Like the old days!

Cruisin' down the highway, tops down in the Mustangs, headed to the Mendon Drive-In Theater! It's more than obvious that I am not a fan of convertibles, but sometimes in the summer, I have no choice but to LIKE IT and SHUT UP!

Kathy & Steve in tow...Mike, Olga and the kids are not far behind...



UGH! Messy windblown hair!


Happier than a pig in shit, I tell ya! He loves his convertible!


It was all worth it, to hang out at the drive-in (no...not making out, though I did PASS OUT!) We saw Hancock and Get Smart. I made it through half of Hancock and ZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! Not because it was boring, I was actually into it, but I seriously worked my ass off at work all day Saturday, it was a recipe for disaster to stay up past 9pm, when the show started! I don't even remember Get Smart...


It was totally fun, seriously...even though Paul and I were tired and beat. Being with our friends is the most fun, Kathy, Steve, Olga and Michael and their 2 great kids - some of the best company EVAH! We got home at like 1:30am, maybe it was 2am. I crashed hard when we got home.

I used to go to the drive-in when I was a lot younger, in Paola, KS. I think it was called The Midway, I can't remember. I remember many of weekends spent watching great movies back in the day. To be honest, I think that getting a new release was very uncommon, too!

This morning, I had breakfast with my Breast Cancer Sistah's Debbie and Penny. As always, a great time talking, reminiscing, sharing stories...Love these girls, love getting together, love hanging out! i will get pictures next time!

ShaZam!

OH, I love when I get Jessica Sprague in my inbox on Friday's! Today's Photoshop Friday was a SWEET trick for photos, she calls it her ShaZAM trick! Here you see a picture of a friend's little girl, is she not just the "cutest little dirty face girl", ever?

Before:


After:



OK, check out the Life's Burning World Tour t-shirts... they just came in! This was Paul, Steve and Brian's band back in the day. Unfortunately, they've all moved on in separate musical directions, but remain great friends. Read the t-shirt...if you don't get it, nevermind!

Front:


Back:


Tenant Update: Paul had a sit-down talk with the guy and told him he would give him time to sort through things, that he understands that it takes time [yeah, like the time it took to accumulate all that shit!?!] to get settled, etc. Paul also just reiterated the fact that we expect that they do remove at least 75% of their stuff to external storage somewhere. The guy did say he had been working a lot and we know that he had been doing all of the moving himself, he also said it's mostly his girlfriend who "saves" stuff. But that he would definitely work on things. Paul gave him until August 1 to see major improvement. [We'll see! I just want to point out that our halls in the front and back stink like hot musty old garbage, like a stench is in the air...]

I have the "biggest" balls in this house!

Well, I have a bigger mouth, that's for sure. (And I know how to use it!)

Scenario...remember we rented out our 2nd floor apartment about 11 days ago? Well, I'm not sure they are all moved in just yet, but I have a feeling they will rethink EVERYTHING they carry through their doors from now on! These people are NICE, don't get me wrong. I almost felt like a real ASSHOLE this time when I had to pull them aside to talk about the MASSIVE amounts of stuff they have moved in. 7 truckloads of stuff...2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, dining room and living room are wall to wall PACKED with nothing but JUNK...trash bags and rubber maid totes - we're talking pack rats here - REAL LIVE PACK RATS. We could BARELY get in the new washer, dryer and vanity in the apartment today because they barely had a walkway path to get through each room.

Paul is about to jump off the Tobin Bridge, I see it in his eyes. $3500 of money to go straight down the fucking drain from remodeling + new appliances - all gone to pack rats.

Now, I'm not saying they are dirty, YET. They haven't unpacked, but before they got a chance to unload the last of the shit in the Uhaul that they've had for 11 days, I had a not so nice conversation about their "stuff". I simply put it out there in a not-so-nice way...that they have too much stuff, that it's a fire hazard and that we would NOT allow them to live like this and they cannot live here if their stuff didn't get put in storage or whatever it is they need to do with it, but they need to DOWNSIZE. I said "I have the biggest balls in this house and I will NOT TOLERATE this kind of living in this 3-family home, rented or not and you MUST understand that I will not shut up about it until I see progress." Paul about died when I got started, because when I get to going, I don't shut up and I tell it EXACTLY like it is. He could NEVER say things like that to people. He's too damn nice, but I will be damned if I will watch 2 pack rat slobs ruin everything he's worked so hard for to make a beautiful home for someone. Not to mention that this is not only OUR HOME, it's his parents home as well.

By 10:30pm last night...way past our bedtimes...both Paul and I are stressed to the hilt, we can't sleep...we ended up going out to Uno's for a few brews, to help shake off the stress. I fell right asleep when we got home...thankfully. Insomnia takes over when I am stressed out and it's my worst enemy.

On a positive note, I started school last night, it was fun to be back in the classroom! The class I am taking is learning about using computers in the law office - applications, software, etc. Totally my kind of thing. Going to be a hectic 6 weeks, but well worth it!

BEFORE - from front of apt looking towards the back - the bedrooms, one is to the left after you walk into the dining room and the other is off the kitchen opposite the bathroom. (Click pictures to make them bigger)



THE PACK RATS: Please note that I did NOT go IN their apartment to take pictures, these are from the common areas of the house (back hall and back porch - I can't see in from the front, you have to embrace your imagination when I say there is a footpath between each front room to get through because totes and bags are piled up like trash)

View from back kitchen window looking towards the front living room: (Click pictures to make them bigger)



Back porch starting to fill up (how many freakin coolers do you need?) and the back bedroom, it's so full you can't walk in there):



I want to point out that these people have NO FURNITURE, persay. They have a bed a chair and a futon and some other small things, but not like HUGE furniture that eat up a rooms space...you get the picture about how much shit they have drug in. It looks like a freakin' warehouse. To top it off, it smells like freakin moth balls and it just smells dirty and OLD.

LEGAL ADVICE or just plain ADVISE, ANYONE???

On a positive note, I started school last night, it was fun to be back in the classroom! The class I am taking is learning about using computers in the law office - applications, software, etc. Totally my kind of thing. Going to be a hectic 6 weeks, but well worth it!

Happy Independence Day!

Hope you all have a fun safe day and weekend!

I'm am working today, tomorrow and Sunday, (and Monday at my other part time temporary gig)and then back to the grind on Tuesday - the rest is history...

I also start school Monday night at 7pm. WICKED COOL!

I'm sick of down pouring rain - have been caught in it ALL week!

I am taking Candice Stringham's SLR class through Jessica Sprague's website - BAD TIMING for me to take this class. I haven't even read past the welcome email. Plus there are assignments to do which require me to get off my ass and go do...crazy, but I'm not in the mood! Thank goodness the class material is available to me forevah!

Well, I'm off to the shower and get ready for work. At least it's somewhat of a short day!

Day 24-30 No Shopping challenge...

Well, today's the last day of the no shopping challenge! Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad. Honestly, I cheated a couple times, but the lesson learned here was that 99% of the time, I could do without and I did without! I'm going to try to carry on my challenge for another month.

I'm in a generally pissy mood today - it's been a really long 2 weeks, I need a break from work, but I can't get in a mini-vaca right now. I have been helping a friend do some data entry work on Monday's which is going well - we work from 7am-3pm. If I were at home, I wouldn't do anything here at home except surf the net and read my fave blogs, the news, my mail, etc.

My pissiness stems from the fact that I didn't get shit for sleep last night. I do NOT like my sleep interrupted and just as I was about to fall asleep (approximately 10:45pm) our doorbell rings. There is 1 thing in the world that will KILL my sleep buzz and that is the telephone. The 2nd thing is muthah F'n DOORBELLS! Especially when I have to trek down 3 flights of stairs to see who the hell it is!

Let me back up to Thursday - we finally rented our 2nd floor apartment to a couple. I don't know anything about them other than their names - Paul took care of everything with them.

Forward to last night - DING DING goes my doorbell, I start to panic, wondering who is at the door. I go down there and who is it? OUR NEW TENANTS! 10:45pm - with a van, needing the keys and they are moving some stuff in! Let's just say that they probably did NOT want to meet me like that - I didn't mean to be a complete witch, but the situation warranted it.

I didn't sleep well, I got like 5 hours sleep, if that and to top it off, I was panicky all day and by 230 this afternoon, I raced home because I felt like puking my guts out. I have no idea why...I slept it off for a little bit, I still don't feel good.

What I do know is that my stress level is about to spill over.

Day 15-23 - No shopping challenge...

Another week has passed and I'm still doing good about not shopping...GO ME! 1 more week to go!

Nothing exciting to share, really. I've had a very long week at work with one of my girls in the hospital for the past 6 days. I've tried to scrap to take me to a happier place, but...my creative side is bummed out.

However, weatherwise... this is what's rolling in right now! This is out my back porch.



OH and the wedding pics came out great...unbelievably, I'm just not in the mood to photoshop and share some of them yet. SOON!

Day 11-14 - No shopping challenge...

The shopping challenge has been going "ok" - I needed to get a new outfit as I am photographing a wedding today and it's pretty dress up, so I needed to pick up something nice to wear. Of course, I have dress clothes, but I'm fat and they are tight and I'm not going to do this uncomfortably. I already have to be outside in the heat, that in itself in enough excuse to buy anything!

So, I cheated a little. I'm still saving plenty by not buying "everything I want" - that in itself is challenging.



So, I got my hot little hands back on this BADASS camera (dust and all)! Of course I can't use it today because I didn't get the charger for the batteries in the bag, so I'll have to wait to play.

This is the first time I have done a wedding, but I do shots for an actor friend, so I'll be fine. The weather is good, the sun is shining, it's a 4pm wedding, the shots are all outside. One of my staff, her daughter is getting married today and my present to them was to do their portraits. They didn't intend to have a photographer at all, so I went all in, but made sure they understood that when I say have low expectations, to have low expectations, not that I expect anything to go wrong however, I am NOT a professional but am trying to learn and work on my skills as a photographer. Wish me luck!

Oh and Penny?

-9 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Heat Wave Day 4 and NSC Days 9 & 10...

HOT!! HOT!! HOT!!
Oh man, today is going to be a doozy out there! This is day 4 of our heat wave this summer. 96* they project for today, but I live right near the coast so it's likely that it might be a tad cooler, but I work up north and nowhere near the coast so it's deemed to be even hotter! YUCK!



2 of my most favorite people ever, Merle and Jeri had been vacationing New England and visited their family in Western Massachusetts this week and I got a chance to see them yesterday for a few hours before they headed up to ME, NH and VT. We met in Clovis, NM when I worked at Red Lobster and we've been friends ever since! They reside in TX now, it's been 4 years since I've seen them last. We had a great time catching up yesterday!



Made some fun Father's Day books for my dad and step dad this year. In early may, I had gone on a PhotoWalk tour of Boston's Back Bay and I printed out the pictures and made a handmade book for my Dads! I also made their Father's Day cards digitally this year, too! Here are the pics:

Day 6, 7 & 8 - No shopping challenge...

The no shopping challenge is still going good - avoiding stores makes it a lot easier, really. I have a small confession though...I took one of my individuals to a garage sale yesterday morning after I took her to the bank and I found a Bodum French Press. I bought it because it was $1.00!!! Obviously people don't know the value of these things. This one is a 32 oz. and retails for like $40. I couldn't help myself, I've been wanting one for a long time. It was used, it was $1, I bought it...send me to shoppers anonymous. LOL!


Made some changes around here to give my blog a facelift. I like the white color, layout and the new header! I remember a day when I couldn't figure out how to change my header on my blog - after all I had been doing html work for YEARS, but I could not figure it out! Now with all of my new knowledge with digi scrapping and more knowledge of PSE6, and of course blogger finally made it easier to add headers, I'm all set!!

It's been SO HOT the last couple days, I woke up this morning, made myself a cup of coffee and was sweatin' by 930am. GROSS! It's definitely going to be an inside day. I won't go out in this heat or the sun, my fair skin doesn't tolerate it at all. Looks to be that scrapping is in my future today!

Day 4 & 5 - No shopping challenge...

Been busy over here - The no shopping challenge is going well. I've had to fight a couple urges to go buy some "wants" and not "needs". But I did good.

Saw that in some places gas has hit $4.10 and I saw one for $4.19 today, too! I buy mid-grade gas, although for my car it's only recommended that I use regular gasoline. I hate hearing the pings and knocks, so I pay a little extra.

I haven't had much time to keep working on my "Green" scrapbook, since work has my full attention lately.

Went to my very first Red Sox game last night! WOW! What a ton of fun! I'll post pics this weekend.

MmmMmm! Man-cement!

David Cook BWE
by mjsbigblog

From: Lyndsey Parker

Day 3 - No shopping challenge...

HELLO Day 3!!

OK, so yesterday I had to go to the dentist for some dental work. I just want to point out that I am a total loser at the dentist if I have to have anything done that involves Novocaine. Yesterday was one of those days. But I won't bore you with the details of the dental work yet, rather I want to point out how I saved over $1000. OK, so like I said, I'm a complete loser at the dentist...I sometimes have to have Ativan prior to dental visits, I NEED the gas (Nitrous) or you are NOT coming within 10 feet of me with that needle and I need my ego soothed over, I wear sunglasses, I bring a blanket and I listen to my iPod during the course of all of this.

I used to go to a dentist, that I found through the Dental Relaxation Network - because they (the DRN) seemed to be the ONLY people who could put me in touch with any dentist that use gas. Prior to finding the DRN, I swear I had called a hundred dentists, asked if they cater to cowards (they all do, don't they??) and then if I asked about the Nitrous, they shot me down ("Oh NO, we don't use that stuff" - I guess they really don't cater to cowards, now do they??)

OK, so the old dentist I was using up until a month ago...they were about to charge me over $1,100 to fill 3 cavities - and that was my co-pay. What a crock of shit! At the time, I still believed these dentists were the ONLY ones that used gas...I even applied for ANOTHER dental loan through Capital One to help pay for this, to be added to the ALREADY $3800 loan I was paying off from a year ago when I needed some dental work done (4-quadrant scaling + root canal and crown)

Then my co-worker and friend, Gail introduces me to a new dentist, that was as gentle as could be, uses Nitrous and you don't even know you're getting a needle in your mouth...and she had a TON of work done prior to moving back to Florida last week and it cost her next to nothing. I had made an appt a couple weeks ago with the new dentist, met her and talked with her about my dental woes and I decided she was pretty cool and her office was great, so I scheduled my dental visits with her.

Guess how much 3 filled cavities cost me yesterday?? $75 was my co-pay! I actually thought it was going to cost more than that, but hey, I'll take $75!

If there is a dental heaven...I'm in it!

Day 2 - No shopping challenge...

Chugging along, doing good so far...but I haven't left the house yet, either. LOL! I added my cover and first page for my album, on the last post. I just edited to add. Check it out!

This "Living Green" book sort of coincides with my no shopping challenge, only because it relates to living more simple. The no shopping challenge is a learning process for me, I'm trying to learn that I don't need the latest and greatest and I simply need to save money (don't we all?). I have had "green living" on my mind for a long time and I just want to get better at it. I want to reduce the footprints I leave on the earth. Not because of global warming (I am not convinced this exists, really, nonetheless...), not because everyone else is doing it, but because it's the right thing to do as far as I am concerned. We have to take care of our earth, so that it will be strong and healthy, just like we take care of ourselves.

It's just like in the scrapbooking world...do you use acid free and lignin free or do you just use whatever? If you use whatever, the scrapbooks won't last as long...if you put a little extra special care into them, they will last for lifetimes to come.

Post a comment if you are following along with the no shopping challenge or if you are jumping in on the "...On Being Green" book!

......................................................................................................................

Green Living Journaling Prompt 2

As of right now, how green are you, really?

Day 1 - No shopping challenge...

Welcome to Day 1 of the June 2008 No Shopping Challenge!

You know how some of those people committed to a year of not buying anything new? They could ONLY get the things they needed (clothes, shoes, tv's, furniture, cell phone replacements, ipods, etc.) via Freecycle? I just could not do that. I seriously considered it at one time, made lists and lists of the pros and cons, and fought hard with my ability to have "will-power" for that long. Trying to commit to that for a year, I'd just set myself up for failure... I like to be realistic with myself.

I'm making a new scrapbook about "...On Being Green" and I am going to document how I do things now and try to change the way I do things... and then in a year, I hope to revisit the book to see how those changes have impacted me and my life and what my contribution is to living a greener lifestyle. it'll definitely be a work in progress book. It'll be an 8 x 8 book when done, although I am making the digi pages 12 x 12 right now (I can resize later) because I think this will end up a hybrid album.

If you care to join me on this quest...I will list my journaling prompts here as I go along...

..................................................................................................................................

Green Living Journaling Prompt 1

What is important to me in living more "green"?

Here is the cover and first page to my book:

Happy Birthday to me! Yesterday that is...

Hit the big three-six yesterday - woopee doo. Didn't do much all day except lounge around and play on the computer, then Paul came home with a dozen red roses and he also got me a kickass new point & shoot Nikon camera! What a great guy he is!
I played with the camera most of the day to have it ready to go out with last night. We ran out for a bit in the afternoon to do some stuff, came home and got ready to go out. We had sushi for dinner and met up with some friends to see a band that I just love! Here are some pics - they sorta suck because of the shitty lighting conditions and the drunk woman who we begged to take our pics! Literally felt crappy all day today, not because I drank too much (although the 5 Guinness's might have caused this), but just felt lousy. I got up with a terrible headache, stayed up for a bit and was back in bed quickly and slept til almost 5:45pm. Felt like I was in my 20's again!!


Tanya, Andrea, Kathy and Coleen


Tanya, Andrea, Coleen
Paul, Kathy and Steve


So, I am just about done with my 4 week class with Jessica Sprague - Here are week 3 and week 4 layouts. Both of these are from scratch rather than a quick page. I really loved this class and I highly recommend it to ANYONE who wants to learn digital scrapbooking! Honestly, it's the BEST $45 I ever spent! I can't wait to continue practicing my new skills and once I feel I've really got the hang of them, I'll take the next class she has to offer.





I have more layouts that I'm going to share, I've considered revamping my blog and adding some more elements and such. I want to get a photo album going for all of my scrapbook layouts, too.


So tomorrow kicks off the "NO SHOPPING CHALLENGE" for the month of June. I'm going to keep track of all of my "spending" and "savings" for the month. Basically, I hope to learn 2 things from this. 1. Saving money and living a bit more organically 2. Learning that I don't need all the latest and greatest right now and to learn to live with the things I already have. (Number 2 being the most important, so that I can be successful with number 1!)

By organic living, I mean that as in "being more simple, healthful, natural and closer to nature."

I've allowed myself to buy gas (I obviously need to get to and from work!) and groceries and I had to add in any other basic necessities...because if I need shampoo or tampons or deodorant and can't buy them, we have a problem. Basically, I am not allowing myself to buy things like shoes, clothes, scrapbook supplies...the kind of things I certainly do not need more of and can live without "the new" for a month.

I have to throw in one special clause though - because on June 4, I already had tickets to go to a Red Sox game. I've limited my spending to a certain amount for food and drinks and that's that.

So...without further do...let the no shopping challenge begin tomorrow June 1!

Starting June 1st...

With the cost of gas, groceries and everything else on the rise...I decided that I am going to challenge myself to a month of "NO SHOPPING". I know this sounds a bit extreme, but I am going to go back to basics - gas and groceries ONLY. I wish I were able to take public transportation to work, but my group home is far away from the commuter rail and no public buses come near the house...and honestly, even if it were, I'd spend less on gas in my car than paying $12 a day to ride the trains and $4 for buses roundtrip. My Civic gets great gas mileage, thus why I haven't been too much of a bummer about the gas costs - except that 2 years ago, I could fill my tank around $38 and now it's $48. So be it...whatever. I'm still not going to go buy a hybrid and I'm still dreaming of my STi someday.

My no shopping challenge comes from the desire to save money and avoid getting a 2nd job for the summer. I really don't want to have to work another job to make ends meet. No more clothes (I have more than enough, seriously!), no more scrapbooking supplies, no more junk we don't need, no more Dunkin Donuts coffee's - buy the coffee at the grocery store and brew it at home.

I vow to purchase only the necessary things we need to survive - groceries, cat food, litter, gas and whatever else I can't think of right now. But, no impulsive buying. Entertainment is going to have to be something free (at least for June). No using credit cards, either.

Cutting out the clothes and the scrapbook supplies are going to be the hardest. So I have until June 1 to hoard what I can! LOL!

Where can you cut costs?

DAVID COOK ROCKS!

Ok, so I've been on the wagon that believes that someone like David Cook shouldn't win American Idol because I didn't want to see him get sucked into some crappy contract of pop music - but ya know, I just love that guy! He is so cool and genuine and his story is so awesome! I am overjoyed that he won - I hope that he gets to do his thing and not what others want him to do in music. I'll be the first in line to buy his CD when he puts one out!

In other news....well, there isn't much new news, I guess. American Idol is over, now what am I gonna do on Tues. & Wed. nights?

Busy weekend!

On Saturday, my friends Kathy, Natasha and I went to Manchester, New Hampshire this weekend to the Creating Keepsakes Convention - basically it's a scrap-bookers paradise at a vendor faire. Everything imaginable was available! I spent a great chunk of money, but then I'd been saving for 4 months to go to this. We didn't take any classes - we just shopped and we walked and walked and walked. Tasha and I were so exhausted by the time we got back into town! Also if you're ever looking for a cool pizza joint in Manchester, I highly recommend 900 Degrees - it's very eclectic. The pizza was excellent! They're getting ready to build an outdoor deck for the summer and will have live bands playing and you can enjoy great food and spirits outside!

Then yesterday, I did a Photo Walk tour - it was AMAZING! I did the Back Bay tour this time and plan on doing the Freedom Trail next - Saba is so amazing! We walked and got a little history lesson, but the whole point was the creative photography tips. You all know I LOVE BOSTON and I love taking pictures down there! I snapped a good chunk on the tour, but after it was over, I found myself on the 50th floor of the Prudential Tower taking pictures of Boston from above! It was a pretty clear day, so you could see for miles! Best $11 I ever spent! I also really enjoyed being by myself, too.

I'll upload the pics to my Flickr this week. I need to weed out and edit some.

Digital Scrapbooking...week 2!

OK, so I finished my LO for week 2 of Jessica Sprague's Up and Running with Photoshop class. (Much better improvement over last week!)



You might want to think that I actually made this (and last weeks) from scratch, but I didn't. See we get a quick page to start with and we added certain features (last week was a picture and a grungy frame, journaling, learning ways to adjust and rotate text, adding an element, etc.) and this week we built on what we learned last week and then we learned more about picture adjustments and alignment, brushes and titles, etc.

BUT, I think in today's email we do in fact learn to start from a blank slate. So you'll get to see more creative work from scratch. This was the part I couldn't wait to dive into, was the blank slate layout.

I know how to use templates and when I'm in a creative "slump", templates provide me the sketch I need and all I have to do is fill it in, like coloring when I was a kid. I did this template as part of a challenge for Lori Boka's blog - she has excellent templates (that I recently found!).




OK, off to go to work, have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all you Mom's a GREAT day!

It's official!

Yep, I am going back to school! It was a goal of mine for a couple years now to get back into a certificate program (it compliments my B.S. in Criminal Justice) for Paralegal. Obviously, my diagnosis with Breast Cancer last year shredded my plans...BUT, come hell or high water, I'm in and nothing is gonna get in my way now!

I officially start July 7th - I am taking 1 summer class to get it out of the way which leaves me 8 classes to take from Sept-May. I'm already registered to take 12 credits (4 classes) this fall, too.

Pretty excited, yet nervous to go back to school at 35 yrs. of age!

Digital Scrapbooking!

I've dabbled in digi scrapping for a little bit now, but I usually get frustrated and quit because I don't understand what I'm doing in Photoshop when it comes to making layouts. I've probably spent hundreds on digi kits and I know I've spent way more than hundreds on programs for my computer - only to use them for the same ole, same ole of cropping and editing photos.

BUT...I decided to take a digi scrapping class by Jessica Sprague (one of the most fascinating digi instructors that I follow...) For the most part, her tutorials have been helpful, but I still never understood the basics of digi scrapping to begin with, so knowing how to make a brush or put a frame around a picture didn't exactly help me out in the long run.

SO, I'm in a month long class now and I did the first week lesson today and here is the LO that I completed for week 1. It's obvious that I need more practice, but I'm proud of this page I did about my Smokie.

American Idol, stolen cars, shots, gas and grocery stores

Yeah'ok - who watches American Idol?

Of course I LOVE David Cook the most, but I don't want him to win because I don't want him to get sucked into a shitty contract with pop crap music (it's NOT his style) - I want him to get out NOW so he can go make his own album, just like Chris Daughtry did!
Then there is Jason Castro...love the way he sings, but he needs to be sent home with a Jack Johnson CD and learn to do that kind of thing - he'd rock at it!
David Archuleta - great kid, totally fits the AI mold - he should win for sure - but man is this kid naive and sheltered.
Brook White is so Carly Simon and I think she'll definitely make some albums, but she and Syesha are forgettable, really.

Ok, so sometime late last night, Paul's pops car was stolen. Now who in their right mind would want a freakin early 90's Buick Century? POS if you ask me, I just don't get it. (Especially when there is a Civic and a Mustang in the driveway?) Pops is just in dissaray. I don't know much more than it was stolen, and I haven't been downstairs yet to see what's going on. Who the hell steals an 82 yr. old man's car?

OK...I've been sulking for a few days now, too. Why you ask? I have to get a Hep-B booster shot because 14 years ago, I got the 3-series shots and I no longer carry the antibody. Have you seen the size of those freakin' needles? Good god it's gonna be a shitty Friday morning this week. I got a tetanus a week and a half ago, it was most dramatic. AND, I have to have 3 little cavities filled - bring on the gas, the ativan and the teddy bear - it too will be a bumpy ride (in June of course, because I need a freakin month to prepare for this one - emotionally and financially!) Don't ask how the hell I made it through Breast Cancer last year.

Totally not in the mood to go to work today. Just feeling lazy. But would you believe that I am talking myself into going because a new grocery store opens today in Reading! THAT'S RIGHT (for those of you in the area) Market Basket across from Jordan's/HD open TODAY! This is like a total highlight of my life because I hate Stop & Shop and Shaw's - and I hated going all the way to Middleton or Chelsea (never go to Woburn) to shop. Now I can hit the Reading store on my way home! SO EXCITED! No more paying high prices for groceries - JUST GAS!

Speaking of gas - GOOD LORD, I saw regular gas is over $3.59/gal already! Of course I'm on empty, too!

XOXO

Feeling better, fun stuff and Pictures!

OK, so I feel better. (Penny, I hope you do too!) Ear finally cleared up on it's own, but not without it's painful clicking yesterday...SHEESH!

My friend Kathy and I went to play BINGO Friday night - it was just too much fun! We were trying to find a place to sit, and it was crowded! Serious BINGO players were there! They all had their mountains of good luck charms and shrines set up just right at each table. Well, we ended up in the back part of the hall and Kathy and I found a table, but it was covered with jackets, but no cards. So Kathy moved a jacket to clear some space and this 450+ lb. woman about came UNGLUED that Kathy moved her coat without asking first. Normally, I'd THROTTLE someone in that moment, but I remained calm, because it was clear that this was a serious Bingo player going nutso about someone settling in on her table. Now, granted, she probably NEEDED half that table to sit at, but we were 2 city slickers wanting to just plop our asses in a chair and play some BINGO. She yelled at Kathy for moving her coat - she was sitting at another table playing cards while waiting for BINGO to start. I simply stated to the woman, no seats can be saved here and that there were plenty of room for us 3 to sit there. She kept going on and on and on about how Kathy moved her coat without asking. I walked up to her and placed my hand on her shoulder and quietly stated "It's just BINGO, honey, relax, if you didn't want your coat moved, you shouldn't have put it there!" I really thought she was going to eat Kathy!

She later chilled and ended up realizing that we wouldn't impose on her space. I think she realized she acted out - and I hope that the karma she induced on herself will come back to her 3-fold for being such a witch!

I later realized how SERIOUS BINGO is to some people. Just because they are in the basement of a church, don't mean they ain't NASTY! I was nice to all, because I needed the karma! When we took a break, Kathy and I went out for some fresh air, OH! you should have heard those women bickering and talking smack about people. It was like a scene of desperate old housewives at the bingo hall!

Neither of us won, but it was a BLAST! In fact we're going again Monday night to Quincy! Whatta life! Ya gotta love it!













I finally posted all of our Vermont pics as well. Click on my FLICKR set on the right side of my blog and check them all out! I'll post my scrapbook when it's done, too!

When does it go away?

About a week before I went on vacation, I lost my voice due to a little bout of laryngitis - it went away after 2 days and I felt fine. Then vacation started, I started doing a ton of cleaning and whattya know? I've got an allergy induced cold! It lasted all week and is still going on...sniffles, sneezing and by gawd, my right ear is STILL PLUGGED! I've tried everything from swim ear to hot water to poking my ear to just praying it'll go away overnight. I even went swimming, hoping that some serious water swishing would help. Nope, still plugged. WHAT GIVES? I know it's water in there, I can hear it and I'm slowly going insane.

Anyways...we did go to Burlington, VT last weekend - TOTAL DRUNKEN BLAST! Will update with pics and stories this weekend!

Going to play BINGO tonight, too! Damn, I haven't done that since about 2002!!!! I can't wait!!!

Feeling really bad...

I can't let go of a vision in my head that when I was driving past Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA yesterday, I saw a man slap the shit out of his dog, now I didn't see exactly what the dog did to deserve such a slap across the head...but it took all my strength to not turn around to go back and confront the man...I was not the only witness to this, because I saw the facial expressions of people walking behind them. I was really pressed for time, I actually thought through about the repercussions of what might/could happen to me if I went back...which could have caused a bigger scene.

I tear up at the thought of what I saw yesterday, tears rolling down my face as I type this...the slap wasn't like so bad that it hurt the dog physically, I don't think. But if the guy does that shit in public, how must he treat that dog at home? (If he's trying to train the dog, hitting is NOT the appropriate response to wrongdoings)

I do NOT like animal (and people) abuse. I do not like people who hit/hurt animals (and people). I've always said that if I could rid the world of the worst disease in the world - believe me it's NOT CANCER OR TERMINAL ILLNESS...it's ABUSE! I'd gladly lay down with the worst terminal illness to stop all abuse in this world.

But I can't stop thinking...Should I have gone back to ask the man what his dog had done so badly that he felt that he can hit it across the head like that?

Hindsight is 20/20 - so of course I should have gone back and advocated for the dog. But I didn't, so I've prayed about a hundred times that I hope that the higher power above will watch over that dog and all abused animals, and make it stop, and put an end to such undeserving abuse.

Sick of being sick!

Cold # 2 rolled through this week. What I thought was going to be a little irritation from spring cleaning - dust, cat hair - the usual culprits...turned into another full blown cold with itchy scratchy throat, coughing, congestion, sneezing, headache, etc.

Awwww well, whattya gonna do? I'll recover and get over it, I guess. NOTHING shall stop me from going to Vermont though! It'll be a great picture taking excursion as well as hang out with our 2 friends Steve and Kathy, drink beer and eat ourselves to high caloric levels!

OK, so I watched JUNO - Great movie - although it hit close to home in a LOT of ways.

Spring Cleaning Day 3

I am still undecided about painting. Yesterday I was all hyped up saying YES! I would paint (as I was cleaning the room) and by last night I was like...well maybe another time...

I did get our bedroom and the other small bedroom cleaned, tons more laundry washed and cleaned and organized (well, moved stuff really) the office. When I scrapbook, I make a total mess.

That's it...I'm going to buy paint...talking about it isn't going to change the room color.

12:45PM EDIT: Yeah, um...I choked on painting. I'm just not going to do it this week and that's final. Off to watch Juno - I haven't seen it yet.

Spring Cleaning Day 2

Well, I accomplished a LOT yesterday by getting everything done I said I was going to get done. Back porch and hall is clean, front hall is clean, took out a ton of trash, the back hall and front hall steps are clean all the way down, I washed a ton of laundry and I made kick-ass fajitas and chocolate chip cookies, too!

Today, I shall attack our bedroom - would you believe that I am trying to talk myself out of painting the bedroom? I hate painting so bad, that I am willing to live with the maroon walls to avoid it!?!?!? I need to be slapped in the head!

It's only Tuesday and I said to myself that I would AT LEAST clean the bedroom of it's clutter and wash the curtains and bedding, dust, vacuum and then decide if I still hate it. (Which I am sure I will) But at least it'll be clean, free of clutter and ready to paint! I have to like make this decision by the end of the day today, only because I'd need to paint Wed or Thurs. because Friday night is a friends birthday and we are leaving for Vermont Saturday morning.

As for pictures...I forgot to snap "before" pics, can you believe that? you didn't miss anything, believe me!

OK...off to tackle the bedroom today!

Spring Cleaning has arrived...

...and now that it's here, I don't wanna do it! LOL! Seriously took yesterday to lounge and relax and scrapbook, organize my 650 pictures that I ordered from snapfish (YIKES! 650 is a TON of pics!) and was pretty much a bum. I needed that 1 day to just chill, but I knew yesterday I needed to plan on getting my shit together to clean and organize and let's not forget the dreaded project of painting our bedroom this week.

We're NOT slobs, in fact we're very clean and organized 90% of the time...but over the winter, we let the back porch collect all the shit we don't want to put away like all the Xmas stuff, tools, stuff we take out of the house (like decor we're sick of), etc.

So today's plan of attack is to clean out the back hall and porch and get the Christmas stuff put away, and create a relaxing little area out on the porch for summer. Then I need to clean the front hallway area that has collected winter coats and stuff and Paul's work stuff and a bunch of other random shit.

...OFF I GO! Do we need before and after pics? I SHOULD THINK SO!

I'm a pear - in more ways than one!

You Are a Pear

You are independent, intelligent, and a free thinker. You can accomplish great things, especially when you do them on your own. You are direct, honest, and sometimes even a bit brutal. There's not much that gets in the way of you and your ambition. While you are hard nosed, you do have a much sweeter side to you. It takes times for you to soften toward someone, but once you do, you'll be their friend for life.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

Mini vacay coming soon!

Saturday April 12th 8pm, I'll officially be on my mini spring vacay. I'm not doing anything exciting - unless you think that spring cleaning is exciting...and painting and reorganizing a couple of rooms to be more useful.

I rarely take a lot of time off at once...I'm more of a long weekend kinda gal - take a short trip somewhere for a night and come back or hang out at home and watch tv, scrapbook, go on little photo journey's. You could say I hoard my vacation time!

But I actually took this time off for 2 reasons: 1. de-stress from work and 2. spring cleaning. We threw a short trip to Vermont in there at the end on the 19-20th. Going to go up to see the Magic Hat Brewery and eat at a place called Bove's - Bobby Flay did a Throwdown with this guy - Bobby won, but the Bove's should have - their lasagna looked INCREDIBLE! We actually had been wanting to throw in a weekender in VT for some time - we finally decided to just do it and go.

It's also like that time to get the back yard in order and cleaned up and ready for summer get togethers...time to get the car clay barred, washed and waxed, too! It's gonna be a long spring cleaning!!