoing battle in a house full of men.

the dining room- through the ages.....

2011-03-18T10:41:00.002-05:00

BEFORES-

This is my living room from about 5 years ago.... The mirror shelf thing is really special isn't it? This room has no natural light and no artificial overheads either. I have to use lamps and swag things. As you can see, I had a really cool 1950's dining room set (since sold) a large collection of tikis (bigger now- but in storage) and a watermelon. I was living large.....

This was the view of the dining room from the living room. To the right you see the large brown door in the corner- that is the front door. We had removed the tri color shag by this picture but were walking on floorboards painted dark brown at that point (lack of funds) Don't ask me what the large red embroidered thing is. I mean, I know WHAT it is- it's a duvet. I don't know why it is where it is in this picture though.... at the front of this picture on the left side is a doorknob. It's attached to a door. That is an exterior door that was in the interior of the house- specifically it went to the laundry room. It was an add on- and I suppose they just decided to keep the original door because it was there. The area that is carpeted in this picture is the old dining room. The dining room was the old living room. We think. Look closely at the bottom right- that is the ugly kitchen carpet. Yes, tri color shag AND kitchen carpet. WOW- I hit the jackpot back then didn't I?

NOW-

This is the tiny, tiny, tiny entrance. The outside door is left, the closet is the right. Better in white, right?

This is from around the corner. The large orange artwork is covering up those mirrored shelves. They are still back there.

Looking from the front door into the rest of the house. It could have been cleaner when I took this picture this morning. I blame the H1N1.

Looking backwards into the dining room from the computer....I wish I had a better location for the fireplace....

Below-From the computer back towards the door. The door on the right is my closet door and that is the long hallway that goes to the bedrooms.... That is my favorite desk ever. I wish I used it more, but it's very useful-it has a built in file cabinet! The blue artwork is prints by Gwen Frostic. The yellow chair is to help put on shoes. The skull on the wall is because I live in the woods and we do things like that up here.

Below- From the front of the dining room windows into the kitchen then the living room....this is the to the right of the dining room table and across from my closet in the above picture. Farther to the left in the picture is the hallway.....

Still from the front windows, looking back into the house to the living room....Boy, do I have an UGLY table centerpiece. That MUST be changed ASAP now that I see it in print. Plus, that computer area is a sty........

From the living room back into the dining room.... we built that bead board header you see at the top- but more about that in the next post which is the kitchen and the computer area.....

So that is the dining room. It's big, it's a rectangle. I wish it wasn't so big, because I feel it's a waste of space. We hardly use it. It becomes a dumping ground or a walk through to the rest of the house. But we need a dining room, and this happens to be it. Ideas are always welcome. Always.

Start at the beginning, the front door.....

2011-03-17T14:48:00.000-05:00

First off, when you enter the house, you have about 4 ft to come inside and then get hit by another door. The enterance way is a staggering 41 inches x 44 inches. That means, you cannot open the door, great your guests and have them actually enter the house all at the same time. It's ridiculous. There is a closet on the right side of this picture that you can't see. Both doors were painted brown- along with all the trim in the house. I don't know why it took me 6 freaking years to paint them a normal color, but last year I finally broke down and painted the doors and trim white. What a difference. It doesn't help the size any, but it no longer looks like a big black hole either.....

This picture is obviously one that is in progress. I painted the dining room last year from an off-beige to a super bright white. The walls and the doors are actually the same color now....

I do have a problem with this area though- shoes. In the winter we have boots and multiple shoes everywhere. I have shoe trays- but they tent to migrate out of those. Even right now, as I look at the entrerance, I see 7 pairs of shoes loose and running free.

Next up is the dining room. It's actually one big room with this entrance, but I wanted to break down that little area alone.

Here is a before pic of the dining room floor......

tri color shag. Not only ugly- but sticky. We actually bought the house with this stuff on the floor.

There's a sucker born every minute.....

Pure Michigan: St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

I'm not ignoring you....... I have H1N1

2011-03-13T12:34:00.000-05:00

Really. Tested positive for it Wed. I was basically in a coma Tues, Wed, and Thursday. I am sitting upright now, but so tired and dizzy. A week of my life is gone and I think it'll be another 4 days before I am back to even a low normal. Thank God my husband and son appear to have missed it. The Mr. disinfected everything I touched and they kept their distance from me in another section of the house.

DO. NOT. GET. THIS. FLU. It is awful. I was sicker with this than when I was recovering from cancer for freaks sake. I scared my Mr. on Wed- he thought I might die. It's no joke. Next year, I'm getting a flu shot.

One room at a time....

2011-03-08T11:35:00.002-06:00

This is a (BAD) rendering of my house and it's footprint. The top floor is a bit over 1000sq ft, the basement is another 900 or so.... this is just the top floor. Click on the photo and you can see it bigger and complete!

It might be hard to read. Sorry. The dark lines are walls-both interior and exterior. The edge of the paper is the outside walls on the bottom and left sides. W means windows. The house is a 3 bedroom, 1 and a 1/2 bath. It has a TINY kitchen, living room and a dining room that used to be the living room before the current living room was built. There is also a laundry room and mudroom that were added on later that connect the main house to the 2 car garage. It was built sometime in the 70's and I have uncovered wall paper that proves it. It's a work in progress to say the least.

I'll be blogging about each room separately in the next few weeks. I need the time to dig up older and original pics of each room..... I'll start with the front door and dining room as that is how you walk into the house normally.....

G. Love - Milk And Sugar

2011-03-06T13:06:00.000-06:00

when I lived in Austin, I saw G Love and Special Sauce play live at Liberty Lunch. The lunch has been gone for a very long time now, I haven't been back to Austin for almost 9 years- but I still listen to G Love....

Adele - Someone Like You (on 'Later Live with Jools Holland') - Nov 2010

2011-03-04T10:38:00.000-06:00

I am totally listening to Adele right now- she's probably the best live singer I've heard in a long time..... Rolling in the Deep is a great song, but she has many....

I have a new microwave....

2011-03-01T10:15:00.000-06:00

we used a bit of Christmas money and ordered a new over the stove microwave to replace the 45 lb 1980's vintage behemoth that was over the stove. It didn't work well, it was black and it was HUGE.

Now, it's not.

I still have to paint the white areas around the microwave, but it's already SO much better.

Nyquil you are my friend....

2011-02-24T09:11:00.002-06:00

Still sick. It's just a bad cold (I think) but I've pulled a muscle in my side and neck coughing so much and gone though an entire Kleenex warehouse blowing my nose. Ick. Going back to bed now....

I love seeing kitchen remodels...

2011-02-20T13:31:00.001-06:00

ok. First sorry about the lack of postings. I have been SICK. Stomach flu then regular cold. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Oh, did I also mention that my son (6) also got a concussion while playing on his school playground during this time? Yes, real life interrupts......

So, going through my inspiration pictures I realize that ALL of my kitchen inspirations are basically white. Is that because my kitchen is white or because I like white kitchens? Something to think about.... here is a new inspiration from Tiny K

I have to say this is amazing. I love the lights and the Smeg (something I have always wanted along with an AGA but wouldn't work in my life)

Go to the website to see the befores... this was an amazing transformation..

Coupling:The BBC version, not that horrid American thing.... "where are you going?" rant

2011-02-06T17:04:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to me- from my first grade class!

2011-02-03T10:24:00.002-06:00

I volunteer at school. I work with both kindergartners and first graders. This past week we had a "guest teacher" in first grade as the regular teacher had a death in the family. This guest teacher is fantastic and she helped the class make cards for my birthday. It was all so very sweet- it almost made me cry. Here are just some of the cards I received yesterday......

I have a total of 27, but you don't need to see them all do you?

snowpocolypse....

2011-02-01T17:42:00.001-06:00

It's not even snowing here (YET) and school is closed for tomorrow. I would like to complain about it- as we DO live in Michigan and we OFTEN get large amounts of snowfall, and this blizzard MIGHT not even get this far north, but I'm not going to. I need the day off.

Although not on THIS map, I do believed we fall under the "totally screwed" portion of the most recent blizzard map.

This is closer to the truth...

stay warm!

The ruins of Detroit.....

2011-01-31T04:02:00.000-06:00

I have always wanted to do urban exploring, and with Detroit in my backyard there couldn't be anywhere better- or more dangerous- to try that hobby. I though, am a chicken. With a vagina. That I don't want to share. It's just not safe. So I have to live vicariously through people who go into abandoned buildings and take photographs. Some of the best I have ever seen are here

Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre took 5 years and documented the horrible state of some of Detroit's most beautiful buildings. Some look like all the people just left at lunch and never came back....

These pictures are amazing and heartbreaking. Go take a look for yourself......

United Artists Theatre.
As for me, I know I've been bad about updating. Life has gotten in the way. I'll be better after my birthday. I promise.

Really.

the farmers daughter: Living room ideas- and my own space!

2011-01-23T06:49:00.001-06:00

Over the Christmas break I had a lot of time to be on the computer widows shopping for decor ideas-my son got that horrid flu over break. I came up with few ideas and ended up getting more and more frustrated as the days went by. I don't know if that was because I was trying to do that while cleaning up little boy puke, or if that room is just my decor black hole.

This first picture is from desire to inspire... I love the large horse art, the olive green wall color and the off white sofa. It looks comfortable to me, and somehow boy proof at the same time....

This picture below is uncredited on my computer... I'm guessing it's English too- maybe I got it off of Living etc....? I would credit it if I could. I love that furniture. I love the art on the wall. I am less enthralled with the cow udder like light fixture, but overall, that space is fantastic.

This mess is my living room. The fireplace is fake. It used to be real, but it set the house on fire, so it was removed and the roof covered over. The firebox is still there though, and so I have electric logs in there right now. The brick is real brick, but just a facing so it's thin. I hate this wall. It's the bane of my existence. The wall is at an angle, by the unused pass through and on the right is the door to the back deck. It's useless. I hate it.

The table is a family piece, it's the top of my MIL's real parents dining room table. It's HUGE but it's needed as this is where the boys have snacks, do homework, read and draw and do legos etc.... The sofas are on their last legs. The plycraft chair is uncomfortable- but I love how it looks. The only thing I really like is the curtains.

I need a change.

Roadside Mayhem: Creepy Motel [HD] With Dean Winters

2011-01-22T13:38:00.000-06:00

why I am on team COCO!

2011-01-18T18:19:00.002-06:00

Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now- Official Video - HD

2011-01-17T11:25:00.000-06:00

I was never a huge Duran Duran fan when they came out (yes, I AM that old) but this doesn't suck.

Los Pistoles - I'm Going To Build Me A Bar

2011-01-10T11:29:00.000-06:00

Singing is my brother Grego!

JUMP

2011-01-03T12:43:00.001-06:00

I hate the winter. I hate snow. I hate cold. I hate the sheer desolation of it all. The air smells funny...like nothing. I dislike being inside all the time and my inability to drive in the snow. I dislike that even if I could get out more, my shopping opportunities are limited to Wal Mart, Big Lots and the Dollar store. Rodeo Drive this isn't...Yet, I chose to live here.

After years- my entire adult lifetime and over 1/2 of my overall life-of living in the Southwest I moved here, to Michigan- to the freaking woods. I did it for my (now)husband- but when I moved up here we weren't married, or engaged or anything. Hell, we had hardly been dating. But, there was something. Something I was willing to take a chance on. Something that made me ditch my life and friends, put my belongings in a giant U Haul and drive it across the country dragging my Jeep behind me. Something that made me move back to my home town without ever telling my family. Something that made me put my life in the hands of an almost stranger.

That actually runs in my family. My grandmother married my Grandfather and moved from New York out to Iowa after knowing him for all of two weeks. She told me she "was awfully lucky" once- "things could have gone very, very badly". I agreed. Then, I went and followed her lead. Sometimes you have to follow your heart and not your head. You just have to jump......

Sometimes, I'm not so bright....

2011-01-02T11:53:00.000-06:00

I put up a new post about my basement project and I put it up on the wrong blog.
Damnit. It's over here instead of right here. Visit over there is you want to see the first installment of us building a sliding barn door and fake wall in our basement. As my Mr. likes to say "it's a custom job" ......

My Christmas present......

2010-12-28T20:11:00.001-06:00

My Mr. got me a face jug. I LOVE it.....

Thank you Spike TV

2010-12-25T19:20:00.000-06:00

for showing a "Star Wars" Marathon on Christmas day- my 6yr old sons favorite movies.

And another big thank you for having Trojan seemingly sponsor the thing. I mean, what's better than having to answer a 6 yr old boys endless questions about Trojan man, "blowing her hair back, and vibrators on Christmas every 8 freaking minutes?

What a gift!

2010-12-22T12:59:00.000-06:00

I believe the Pink Eye fairy visited me last night......

Bah Humbug.....

2010-12-20T16:14:00.000-06:00

I used to think that I hated Christmas because I was a Toy Store Manager. Believe me, you see some pretty crappy behavior at a toy store at Christmas. But, today I realized that I might just hate the entire season itself. Not Christmas per se, but the entire shopping as sport holiday it has become.

I am so tired of fighting the crowds who are intent on buying crap. What's worse is that half the people are buying crap for people that they don't even care about. They feel they HAVE to buy them something. I figure these people are who buy those cheap tacky Stetson gift sets you see.....amateur shoppers who have no idea what they are doing, wander around like they're the only people in the store, leaving their carts in the middle of aisles and generally wander about like shopping zombies. I used to joke that on Christmas Eve day I could sell dog poop to customers as long as it was wrapped in shiny paper with a big red bow. I still think I could.

I am not in the greatest mood when I leave the store. Then, I wait for 5 freakin minutes to turn left onto the road as this sweet little old lady REFUSES to go when there is an opening the size of an Amtrak train. And then another one. When she did remember where she was and what she was doing she pulled out right in front of a truck. At least he was paying attention or I would probably still be there talking to the police and the news crew....

I then have to go to school for the boys Christmas party. I've never really liked kids that much- but I like these tiny humans. They amuse me. But, I need coffee so I decide to run through the drive through of Burger King so I can handle being HUNG off of for an hour or so. Without caffeine I won't be able to have what passes for conversations with 6 year olds. The drive though line though is long, and our Burger King is slow. The dipshit taking the orders can't hear OR speak. I am usually pretty confident they won't screw up a medium coffee with 3 creams, but today I'm not sure. The lady in front of me is paying for her meal with change. The lady in front of her hasn't exited the drive through lane even though she has all of her food, so the change lady can't pull up to get her food and I can't pay my 1.58 for my coffee and be on my way. ARG! Why do people make even the littlest things so damn hard?

Now, I really want my coffee and I want to be gone. Then I remember, this damn location gives me coffee in a freakin paper bag. This never goes well and it's only a matter of time before I spill an entire boiling coffee on my lap. I find that I really want to beat someone as though I'm waiting for candy to fall out of them. I turn the music up and hope for the best.....

Then a miracle happens. Not only did I get a fresh cup of coffee, but it WASN'T in a bag. And she smiled at me! It's not the only miracle... I drive to school and get a GREAT parking space. Every parent who said they were bringing in snacks actually did. The kids were ALL happy had a great time. We ate cupcakes and watched the Grinch who Stole Christmas. Ring pops were the favorite candy today in their bags.....

Yes, about a dozen hung off me, but it was sweet. They are all so excited for Christmas break. It made me realize that THIS is what Christmas should be like. Kids being kids, having fun, eating too much crap waiting for Santa to bring them toys. Not this crazed "black Friday gotta get the best deal get out of my way before I run you down" marathon. Just hanging out with friends and family with no cheap fragrance gift sets in sight.

Have a happy holiday season.

Pure Michigan: Winter Virgins

2010-12-16T18:47:00.000-06:00

Breakfast of Booze -Bacon, beer and Jack!

2010-12-15T08:41:00.000-06:00

My freaking day

2010-12-13T10:01:00.000-06:00

Snow day. They called school off last night so at least I didn't have to wake up before the crack of dawn, get the boy up and fed just to go back to sleep because they can't get their act together before 7 am. I mean, really. If the weather sucks at 9pm at night, it's not going to get any better before 7am. We don't have the money to plow the roads at night and the faster those nit wits in administration realize that the better for all of us.

This is day 4 with the boy in the house. He has the pink eye. Of course, other than the vague red-ness of his eyeballs he feels fine. Stuck in the house due to the snow and 30MPH winds is just something a boy of 6 wants to do all day-right? Luckily we have Wii. For me I mean. Today I believe he will have a good dose of benign neglect.

Last night the boy got up at 1am and got into my bed. Since he sleeps SIDEWAYS I had to get out of my bed and go to his. His room is COLD since he puts out warmth like a small electric heater. Since he's hot he sweats and his bed smells ...."boy" for lack of a better word. His white curtains and window shade practically GLOWED last night due to the moon and all the snow, so it was like sleeping under a street light. Did I mention I was cold all night?

Waking up at 8 am was nicer than 6 but the smell coming from the kitchen made me gag. Something is in that garbage can and sitting by the heat all night long didn't do it any favors. The kitchen smells like a Guadalajara goat hospice. I have cold coffee to warm up but no half and half. I need to run the dishwasher. I have no idea what I will make for dinner and I can't get into town today. The Mr. will have to do some grocery shopping and that is a scary though- can I make a dinner out of potato chips, beer and ice cream?

The boy is happy though-he just make his Lego star wars Wii character fly. I guess I'll get to work.

PINK EYE

2010-12-11T11:19:00.000-06:00

At least it's not head lice.....

Twilight Trio - Come & Satisfy Me - Joanna Ramirez, Grego Anderson, Jeff...

2010-12-07T20:07:00.000-06:00

that's my brother on guitar.....

I always need a gin and tonic when I see this...

2010-12-03T17:33:00.000-06:00

"Idiocracy" introduction - the future of human evolution

2010-11-29T18:28:00.000-06:00

It explains the tea party at least....

Happy Thanksgiving....

2010-11-27T15:32:00.000-06:00

I always have thanksgiving at my house for the family... this year I made....
Cornbread (with whole kernel corn inside!)

Before turkey...

after turkey

roasted Yukon golds with garlic, onions, rosemary and lemon juice... the small pile has no onions for my dad who hates them...

roasted sweet potatoes

roasted brussel spouts with bacon and onion

we also had cranberry relish my husband made, green beans and roasted carrots. Desert was a chocolate pie with ice cream. No pumpkin pie for me.....I hate it.

hope everyone had a great holiday, and safe black Friday.

Later!

what would the TSA do to me....

2010-11-22T16:20:00.000-06:00

If I carried this purse to the airport?

How does God feel about Beiber fever?

2010-11-20T16:06:00.000-06:00

you have to know when to hold em....

2010-11-17T16:09:00.000-06:00

One more joy taken from my life....

2010-11-15T18:03:00.000-06:00

a man has died from an overdose of caffeine... It's not the first time it's happened (although this dude was shoveling spoonfuls of caffeine powder in his system like it was sugar) and it won't be the last, I'm sure.
I drink way too much coffee. Normal for me can be a pot a day... then I move to tea. I don't understand how I am ever able to sleep.

If I try to stop, headaches that would rival an earthquake hit me. If I keep going on I'm sure I'll get the shakes or worse. Don't even talk to me about decaf. ick.

I think it's time I consider "everything in moderation" as something more than just a saying -and maybe a new lifestyle choice.

God, I am getting old.

9 inch heels....

2010-11-13T10:37:00.000-06:00

Lets not even discuss the fact that these things are caution yellow and ugly as hell.... how do you walk on 9 INCH HEELS? I mean, aren't these normally called stilts?

If you so inclined to try to break your face- here is an article about how to purchases these abominations...

Naked....

2010-11-11T14:48:00.001-06:00

From one of my favorite shows... coupling (on the BBC- not that fiasco NBC put out a few years back...)

never leave your glasses where others can get to them...

2010-11-08T22:08:00.000-06:00

especially when that "other" wants to sing and dance to Elvis songs in the dining room...

Rescued Chilean Miner sings Elvis on Letterman....

2010-11-08T12:05:00.001-06:00

worth it just to see the joy on his face and dang...the guy CAN sing him some Elvis....