tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16108913399863553602024-03-13T12:24:27.213-04:00Another Day in the Lifepushing forward a day at a timeCindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-157673142073597812012-04-13T22:02:00.003-04:002012-04-13T22:02:43.278-04:00Ted's StrokeAs I mentioned about a week ago, Ted had a stroke in early February. He had laid down in bed on a Friday night as we were getting ready to listen to our youngest son's (Alex) radio show from his college. Even though he's been doing a radio show for a year and a half, it was going to be streaming live for the first time and we were so excited to be able to listen to it. <br />
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After Alex introduced himself and the first song, Ted rolled onto his side and said, "What's wrong with me? What's going on?"<br />
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I thought he was just messing with me, so I asked him what he meant, then looked at him and saw his face all contorted. I went over to him and again thought he was just trying to trick me, so I told him I was going to call 9-1-1. After the fourth time I said it, I added, "I really mean it this time. I'm going to call right now."<br />
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And I did.<br />
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The dispatcher was absolutely wonderful. He told me to take Ted's hands and have him squeeze mine. He couldn't do it. Then the dispatcher had me ask Ted to smile. He couldn't do it. The dispatcher said that the ambulance was on its way. I hung up, got a robe on (yes I was in my nightclothes), went to the foyer to unlock the door and turn on some lights. When I got back to the bedroom, Ted was "with it" and asked me what was going on. I told him the ambulance was on their way. "For WHO???"<br />
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"You."<br />
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"WHY???"<br />
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"You've been out of it for about 6 or 7 minutes."<br />
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He couldn't believe it.<br />
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When the paramedics got here, they were just great. They talked to him, checked his pulse ox and blood sugar. Both were fine. They asked me to describe what happened, and for those of you who know me in real life, you can attest to the fact that I gave a very detailed description. They asked him questions and he could answer them, however his left side was numb. <br />
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At some point during all this, I called Ted's brother Tim and told him what was going on. They live behind us and over a little. I figured that they would see the lights of the ambulance and wonder what was going on. Tim answered with "We're listening to Alex right now." Then I had to tell him why I <em>really</em> called. I asked him to call their sister, who lives next door to us, and fill her in since I was going to be leaving in a few minutes. Patty, Tim's wife, called back and said they'd go to the hospital with us. I appreciated the offer immensely, but by this time it was 10:30 pm and I wasn't going to drag them out of the house at that hour. I thanked them, then told them I'd keep them informed.<br />
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They were getting him ready to transport him to the hospital, and once he was on the cot, he asked the ultimate question....<br />
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"Are we going code three?"<br />
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I said, "He watches too much <em><strong>Adam-12</strong></em>."<br />
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They all laughed then and said it was probably going to be code two.<br />
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For those of you who are not <strong><em>Adam-12</em></strong> aficionados, code three is lights and sirens; code two is just lights.<br />
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They left, I got dressed, made a couple of quick phone calls, stopped by my folks' place to pick up my mom (a retired RN who is a wealth of information), and got to the hospital not long after they did.<br />
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We were in the E.R. for quite a while, during which time Ted had blood work done, and a CT of the brain. Some time after 1:00 am, the E.R. doctor said that his blood work was good, his CT scan showed nothing unusual, and he felt that Ted had either a mini-stroke or a seizure. He also said they were going to admit him for observation. <br />
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Mom and I left shortly after that, and after I dropped her off, I came home and noticed on the caller I.D. that Alex had called a couple of times and knew that he would be concerned that we didn't answer the phone. I texted him and asked if he was still up. He was, and then he called. <br />
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I had to tell him what happened, then he said he was coming home even though it was the middle of the night. I told him to let me know when he got here, and at 3:30 am, he woke me up. <br />
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The next day we went to the hospital and Ted had a migraine. When he gets migraines, it's not pretty in the least. Alex went back home and got Ted's c-pap machine (for sleep apnea) and brought it in so Ted could get some good sleep. After a while, Ted started throwing up, which is normal for him when he has a migraine. After that, all he wanted to do was sleep.<br />
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Later that night I talked to him on the phone and he said he felt a lot better. He also said that there were some tests planned for him, but they hadn't told him when they would be.<br />
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Sunday morning he was released and on Monday morning I made appointments for an echocardiogram, carotid artery ultrasound, and an MRI of the brain. After that week of testing, we had to wait until the following week to get the results. The neurologist told us this....<br />
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"You had a stroke. Not a mini-stroke, but a stroke. However, it is recoverable. It will just take time."<br />
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Ted was a little upset when we left, but we sat on the bench outside the hospital and talked a little. I told him that this was the best news we could have gotten and he looked at me like I was crazy. Then I said that it was NOT an aneurysm; it was NOT a tumor; it was NOT multiple sclerosis; this was the best possible thing it could be AND he would more than likely completely recover from it. I told him we needed to start getting back to "normal," so we decided he could drive home instead of me.<br />
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Since then he has changed medical doctors and is almost finished with physical therapy and occupational therapy...two more sessions of each. The neurologist did not suggest the pt/ot, but the medical doctor did. It really has helped.<br />
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However, his left side is still numb and tingly. He also gets tired very easily, but it's much better than what it was. He used to take 4-5 naps a day, now it's only one.<br />
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He's a little on the grouchy side at times, but that's to be expected. He gets very frustrated at times, but again, that's to be expected. He still can't work, and that just adds to his frustration.<br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: red;">Ted and Alex at Alex's fraternity chartering ceremony in October 2011.</span> </strong></em></div>
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I just keep in mind that it could always be worse.Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-42131271978469056672012-04-08T10:54:00.000-04:002012-04-08T10:54:01.105-04:00Happy EasterMany many years ago when I was a little girl, I would arise very early so that I could see what the Easter Bunny brought me. I was very fortunate, as there was always a full basket along with a couple other things that were not candy.<br />
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One particular year, it was still dark when I woke up, and I was WIDE awake. After surveying my basket, I sat on the living room floor with a couple of pieces of candy and tried to watch TV. Way back then, in the stone age, there were not very many channels to chose from and those that we had were not "on" 24 hours a day. However, I came across a show that I watched very intently. It was the story of Good Friday and Easter, being done in a very dramatic way. I was mesmerized by it. Although I knew the story, I'd never pictured it in my mind. <br />
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This show had me in tears several times, seeing how badly Jesus was treated, how unbelievably painful it must have been for him and the other two who had spikes driven through their hands and feet so that they could be attached to the crosses. I couldn't understand (at that time) why no one would help these people.<br />
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To say this had a profound impact on me, is an understatement.<br />
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And then he came back to life. Wow. <br />
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Happy Easter everyone!Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-61157092345626786592012-04-06T18:48:00.000-04:002012-04-06T18:48:50.175-04:00WOW....it's been a LONG timeI was so surprised that my blog was still here and hadn't been deleted by the "powers that be." Maybe that's a sign that I should get back to writing, hmmmm....<br />
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Well, let's see...since I last wrote, our oldest son is still a student working on his second Bachelor's degree at a MAJOR university in northeast Ohio. He really enjoys writing and is hoping that this second degree will take him in a direction in which he will get to use his skills. He also has a girlfriend that we have met and like.<br />
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Our younger son is finishing up his junior year at a much smaller liberal arts college in east central Ohio and is an officer in his fraternity. He's working on finding an internship for this summer and is majoring in Communication. He has gotten a lot of experience in TV, radio, and print media at his university and really seems to enjoy it.<br />
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The hubby has had a rough time as of late. In early February he suffered a stroke. We've been told by several doctors that it is a "recoverable" stroke, but as of yet, he is still numb and tingly on his left side. He's doing physical therapy and occupational therapy twice a week now and that seems to be helping, but he is in no-way ready to return to work. Hopefully in the next few months we may get a "return to work date" and that will make like much easier.<br />
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I am still teaching and still enjoying it, although a few more snow days this past winter would have been nice. We only had one. We're just finishing a week of spring break and I think that we'll all be better for it. We (the staff and the students) all needed a little break. We have state testing coming up in a few weeks, so we'll be working hard on that as soon as we get back.<br />
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I've gotten into discovering my ancestry over the last year or so and have come across some interesting photos. This is one of my grandparents when they got married in 1931. Grandma's sister (my Aunt Louise) and her husband (my Uncle Jim) stood up for them when they got married.</div>
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That's about it from here. Hope life has been treating you well!</div>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-70703737150286430142011-03-20T17:45:00.003-04:002011-03-20T18:23:16.679-04:00Counting My BlessingsAs you may or may not be aware, Ohio's governor is attempting to get a bill through that will do away with collective bargaining. For some reason, he feels the need to aim his focus on police officers, firefighters, teachers and all other state employees. Unfortunately, the bill has gone through the Ohio Senate (it passed 17-16) and is now in committee in the Ohio House of Representatives.<br /><br />If this bill (Senate Bill 5) passes, as it is currently written, teachers' salaries will be reduced to $17,000 to $32,000 a year. This is a DRASTIC cut for many teachers who have moved up the pay scale to the $55,000 level. Our district tops out at around $62,000 a year for teachers with a masters degree plus 32 additional credit hours.<br /><br />(Do not EVEN start on the bit about being paid during the summer and having 3 months off. If you've done your homework, you know that argument is ridiculous.)<br /><br />We currently pay $20 a month toward our health insurance. I can't tell you enough how fortunate we are to have such good health insurance. So far my cancer episode has cost almost $200,000 and I've only had to pay about $5,000 out of pocket.<br /><br />SB 5 states that we will pay 20% of our insurance. I know what it costs the district to insure me and my family (a little over $17,000 a year), so I've done the math. Instead of paying $20 a month, I'll be paying close to $300 a month.<br /><br />I'm still not sure of the correct interpretation, but I may also lose my seniority AND my continuing contract.<br /><br />Of course we'll also lose the ability to strike (I don't think the teachers' union in our district has EVER gone on strike, and I doubt they would, so quite frankly, this is the least of my worries).<br /><br />So, if SB 5 passes as it is written, I will have my pay cut by over 40% AND pay 15 times more than I am currently paying for my health insurance.<br /><br />As you can imagine, morale in schools throughout the state of Ohio is pretty much at an all-time LOW.<br /><br />And this is just how it will affect me and my family. And we have two kids in college right now.<br /><br />I have not checked out the issues that law enforcement personnel and firefighters will face. The people who think nothing of putting themselves "in the line of fire" so to speak, will also have to take cuts, as will ALL state employees, because the governor wants to balance the budget. (I wonder if he'll be taking a cut in pay and paying more for his benefits too? I'm not EVEN going to get started on that!)<br /><br />We are making cuts in our family budget, in case SB 5 passes as is. We usually order pizza every Saturday night (the pizza shop knows who we are as soon as I place the order...yes, we're regular customers), and we haven't done that for a few weeks. We usually eat out once (or occasionally twice) during the week, and we haven't done that for several weeks. On pay days at my school (every other Friday) we get to wear jeans. On the opposite Fridays we also get to wear jeans, but we have to pay $5 to do so, and the money is donated to a good cause. I'm sorry about not always contributing to the cause, but I'm not spending $5 to wear jeans. I haven't done that for the last two "pay-to-wear" jeans days. We were talking about going to Myrtle Beach this summer, as we haven't been there since 2006, but we're not going now. We'd also been sort of kicking around the idea of maybe thinking about beginning to look at a new vehicle. Hahaha...NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW! There are other ways we're trying to cut back, but I won't bore you with the details.<br /><br />Even with all this going on, I know that I am truly blessed:<br /><br />I have my family, and for the most part, everyone is healthy right now. (Ted is dealing with some knee/back issues but we hope to get them resolved soon.)<br /><br />Our sons are doing well in college and learning about "life," in addition to academics.<br /><br />We have vehicles that run well and are NOT in need of repair (*knock on wood*) at this moment.<br /><br />Our cats bring us so much joy and laughter, that we can't imagine what we ever did before we adopted them.<br /><br />Things will work out, one way or another. If the worst possible scenario comes to fruition, then at least we know we won't be going through it alone.<br /><br />As I've said all along in my adult life...things could always be worse. That's why I'm counting my blessings.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/265/DDA8273397C85B648C4B061AEBBD852D.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-33351564594615477102011-01-12T18:52:00.005-05:002011-01-12T19:42:29.901-05:00Skip This Post if You Don't Like PicturesThe Christmas season has come and gone, but of course I feel the need to share some photos with all of you.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBPGF0LvI8XCSPkc_rmh12w5Rk8wV6ZWpCZqHZW-7cvYRTRhn85o2tkKVI_ZYOGU9-ECIe8rzVe2BKNN6Y2sF4OUigqCjBZg4nb6XxUWm_5sp115SJqvWNGPRUMAsCch0AQjWHAVPMKlK/s1600/2010.12-25-10.002Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561457667571757714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBPGF0LvI8XCSPkc_rmh12w5Rk8wV6ZWpCZqHZW-7cvYRTRhn85o2tkKVI_ZYOGU9-ECIe8rzVe2BKNN6Y2sF4OUigqCjBZg4nb6XxUWm_5sp115SJqvWNGPRUMAsCch0AQjWHAVPMKlK/s400/2010.12-25-10.002Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Pepina was just lying around Christmas morning, waiting for the festivities to begin.</em></div><em></em><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0uHVQ53p2qbMQQoTwXMQfLAHklPRshIA043Cj_wtlHfFMYojKJ1F-CqfdnqGu-oq_3oMDI7Z7tqzub8dPbWfQbHCy5JwjnVOfjdrR2t-9oYBox3Qn221L5flXOXC2p6g9hRRvBaisTG1/s1600/2010.12-25-10.005Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561456261591240114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 339px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0uHVQ53p2qbMQQoTwXMQfLAHklPRshIA043Cj_wtlHfFMYojKJ1F-CqfdnqGu-oq_3oMDI7Z7tqzub8dPbWfQbHCy5JwjnVOfjdrR2t-9oYBox3Qn221L5flXOXC2p6g9hRRvBaisTG1/s400/2010.12-25-10.005Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Oliver was getting impatient and kept jumping up on the coffee table, then down, then repeating.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKNcdBsbX9Jrz2Hg95pYX0rxGgyex9nB9Z6r7XcICjtZ9H0ndurjmJgLXsHXaoodf1Qvuf0_jgdMRog6zzBjAYfMgdxNufCS8Ol6nhgC8QHDn3SQnOtXegXdV4-0HhoY4F8RlfXSAt3MX/s1600/2010.12-25-10.006Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561456260634897762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKNcdBsbX9Jrz2Hg95pYX0rxGgyex9nB9Z6r7XcICjtZ9H0ndurjmJgLXsHXaoodf1Qvuf0_jgdMRog6zzBjAYfMgdxNufCS8Ol6nhgC8QHDn3SQnOtXegXdV4-0HhoY4F8RlfXSAt3MX/s400/2010.12-25-10.006Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Pepina finally expressed a little interest when someone opened up a gift.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSKzAYT3lyQfJurdY0DO9Gmgro5WNhoufZuOCkQaX32usPSY0osPWYzTcKzUWRR2nNgm22LDaHv_8DrsJYRjUSU4ZkJHRGyVyaDBNtEC8sS8_HZAFgJQ6r2tn6AbjLatKeX3FktFGCTTL/s1600/2010.12-25-10.010Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561456253831897042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSKzAYT3lyQfJurdY0DO9Gmgro5WNhoufZuOCkQaX32usPSY0osPWYzTcKzUWRR2nNgm22LDaHv_8DrsJYRjUSU4ZkJHRGyVyaDBNtEC8sS8_HZAFgJQ6r2tn6AbjLatKeX3FktFGCTTL/s400/2010.12-25-10.010Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Marina was not about to get up off the packages, NO MATTER WHAT.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJZw7UXcc0GbDhOA4S3l_EqZYNf8dFcos_P7oZ_HnYqkQpbEg9DMaWoX7LPIMJU6a_3FD4gfS-2cKdIYctTM9sVCnfOp4mVOsRrYeNRxNbIHoSVrtsVU1kPE8SJzVcEhhlbCYQXQdBzyw/s1600/2010.12-25-10.011Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561456250544942226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 340px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJZw7UXcc0GbDhOA4S3l_EqZYNf8dFcos_P7oZ_HnYqkQpbEg9DMaWoX7LPIMJU6a_3FD4gfS-2cKdIYctTM9sVCnfOp4mVOsRrYeNRxNbIHoSVrtsVU1kPE8SJzVcEhhlbCYQXQdBzyw/s400/2010.12-25-10.011Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Pepina liked watching Joe open up his gifts.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GPZGdDel3QEbOLOlTFw5qLkkVVLL9lFMcZLtpFSOSd2vn4UWJy9aQXOEK8phYDR284POwMchiA8FQTpvE0jJADpLifdKaCcT0uNeWVYNaQzkLPIzZqHAMk90IhAB8e-MF8rnfWKzKTni/s1600/2010.12-25-10.018Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561456247131768626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 368px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GPZGdDel3QEbOLOlTFw5qLkkVVLL9lFMcZLtpFSOSd2vn4UWJy9aQXOEK8phYDR284POwMchiA8FQTpvE0jJADpLifdKaCcT0uNeWVYNaQzkLPIzZqHAMk90IhAB8e-MF8rnfWKzKTni/s400/2010.12-25-10.018Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Cousin-to-be Cathy, Cousin Damon, and my mom enjoying a deep conversation on how to create the world's most perfect wine slushie.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aqXZhn6B5wGgvlGZoa8k3GX_EqCtEdxi5j42Cn5VQ7TRbwlvFmpOKltcm3-DcJWITK4OI5OnTSfWDQd2LbC7yM6hW6BwQMo6ZwR9kHLEmWJXRQn3WwQXnQMJMn1zzkkOBpimcNsLy5r0/s1600/2010.12-25-10.019Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561454807750603922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aqXZhn6B5wGgvlGZoa8k3GX_EqCtEdxi5j42Cn5VQ7TRbwlvFmpOKltcm3-DcJWITK4OI5OnTSfWDQd2LbC7yM6hW6BwQMo6ZwR9kHLEmWJXRQn3WwQXnQMJMn1zzkkOBpimcNsLy5r0/s400/2010.12-25-10.019Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Cathy is holding Cousin Davene and Rick's newest family member, Rafiki. He's a very sweet kitty.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-s6-vNKUqkeEwpSHTK6ssTUUCTTuN3fRP5zLF8AGLHd58P0ab57C1rG2CRBCTCmEQB7MDPuresXa0kV2sVQ8zxuVwN5n67z3mBkdQZymrB38bp4gfIv_HacHCssJpV3V1QAdlyTSJdJd/s1600/2010.12-25-10.024Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561454804626788162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 305px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-s6-vNKUqkeEwpSHTK6ssTUUCTTuN3fRP5zLF8AGLHd58P0ab57C1rG2CRBCTCmEQB7MDPuresXa0kV2sVQ8zxuVwN5n67z3mBkdQZymrB38bp4gfIv_HacHCssJpV3V1QAdlyTSJdJd/s400/2010.12-25-10.024Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Once dinner was over, Alex and Joe continued their Christmas break hobby of catching up on their sleep while my dad talks to Ted (out of the picture).</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhwJa3SQTph1wqUHcGCXruGAGsWoKoX4il057VlVtHuE-FG9lOB2mHozdDWsfBBqZ8jVrpWLtsIsgdIFhXBBLD45WBz2AZvcZvOg_LpIeKFlju_0L3Oxs4ssYNWBoraIaoaZVK0FAvlwK/s1600/2010.12-25-10.030Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561454798843736562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhwJa3SQTph1wqUHcGCXruGAGsWoKoX4il057VlVtHuE-FG9lOB2mHozdDWsfBBqZ8jVrpWLtsIsgdIFhXBBLD45WBz2AZvcZvOg_LpIeKFlju_0L3Oxs4ssYNWBoraIaoaZVK0FAvlwK/s400/2010.12-25-10.030Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Damon decided that the kitchen towel Cathy received could be better used as a loin cloth!</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDezoIkH7CJr_KvbMswTbxWuerxdc2lMHw9EcBB3sYPPdg1_K4SHAWcfnqWZ05vm51TCUo2Ppav0yBPOIww0upgX_a7GOeXkLg_-83hD6whgpEQRLiTSfWpealyyfWzuay_kix3m71p9p8/s1600/2010.12-25-10.031Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561454790618634530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDezoIkH7CJr_KvbMswTbxWuerxdc2lMHw9EcBB3sYPPdg1_K4SHAWcfnqWZ05vm51TCUo2Ppav0yBPOIww0upgX_a7GOeXkLg_-83hD6whgpEQRLiTSfWpealyyfWzuay_kix3m71p9p8/s400/2010.12-25-10.031Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Davene and Joe, just chilling out.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA20QEatH05nybEJRwq1ARqkg5jcOk8v6nIpWQFK8TNIT-aD4MSh996Hw1nz4DC5VannANZAatfqaZC9LK7Ehf0-xVi7cWv5dsM3U-C8Qd9FYytHzfi6s5J81X8S6wtij4P9HuKJx-hAPY/s1600/2010.12-26-10.005Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561454785113161458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA20QEatH05nybEJRwq1ARqkg5jcOk8v6nIpWQFK8TNIT-aD4MSh996Hw1nz4DC5VannANZAatfqaZC9LK7Ehf0-xVi7cWv5dsM3U-C8Qd9FYytHzfi6s5J81X8S6wtij4P9HuKJx-hAPY/s400/2010.12-26-10.005Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Christmas is always fun, but it's even more entertaining when there are children involved! Sister-in-law Patty and Niece Holly are getting presents ready to pass out, while Jamie watches daughter Kaylee, and Niece Kelly plays with Great Nephew Michael.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUePi7-bxozCR0K7n-dLjhxXm5m6VFWv17z7qJZsTsV41v4rJca_C7Q86Z7vqSz_XOtoSW2ymRWNfrXjZnzuKLt-pLNIRxIo-Lh-bQBSMl9OasI17lfrCEwSEklEvVPPyJAnDYknLj2Qw2/s1600/2010.12-26-10.006Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561453245798340930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 357px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUePi7-bxozCR0K7n-dLjhxXm5m6VFWv17z7qJZsTsV41v4rJca_C7Q86Z7vqSz_XOtoSW2ymRWNfrXjZnzuKLt-pLNIRxIo-Lh-bQBSMl9OasI17lfrCEwSEklEvVPPyJAnDYknLj2Qw2/s400/2010.12-26-10.006Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Michael is looking at his various gifts.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOCrutg93BQjf8ex2w49AKY8lYMXN9qQWlsFC86WnbRWWyj0FhbFcC9vNRv-v_xRDQv-nlyUpWysPUtKXhdAJ46025nzVoVTjMXmSolCe2UCAPFq9GyrZjbVEqwzeZTpey4OGVVB77ovQ/s1600/2010.12-26-10.007Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561453241298300242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 347px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOCrutg93BQjf8ex2w49AKY8lYMXN9qQWlsFC86WnbRWWyj0FhbFcC9vNRv-v_xRDQv-nlyUpWysPUtKXhdAJ46025nzVoVTjMXmSolCe2UCAPFq9GyrZjbVEqwzeZTpey4OGVVB77ovQ/s400/2010.12-26-10.007Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Sister-in-law Patty, brother-in-law Tim, and Niece Holly enjoying the holidays.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oPfRtCYBkLvdNLIB18RCc7deub04Y53IVZU_tMR0xNkkz8ZayxxxjWVv3CebA4a_yIfqaDUks7Mc70RTjq5V1l3FDpzeaMOibSShQr-ugKojBPu-6kH6h-30zvgZMBnSE3KP6eN-ysS-/s1600/2010.12-26-10.009Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561453235698396962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oPfRtCYBkLvdNLIB18RCc7deub04Y53IVZU_tMR0xNkkz8ZayxxxjWVv3CebA4a_yIfqaDUks7Mc70RTjq5V1l3FDpzeaMOibSShQr-ugKojBPu-6kH6h-30zvgZMBnSE3KP6eN-ysS-/s400/2010.12-26-10.009Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Sister-in-law Peg is wondering where the crayons are so she can start coloring in Michael's coloring book.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfTI1lY0Tnv1aho76lDds6JSTy0LHhqtpViGdApR2Cmvwprnb5ZuHJlSKMlCAhZAigU_XjDekw7MixrSfPHaGGBzYvMiwVQ1jYvln6PpmH9Qg7u607OWb6R0lYh0udIKb5SEx44zaJgej/s1600/2010.12-26-10.011Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561453229925416098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfTI1lY0Tnv1aho76lDds6JSTy0LHhqtpViGdApR2Cmvwprnb5ZuHJlSKMlCAhZAigU_XjDekw7MixrSfPHaGGBzYvMiwVQ1jYvln6PpmH9Qg7u607OWb6R0lYh0udIKb5SEx44zaJgej/s400/2010.12-26-10.011Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Alex is holding Holly's kitty Sophie while Joe watches.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU67DQCkxfCgnsMCoRwG-r9vIFRypaCRieibaYUc113KotUmBujl8oDR-yodU6v9WdbC0jXJHexB9opJcTh4Wb0fhJwnoK2aIkIGkoPg8TMk-6y75y3OgIQGo3ZK3zPCQgg6cwENRY_4dY/s1600/2010.12-26-10.014Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561453227186085778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU67DQCkxfCgnsMCoRwG-r9vIFRypaCRieibaYUc113KotUmBujl8oDR-yodU6v9WdbC0jXJHexB9opJcTh4Wb0fhJwnoK2aIkIGkoPg8TMk-6y75y3OgIQGo3ZK3zPCQgg6cwENRY_4dY/s400/2010.12-26-10.014Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Then Joe took his turn with Sophie. Isn't she a beautiful cat?</em> </div><div><br /><div></div><div align="left">And that pretty much sums up our various Christmas celebrations! How was your holiday season?</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/869B3E62EFB6CE7A834237541E1F6B70.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-72083432493959934882010-12-23T13:55:00.014-05:002010-12-23T16:43:55.810-05:00Since I Last Posted...<div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">...we celebrated Thanksgiving with Ted's family,<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-bG8_G6pM1ZsXbb2uzfplg6Kd2J25nqPVm_uG-2xPGNrZCGaIH1jTvB5A-gmi1wH1nGIatP5m3Jlu-YMZGUcZQvkFOFhjJVKvVXf2SkE7gVa72KjtQ8d4k_gsNFAT1TvNDBRA3CBxsw6/s1600/11-20-2010.004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553954836258857586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-bG8_G6pM1ZsXbb2uzfplg6Kd2J25nqPVm_uG-2xPGNrZCGaIH1jTvB5A-gmi1wH1nGIatP5m3Jlu-YMZGUcZQvkFOFhjJVKvVXf2SkE7gVa72KjtQ8d4k_gsNFAT1TvNDBRA3CBxsw6/s400/11-20-2010.004.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">Our great nephew Michael, sitting next to his mom, our niece Kelly.</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z0_qLXOiIpeDWNdsbVJWDmu1X1scpU-85MH5zivsAlTwl1sA7Tbc5zF02c7rFmCb5vrgG0AQdR-YhJj6XaKUpS4orbF_rB6bxddLELqcswDiVaWyxqELZ13fcVaWLAVkHTH-Px2tobmu/s1600/11-20-2010.003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553954833198492194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z0_qLXOiIpeDWNdsbVJWDmu1X1scpU-85MH5zivsAlTwl1sA7Tbc5zF02c7rFmCb5vrgG0AQdR-YhJj6XaKUpS4orbF_rB6bxddLELqcswDiVaWyxqELZ13fcVaWLAVkHTH-Px2tobmu/s400/11-20-2010.003.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">Our other niece Holly, her mom (Aunt Patty), and Joe, who was taking the opportunity to catch a few winks.</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DiGaRxfjTS78SWHVlkagpH_Cv5PHHb_NFiPhGBAPt63ZG6ad_K3NXOaYvT0Yvu5GqpZowRIwVwLESqGAKu5aYYRCEZDttGX-7a19clcnk4vQezc5CBKnO2Xc9pkA6sbhUfobc5lmrzzl/s1600/11-20-2010.002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553954828528450690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DiGaRxfjTS78SWHVlkagpH_Cv5PHHb_NFiPhGBAPt63ZG6ad_K3NXOaYvT0Yvu5GqpZowRIwVwLESqGAKu5aYYRCEZDttGX-7a19clcnk4vQezc5CBKnO2Xc9pkA6sbhUfobc5lmrzzl/s400/11-20-2010.002.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">Our brother-in-law Mac, and Alex, who is giving me a "look" about who knows what.</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH4OF4aNG-KjviKmM1H6Lc4NJTEsIItitsl8BAJAwDQb4FCBPhQu0AKYDgr5RSQrt_3ZA_jw16Qs1iHTJTDcVMsSentGrazXYRTuU82H9TmMdqpzv4zZv9vhPj8vpn_RBz3eb5XUV-Dn9/s1600/11-20-2010.001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553954824628285826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH4OF4aNG-KjviKmM1H6Lc4NJTEsIItitsl8BAJAwDQb4FCBPhQu0AKYDgr5RSQrt_3ZA_jw16Qs1iHTJTDcVMsSentGrazXYRTuU82H9TmMdqpzv4zZv9vhPj8vpn_RBz3eb5XUV-Dn9/s400/11-20-2010.001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#000099;">Joe, my other brother-in-law (aka Uncle Tim) and my other sister-in-law Aunt Peg buttering another roll. </span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553977252466105586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bSO5Pvw0IRwYJZ_0l_2xrG-3em-z5FR2Iluj-WTtlpkQUeLtwDyNp9g7RwQgDfmcXvwUHwJAP9A6fNvNi7_Weabu6V5S7JpwNRGgq53B1IxVcvBIxULM8EL6ltA6oDSMjSRcDN5bpYtr/s400/11-20-2010.006.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="color:#000099;">After dinner Alex passed out various copies of his college newspaper so that we could all read some of the articles he has written. What a way to entertain guests! Fortunately, he's a good writer, so it was okay.</span></em><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">...celebrated Thanksgiving with my family,</span></p><span style="color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553977827822184034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FmQGqqbfOWgcrivs8mDtMEC4gGaj-PXpJXUIHA1DBFI14uwjYzREr76s6xxBxB7daSC0Ccey4jKN9kfquU3DVjMg0xeGgWuEwdzw2ZbsC_kPiuGksJlrHBdT7qRnb09-LT1v3Y6o0eZ_/s400/11-25-2010.001.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>My Aunt Dolores, cousin Davene, and her husband Rick, getting everything ready on the table.</em></span> </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553962178232974194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZj6rI2bizlGWS0yyK5EiIoQXqfgyNHSdqCKSBs1m3_JUWEvt34iB5ela6nlNckPBAkrSffSQdpqcDHLjnxwgfCbD8t74MTVUYQ_tcuDs_Wwy9SoZhM5IBdVcCVhaR1rwxlmEuNunD70W/s400/11-25-2010.005.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">My cousin Damon, his fiancee Cathy, and Davene, watching my mom take another drink of her wine.</span></em><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553961360199092274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTMAuXdlbVWx5-0jSzeVsSSaFnikCkbHelGUylbENkgZmX8jf_YsUyiabi3eX9pCcB7kyazET94WEcSeWG_9TcQWC-HF4ymMbOHIfljt0iL8uFCUiyyrOWo41G6XhrbkzbgRB8hnMiAfU/s400/11-25-2010.002.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Davene, Rick, and Alex...we're all too STUFFED to move!</span></em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553962170902613394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbknUH7G2pq3CZGFjvYopM5TCc5kc3LreF3pbbsHKKibLCB1RJ-eEgCSDwoPbXx_wPJMRSSbZs3-XWsiFTpTKJ4yo1QE2NJpfJOY3cVzFif39hbt-aqLVYvSIszaCE0PpzEGSv7YviFgs/s400/11-25-2010.004.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">My dad, my mom (telling another story), and Damon.</span></em></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">put up the tree and decorated it (but now the lights don't work and I'm in the midst of a Plan B, but wish I had a little more time to implement it),</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">made some holiday candy,</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">went to our school Christmas program (which was held at our high school gym and there were LOTS of people there!),</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">finished Christmas shopping,</span></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553971102896245842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVzvcfGt5AN2Bl6omiufYLqULoAwVaCV8czmwN5onIOUyNno1GdvMLgWOcllNAI5OPWWPsg4pBEPFWQ0BLxi8n3qdN0YU6aEAyfil8paEVEGj-ZaE89Tl1s9gr5ymIdOH031RHQBje68f/s400/002+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Gift bags for my Reading Mastery students, in front of the pink tree they decorated AND the static cling they put up.</span></em></p><p align="left">did a snowman craft with my Reading Mastery students,<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553981671944235122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K53UZWLCddKrdeDzu5TpZczv3yN1oUoSp29JAEbtGRJT7mysfZpnx_U2N9QVc3-zSCLA3eSJjXxZhtDPtarLM-sZV9_6vlftDQztG5AsBjEhvOv2Y33NOP8LAIpr5s611OGdDgs_hsjd/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="color:#000099;">Believe me, this was a "fly by the seat of your pants" type project. Even though I had it all thought out in my head, I'd never done it before and learned a LOT if I ever do it again!<br /></span></em><br /></p><p align="left">attended Ted's work Christmas party (and had a very nice time),</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553978671317424194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 334px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FQVwhdNdTsqTRnPm1rOFXE4hNDpCw0rJwGgs3oLjkBt66fo1Z5wnfEv8w3q6Q0jWugggMKewOGVmUO6opM_JJB6-lXLBMRAT7K5kxjCp12z-5fIu33Z3nE7grfrokCbVEMvCIZ_YyXn2/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553967521204651362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX5iP2U_4ISGwLBD_IhgqdPzMotOzdk07t_Y3Zzt1PVQggNBBaheOyAS6AEcd3pMAS-ZU4usw9QBgYl4SIBRbweVVjFQFARrCtxD3DIaq6Hju_rKw1AgPcUnoRLUVSlXN7AavfXJuQg0l/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553979156047041778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 335px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWa3cwUWgi6nQKnruD4-DjytCrdeKMbz6awMDhIUUg4Y_JPrPvpBaFWZgJbgy5KrFr2M6-KBsOXldZS5L-8RahcsFXOfZ7kdicoi9uUOUHolx7TTYeKxlhBtcwM93RzUfv6axMz57YGya/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553986404203469282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqZkm8Fqd5XLHQ1AlU8pvTTw-cVYeDIN8ecuzHv4eGzlULdZHSXjvZD20-BGp7qnlf0yLXrA0EqV8QaDhrlwess9XrdYm4AQkehrnYqqECoP3T-ZlmoWhXdypNj-1WEUDboFiLTHd9_mw/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553986402496379362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 365px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hfobt-5JVoOjWkGZlkKQCx5z34WX2gnYKDuMFqZph8Qc3iKXoM5iIo8Sw0ztC816vAZOjNFRKuTr7xo0qXBWegf_OisAL0VgDC90J9MRwQnwDVkwcIcJx2amuu-ciicCywPEBvwnsRM2/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">This Turtle Cheesecake dessert was nothing less than absolutely FABULOUS!</span></em></div><br /><span style="color:#000000;">got our annual Christmas letter written, cards addressed, and sent,<br /><br /></span><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">began baking,</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">and wrapped almost all of the gifts (just about 5 things to go!).</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Whew!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Later today I'll finish baking and wrapping, then maybe even clean the house a little. I've been letting that go, as I just haven't had the time to take care of it. Joe and Alex are both home from college and although I just LOVE having them home, I've gone from cleaning the kitchen a couple times a week, to cleaning it about twice a day. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">I understand that Christmas is coming in two days, whether I'm ready or not. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">I'm really looking forward to spending time with the family....that's all I need to make Christmas special.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Merry Christmas everyone!</span></p><p align="left"></p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/92/A4BA91F3F7D91E1ACF29388FE2C8FD78.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-33659151694858531882010-10-31T17:47:00.004-04:002010-10-31T18:39:37.926-04:00It's Been a WhileYes, I'm still around.<br /><br />Life has sort of gotten a little busy at times, and I've not been blogging. I hope to get back to it soon, and be much more consistent about my posts.<br /><br />School is going okay. It could be better, but I'm trying not to get all stressed out about things I have no control over. I've been trying to leave work "stuff" at work and enjoy my time at home. I'm also not staying after school nearly as much this year. Those days of staying until 6 or 7 pm, are OVER. It's not that I don't love what I do, because I DO! It's just that the more of myself that I give to my job, the more that's expected of me. I don't mind giving 150% all the time, but it gets discouraging when it's not noticed or appreciated, and then expected.<br /><br />Like I said, I absolutely love what I do...it's so rewarding to see the sparkle in a child's eye, and a huge smile when they "get" something. It's like they've just discovered a new world! I work with some second graders on a computer program called "Math Facts in a Flash." It breaks basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts into levels, and a student needs to complete 40 facts correctly in 2 minutes or less in order to go on to the next level. Even though I work with them on their facts, their regular classroom teacher also schedules time for them to work independently on this computer program. When I see these kids in the cafeteria when I have duty, they just love to tell me that they passed a certain level. I try to make them feel like they've won the lottery, because many of them don't get much recognition at home. I love seeing their reactions when I gush over them passing levels. That's what makes my job so great.<br /><br />So anyway, it's not the kids that make me frustrated, it's the other factors.<br /><br />Alex turned 20 last weekend, so we told him that we would take him and a couple of his friends to dinner in a city near his college.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340755727638898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 395px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b9sh2GyUbbOI_oKcf9iwOWDf7T7O83uRbiCZFLj3uLxvvEvaEz5501PiBGLXXxBIOww9zEdLqLmPXel1OVNLmr8dz8aJHsKM6sB77MFfjPPgcxwnADLKuU50NoMb2m2lIBRP8j8hyGRp/s400/049.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Megan, Tino, and Alex...The guys decided to wear ties. Something about watching "Breakfast at Tiffany's" a few days earlier. Yes, I realize his hair is VERY long. I'm trying to pick my battles. And for the record, he's scheduled for a TRIM the day before Thanksgiving.</span></strong></em></p><p align="left">A few days after we told him this, he said that he invited EIGHT of his friends!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340761152964786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS07XYQ2-AQKnmF1QRxXrHNBexOTsq4M72KlqLU1UGCyGyKNRWtZhYsvgflsfY0svcTQ3HIbWx7ZKe5XesnUADeA41ozg-5XYytCc8xWG-17XnI4PcfYWND5AIyn7rJTWAgmLNGkAP42F/s400/052.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>John, Dan, and Emily...they agree that Alex needs a haircut!</strong></span></em></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340742860959970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LfLMMKC4IepxnRUVBGLE_fS9m5eMPnDXCoyDPVCXYVwqv5eXfep3on7MmElGeSfJDLQw2g5rIZ5WMElD9j0Zo_3S27ap9rLFQPQbMij7VOgb7czWlWV5LQJliEqNQMIbJGzmOfIwmx-1/s400/060.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">Alex has made some excellent choices with friends. These young people are all very ambitious and I was impressed with their selections of majors and minors. </span></em></strong></p><p>Apparently I didn't make it clear what was meant by a <strong><em>couple</em></strong>. Alex wanted to go to Olive Garden, and as it turned out, only five were able to make it, but we had a very nice time. Joe was able to join us too. </p><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534340770060434386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExnIhdiabxaCCo8f6jw8scCY7XPIDV-637oJvl1dxOeOSRLeii0THhL7HrQjq-vzmE5tuWW7ie95NgokzREX6kh4ZUqhKn_ZabvUnP7uLu8uTWr-zu0DOP4ZV1jR5x8jRc-O2DpWIClhQ/s400/055.JPG" border="0" /><br />Joe returned to college for an additional Bachelors Degree (this time in Journalism), and it's going quite well for him. This has been a whole new experience for him, as he got his first degree (in Business) while living at home. Now he's living in a dorm on the campus of the second largest university in Ohio. He's actually adjusting quite well.<br /><br />When they both come home for the same weekend, it's really entertaining. I've walked in from school on a Friday and have seen them both at the kitchen table, with their laptops open, sitting across from each other, discussing music and radio. They both have weekly radio shows at their perspective campuses. Joe has his own 2 hour show on Monday mornings, and Alex co-hosts a 2 hour show on Tuesday evenings. It's as though they can finally have actual discussions about things and not get into a big altercation.<br /><br />So...life is going okay right now. I'm going to try to be more diligent about updating here. That's my personal goal for the rest of 2010!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/92/A4BA91F3F7D91E1ACF29388FE2C8FD78.png" /></a> </div></div>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-79488863384526632052010-09-19T17:42:00.010-04:002010-09-19T19:12:39.306-04:00Family<div align="left">My cousin Damon (and his fiancee Cathy) hosted a family gathering yesterday. It was absolutely WONDERFUL to get together with everyone, including the extended family! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXHTXI_kgggkNcubuVfgVQLW-MHQJ3v_Mb6KU5cxDFd75jOPK5vexsxJasIoIrwTY4CSBwri3Ddp6qBKW1hoP4R2xzwztvERmbvdzcpRS8qvwKZZBq6pFuY8gOTsJWD4YNX1CmOU-MBob/s1600/061+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518756183273814290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 348px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXHTXI_kgggkNcubuVfgVQLW-MHQJ3v_Mb6KU5cxDFd75jOPK5vexsxJasIoIrwTY4CSBwri3Ddp6qBKW1hoP4R2xzwztvERmbvdzcpRS8qvwKZZBq6pFuY8gOTsJWD4YNX1CmOU-MBob/s400/061+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong><em>Dean, Davene, Aunt Sandie, and Damon</em><br /><em></em></strong></span><br /></p><div align="left">It also gave us the opportunity to talk about my Uncle Medie's passing last spring. Uncle Medie is my mom's brother, and he and his wife, my Aunt Sandie, moved to California in the 90s. Their older son, Dean, moved there even earlier than that. They are definitely transplanted Ohioans! Dean and his wife Mara, along with Aunt Sandie are visiting Ohio. They even brought a friend of Dean's with them.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKysoL85m4vK6sFV3Vt5fH3iSntxHG1e0tfsjxk_sdBgbRBJk9nKulxrGGk74LxPwNxPujRiNvYxLk26oU5FcE_X6Kn9bqaPr2dGdhZusuLX7IXfeehKDHC6Z_kaLJkwU8JFj3goRZOIcn/s1600/057+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518754575534108306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKysoL85m4vK6sFV3Vt5fH3iSntxHG1e0tfsjxk_sdBgbRBJk9nKulxrGGk74LxPwNxPujRiNvYxLk26oU5FcE_X6Kn9bqaPr2dGdhZusuLX7IXfeehKDHC6Z_kaLJkwU8JFj3goRZOIcn/s400/057+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> <span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>My mom, Aunt Dolores (my mom's sister), and Cousin Patty</strong></span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HSC91GBmjY_GhgdbY9Z81RnFn16mBHyU_P-WX_H1coTNPTSljtjgempZSAB6kqNjJA3Ze4KjwloSZeezKZZkSatQ7YQBBi5U1uFq0pj-tFdvws2aWDsSDCDhQ8P6_jcm6FLXhdt-e3Jv/s1600/055+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518753033199802290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HSC91GBmjY_GhgdbY9Z81RnFn16mBHyU_P-WX_H1coTNPTSljtjgempZSAB6kqNjJA3Ze4KjwloSZeezKZZkSatQ7YQBBi5U1uFq0pj-tFdvws2aWDsSDCDhQ8P6_jcm6FLXhdt-e3Jv/s400/055+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Dean and Cathy (Damon's fiancee) looking at old photo albums</span></strong></em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></strong><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div align="left">The day was gorgeous! Sunny, but not too hot. The food was excellent! Would you expect anything less from a bunch of italians? </div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518751423336976002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AL705t9iaIDdQ6pQuNGJ_ehT_xlTQ0gZbwTCrvIvVsYQ1AqZqQm2OQ17zBqOZ6sGk4CMgRoYhIKiNQ11q6XVIc61XzcytSFjpqSj6zgLPcBFmL8bz9rFiBwgzGkmikvrwGkHbAptaYNE/s400/049+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">This is just a part of all the wonderful goodies we had!</span></strong></em></div><div></div><div></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />The beverages flowed,</div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518749411107324674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKxBJb8_U1eZzXgy4UX8568frCEdTeZIFysBVB2ERrL-x_GrC0Zl96TJ_koPmCRJrkqBWpJEmpk_j_imICoyDVcF6EdVNGwrrJhWCKKgU582gfTNkkUumeu9UtPLlDeNM_YUF7HQ4Dh4q/s400/039+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">There was plenty of water, pop, wine, and beer to go around!</span></strong></em></div><div><br /></div><div align="left">games were played, pictures were taken,</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518748095689657922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOl8wiO2wX05NpeSRzSr9x31YI-gA_8TSJjEXc53CyfvONyTwM9p2QV2Bpz4cPTwI86BqXrzoBIN7qZARzeVqVPx5Ti3zFaA3HUL12lYts9jEZLygkLfdhwiEArk9-R_3i14EteBRMgwL/s400/034+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /> <em><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Cousin Damon, Ted, me, Cousin Matt</strong></span></em></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left">a birthday celebrated (my mom), </div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518751437858360450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC-BRKyNtDWCfr-icD6XeUeHUFHujuJ5InvmjbmBTJozdzwfNviVHJCt54f9aZhWE5Wyw95nc_02TDTSrAeRe5THnQKx7YkvrSA8pTnUc9wIGge5zx8g5yYTjwn9x-zGzR_MAbE_jjxYm/s400/050+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518751455381568514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCJFE-C3RFm_0p-O843xvt7mBm8lwW6ekrrOj62Ypo2hy8OLENbrP-SdzHpWK3OLQerjSW4IKtkRXFNpdVLHD0IxDH7uBacwkzBi13QNYP4BHHw5diT5s8icSJiS9idXyda4fVrC1tuAw/s400/051+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /><br />and we all got caught up on each other's lives,<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrZuKUTs_dueuMqFf_AC6_DVbfBWR3S51Dnm-L8n5Kw5ruV5cwta2UYv0MLMbJZeG_bIppa0iIYuOWG4E2YCAd16LhmTqOFr75Z2fHWaKoze7iMCC6fow8t0brOW6bb-pyZZf_oa8shIp/s1600/043+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518749482992019250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrZuKUTs_dueuMqFf_AC6_DVbfBWR3S51Dnm-L8n5Kw5ruV5cwta2UYv0MLMbJZeG_bIppa0iIYuOWG4E2YCAd16LhmTqOFr75Z2fHWaKoze7iMCC6fow8t0brOW6bb-pyZZf_oa8shIp/s400/043+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong> </strong></span><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Patty is trying to tell a story, and being italian, she has a glass of wine in one hand, while using her other hand to convey her thoughts.</strong></span><br /></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Bojv9AmdoU6lKTRCp2fVV8JHwgJLI45NQAUZa-DXHVnrYSu-AVuHC7FqZunV994CQ3MRuvaOqJ_iOtGQF0GKJin0zmzyd5b8cRItnyaO12HDrqRgtoepOjVvkr-QseYUICh7bgv1hDea/s1600/042+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518749448649388562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Bojv9AmdoU6lKTRCp2fVV8JHwgJLI45NQAUZa-DXHVnrYSu-AVuHC7FqZunV994CQ3MRuvaOqJ_iOtGQF0GKJin0zmzyd5b8cRItnyaO12HDrqRgtoepOjVvkr-QseYUICh7bgv1hDea/s400/042+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"> She's still working the story, the wine, and the hand.</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm_xg4F32rpZmn4N3A5NaYc71s74dSaFb345jRKAAm2GFug11S835cGQRLeISxu259uYycOcSwXvKDv0N_7575uNuvq5mUSGQ6ZiKArbog0A7jgcPOh9BCdYztMl9bu6OxJi_QXJ_qa2t/s1600/041+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518749438600812882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm_xg4F32rpZmn4N3A5NaYc71s74dSaFb345jRKAAm2GFug11S835cGQRLeISxu259uYycOcSwXvKDv0N_7575uNuvq5mUSGQ6ZiKArbog0A7jgcPOh9BCdYztMl9bu6OxJi_QXJ_qa2t/s400/041+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span></strong><em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">As the story winds down, it's important to note that not a single drop of wine spilled. She doesn't like to waste important things like that.</span></strong><br /><br /></em></div><div align="center"></div></div></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">in addition to talking about Uncle Medie.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518753011269835170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuM-n-Fem_CnnkxHy9HJPcZ7f4j1Kw-Putu2RB0ZnLb8Wy8yAkrKAEKglufI4JXuRt9rc3U0-weFcNtR7jF0xQxNpNW2l5x5FBo52fxdtrYyu7ORPvutpBkWUN1aD6AIS8lQfyT5Pt4fH/s400/053+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518759024004560754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQP1cu7fOk0WYagBk6HfSzR1-GE6DqNhYvajUKIJR28_Y0ntqXDwu85B4U1JOagTIjpMuj3SIe3WM68BJQEKC0XIeIHcZULTuW39HyLziiYJkU1OFRTbnU_VUZwuJvuQWR2XlCtieWbFBx/s400/054+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /><em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Damon has a plaque in his backyard, in memory of his dad. Uncle Medie was a very special man. He's missed and thought of every day.<br /></span></strong><br /></em></div><div><em></em><em></em></div><div><em></em><div><em></em></div><div align="left">It was such a great day...we don't get together often, but when we do, it's like we haven't missed a beat!<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518756207433937266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 279px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89Hqx0inr7KjC-E-46rlooCIgb56dTtliiv5W0eyz2rzbeFK-dFwfbtYcCTXmNoU0kCxGHROtndBja4DzyRhDBDQRACAVTFK1yRIbZpvKKjtUdtAVOvWMeGKclirEpsjd4lL4pZkquLYm/s400/062.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><em><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Me, my mom, and my dad</span></strong></em></p><p align="left">It's all about the family.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/FC90006C2D17614C0E03AF1680AC912E.png" /></a> </p>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-23773864034621826572010-08-18T20:12:00.009-04:002010-08-18T21:22:03.018-04:00Well, it's Just About OverSummer break.<br /><br />As of next Monday morning, it will be over.<br /><br />Let's see....what have I done all summer?<br /><br />Read a few good books? <strong><em>Check<br /></em></strong><br />Spent time in the pool? <strong><em>Check<br /></em></strong><br />Stayed up late? <strong><em>Check<br /></em></strong><br />Slept in? <strong><em>Check </em></strong><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>Spent WAY too much time on Facebook? <em><strong>Double Check<br /></strong></em><br />Cooked dinner every night? <strong><em>Um....not EVERY night, but <strike>most</strike> some nights</em></strong> </div><br /><div>Thoroughly cleaned the house once a week? <strong><em>I thought about it. Does that count?</em></strong></div><br /><div>Organized all the photographs around the house and categorized them by when they were taken? <strong><em>I'm about 5% finished</em></strong></div><br /><div>Worked on all the school things I brought home for the summer? <em><strong>Hmmm...where did I put that stuff?</strong></em></div><br /><div>Sorted through all the Christmas decorations and got rid of the things we don't use? <strong><em>Are you kidding?</em></strong></div><br /><div>Had a great time when a group of teachers and our coordinator came over for lunch yesterday? <em><strong>Check<br /><br /></strong></em></div><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><div><em><strong></strong></em></div><div><em><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506911993956239650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4WoFGh_E27hYdHvTjA3dNjRWmpf790hw47SpEC-yvff3gX8kWOfP_3gDwahyphenhyphenwMvQSnBDuZZ9NSYtXOjPxsbvr4ZRJTndJ1yrZoRKq6k6VyFsvhtMYMXj4ytTmcaeClv3KXZDdlMSyWLP/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></strong></em></div><div align="center"><em>This is only some of the food that everyone brought to share. Everything was SOOOOOOOO good!<br /><br /></em></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506910886212197074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 346px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1iJXyjWyrgwIpB01Wpx-qulxTbKqctUXNQbDBe_6P97NYSxijN69wX2MAWYcSnR6Mj1zwYV423jsjb5wC400YvFc_njt80bMuvuEAR8k9OhG8cMgPMVoWs17Jj8PWRZpp_NYKoNrGiZU/s400/006.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p align="center"><em>Our wonderful coordinator, lovingly referred to as King Richard. Check out those baby blue eyes! (Yes ladies, he's single, and quite a catch!)</em></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506910869499450466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 359px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cFFdEv3eFubSld1WWPd5QHaxYg6z532dGoXl2zoL2veZ0vDel57VQkUHSwxBX5InVTY-cUue4LP-UuxAHOfWcuUuPmvbGPa4XQymYm1RbJNixJFoilUHS3MaoTyLooSUu6rdvKZlJap0/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Diane and Ashlee are discussing the future of education in Ohio...or was it the latest Kohl's ad they were talking about?</em></p><p align="center"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506913092260618226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 342px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqi3Y4d-QSUU5qo25uxWn2oPSqDEgymAgF3K551gEdtBlXQXo6wcX1ghyWonE1g2pxR9eveAd5jwcebcwU2EdtEaq_0xyiqBlJTtrfw1y-Q8q57miig_1wyDw5-oSjqbfMGWRvDZahcaV-/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></em></p><p align="center"><em>Jill is quietly wondering to herself, "when can I get out of here and get back home to my wonderful husband?" (Jill's still a newlywed!)</em></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506913908520280754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9WyLyE9VjgA5X5gYeN278H6ncDH-VVuRkdIsn8D1u4aORnD1HB5DMqB66Ea-6Br4DOWjdNFurUE6Gvn5WwgE4h_lznE9uSNe7miN5Xy1UAwMv7wraziHQLJ0UZMBQGuK0__Di7OYMYCx/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Shannon is shooting Diane a look because Diane asked me if I was taking yet ANOTHER picture! (Shannon's good at giving looks. Her 5 year old daughter has taught her well.)</em></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506913106811079570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6Gkz55OAPWRrC1IOYHyKOKhR-2ll6Z9SmOH5VwpWN2U-PXIzkFCGSBDurQRNyLytF3yLWhF2FTZR_4gr5wJ8SM-4j3Wb8sZqMFCZJb96HhUCXR1XoyQI7VurY1kt6FhoyASp6R3E2MS8/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Ashlee will probably never forgive me, as I took a photo of her back. But hey, I was just trying to share an example of wonderful posture! (King Richard looks happy, as usual. I think he was talking about his dog or some other exciting subject.)</em></p><p align="center"><em></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506911988893680626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 382px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HmoeTi4tIIhVItF-NTpYWJg6U2x-tGrJc4plAlWTbAJrd_j5lb8iYdyXaJsq32hrVmigTv14pUZdr-7B8oa5JRpmKSnMpPTYtc0qFNUyU1YnjREr7DqfwqEcuPT6gGRugCTx4CImR9V8/s400/009.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Jill, Staci, and Lexy, hanging onto every word that's being said. It must not all have been good, because Staci is looking a little concerned. Lexy was attempting to look interested, but she just got ENGAGED, so her thoughts may be drifting to wedding plans. (Hey Lexy, do you watch "Say Yes to the Dress?" How about a roadtrip to NYC????)</em></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506912002340311378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 354px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu0z_hj7R7B5SWd9ZUVylfK-cDaUarm65xpjGUPOutbfHvw5tR6lTZ4FgNbFbmaaD6avlIihBfDoxm1pgHjV92WPwRgJhf5Nhj-eIEoE_gSz-T0m_b9bip8nCCs8to5-CmIudLX3-dQ6G/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Staci's feeling a little better, but King Richard is saying, "Are you about done taking pictures Cindi??"</em></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506910861808972642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 373px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGAf5BclyRGxnIaZceiE8bCcZzOfTVsMbXVkp0cIToaJh0offBGlblRXzZHPn5fuGB1Ydb9107rCqNsZuTNMMEKM90M91FHMPO-JyFQPfEMdSVzD4p9bnzVMF-rwvb9SniznFwxuxFveP/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Kris is thinking about the baklava that Shannon brought (it was absolutely DELICIOUS). Kris and I have shared a classroom for the last 15 years!! Fortunately we get along extremely well, and I've learned so much from her. She has the patience of a saint, and the kindest heart.</em></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506910852197874690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 388px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLAsAYaJruRswJIwNvibxXvNt2OjpVzfGM_OsooXTH3c6ybIqVQLWn9n_eC6lI8eDjwYhfspS1dnmp6Q4hmw6dI1TZGtEeFhJybD3zfzpo8Y5uVKM3P0VhV3ATkZiTJ2rCgQeg5u9IsCO/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Shannon is trying to tell King Richard how things are going to work this year, and he's having none of it. He's telling her that she WILL be doing after-school tutoring 3 days a week, ALL YEAR LONG. She's plotting her revenge at this very minute.</em></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left">I know it's only August, but I hope all of you have had a wonderful summer!</p><p align="left"></p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/265/DDA8273397C85B648C4B061AEBBD852D.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-70612877706766424792010-07-21T18:31:00.015-04:002010-07-21T21:31:49.442-04:00A Trip To Remember<div align="left">The summer after I graduated from high school, I was fortunate enough to go on a trip to southern California. My parents gave me the trip as a graduation gift, and I would be staying with my mom's sister, my Aunt D.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">I've mentioned Aunt D here before. She is quite the traveler of the family, having been to almost every continent (except Antarctica) several times, and since she lived in the Long Beach, CA area, was an EXCELLENT hostess!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">My friend Mary, who has also been a subject here a few times and was pictured in my last blog entry, also lived in southern California by this time and I was able to spend some time with her on the trip.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Aunt D made sure I had the WHOLE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SoCal</span> experience! Our days were filled with activities from early morning until late at night, and it was SO much fun!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">We started off with a trip up the coast. We stopped at the Santa Barbara Mission and it was really something. There are a fair amount of missions up and down the coast, and throughout my stay, we also went to the Mission <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span> San Luis <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Obispo</span>.</div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496506551815451218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE1PMLACw74ZW1vjOszzbxGQFCinv5SvQHjmROlRCX1l3RGzw6V4w4_0Ir5LFssuo3CWc_TW7GGhBmBeYjCi-xPVSrrf7FmbZGUk7W3c_Q5t9JBROIhOwIqMOS29Zq9kd0XRJucgLp6mZ/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+128.JPG" border="0" /> <em>Santa Barbara Mission</em><br /></div><div align="right"><br /><br /></div><div align="right"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496506547227638162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JVHlKJKQkVjwy9PtCz4IMWyALPOtVgSgfcwV9h4PQFwUM9kzxSE-hFC4zOIw_84uBm6cZd1pg8H-bn90e0PNIowkAVoal2b_iAaBWVOFJ35c9t2d-gKSRsnjJK0MqnSqnnjGp0SZjzx-/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+126.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><em>Santa Barbara Mission</em></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="right"></div><div align="left">We went on to spend the night in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Morro</span> Bay, where the fog was rolling in and left the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Morro</span> Rock looking quite interesting. </div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496506565761947330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDx7lIKdEQwnjamueOk_LMdxe5LjZVeXSRE0GVtMTsh-LHRdqZiNh0w_NdEg4ktPEuQWZ0CY2XCwtct9gmDBtMfGhjA8te5ofB7Od5kFt2g5Pmr8uolA6vrXI7pnYp9JA2IBaiV7ker0i/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+133.JPG" border="0" /> The next day we went on to San Simeon, where we visited the Hearst Castle. That was amazing! At that time the 3rd floor of the castle was private and still used by the family occasionally. We all kept looking at the windows, hoping for a glimpse of "someone" but saw nothing.<br /></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496521419983611650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY71qUV7n4be_cNAsaMwcV20cJh3cNUXaCageCh35UxRDRdoRBWl1jJwLfEUobKPd6J82CisA35xSL_lCb8H33Eqt8UamWyNOCY-ar5bMSxQzZ-ysVGGT1qCImmHV9nAW96brsxXUSZyys/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+135.JPG" border="0" /> <em>This was one of the outdoor pools at the Hearst Castle. It was GORGEOUS!</em><br /></div><div align="right"><br /><br /></div><div align="right"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496506569878867362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 335px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQW-bGsVo33NuoR8KZVQnAj3uE5CK8YGrYyC8rUgVgZd3z2N9I8nJGTC4hJMj7kGMXEwY2kPIBCWZalcHkaxPnP1Q754X1qVDw3OopgLQBmFD7_BoY_lt-lZRRyEhGzNWJqihp93_yu0f/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+141.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><em>Aunt D was taking a little break while touring the Hearst Castle.</em></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">We also stopped in a small Dutch town called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Solvang</span>. It was so sweet and quaint.<br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496506559171082002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqKVJPNTFXaZFoJ6dKRQf8KBAy5wvn1JZl5ofQaO6rSv56wKARtcdsSfKIc9NS9YWu1bLQ4jVffguCUuaIrxlH5uCS8LnLDbSXaP4ipkQT97C_B59YQISynCGkdELiitMu-KrpJzclnG0/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+131.JPG" border="0" />Over the next few weeks, we toured the Queen Mary (a famous ocean liner),<br /></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496507444696342162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqxJ10g-PpXk88hdAFFITosJeftuCocvx9l4UVjfNCFttH1lc2EO21gzLYo54IRYt3vdWZsqB24DFxCx3mWgr5hDm00pcsyzSWrs4BXKleL04kwm9blGkPfGZN7REiZRnt8x9kwrlovfI/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+156.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496533207216154082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHEAS93HKhFU2AqD-8pKvxBFo6YCuxbFZs0LfNPXz9v2-1UTGSPK6M9j15MIn8Q0oJpddE04VcUDaP3pqV23R6GWBaABSixjdGvaGhID8s4sQodTi8lRJxZCUAFRCr2sMy_l1pztgScWQ/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+155.JPG" border="0" />stopped by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Grauman's</span> Chinese Theatre, </div><div align="right"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496529865320566674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd4VnCOjHSpQ0WG1ZCOrkpxYrotk-r_hj_yC4SAQp6XH8SgsCex87-UsFIWUORfof5p1TCEEH2EEKw4YJEtRV3UFPP6Q4rjOP52ZjyC_irH2iUjN1Wiuc4oxKB_2TZEXOjQvkK3lnzuks/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+150.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>I don't even remember whose hand print I put my hand in!</em><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496529861477543282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUCQcEs54UFkbNcMOecJsbSJYgEhXhUhcIGjbU30hQyz3DuGn3cO4Qk-qIvHZtoSmf-BN7lbQurTlPC2KWGwyIIvJaKOy0bETKW24hjjZHmDwBvZlJ5OtLSWq_sIbOEwi2PIJiGDz6Qkf/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+148.JPG" border="0" /> shopped on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Olvera</span> Street (the birthplace of Los Angeles and home of many Mexican shops),<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496524560715559186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KrUXg6H3cHUiVjnEL3psMuqfE7B0OvyyD06PBn2Xxaftd-Uy1R9kbeZI_F7x516pM-dPH9D9q6R6OkCyccrZs1TmTy8MFQV5dC0v6CPUenA_89rVF11IKfCCG1RziZkOE-xBSZ-lpGqa/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+146.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496529850896322290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9MOfNpIUbQDvwlKBzvGa_o3nJWNgEcazTJye8QgWeO7CglNzHsf-IiZiq5-nBGXwxv1H7miWXWKBpMJlzdSl6NjacA5H-KOb8w41xu1mSUUDFRYg4kKfB5X3NaiWuTMbXNdRgoAFTvV0/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+147.JPG" border="0" /><br />went to the Hollywood Bowl (over 100 steps to the top...yes, I counted them),<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496507451735784370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMdJ5Wd-Ww4zOf8SI0lNfDG0LBYd2VAXa150BBtuQuH7EXboarns0FE9CRnecxHQiQ2lv_wSUIqTaQlzheWpSoBGFt6TkDn-aoyyGTizIwKsUWnbwjhd2xwk_cpgQOs7Gr9JqB-Kwuh8d/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+160.JPG" border="0" />rode bikes along the Long Beach Marina,<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496527916418938802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0T3pJtgAVjct3TE2BoaRFFx2ba2dqrqYnB_wAnKvPG4-pCnH2dfubRA_3sWABg2Jo3hVGGB2gNVEH8Hp7vB_IqZPPkQzegOxam6ww3xB1EhJajGU9S0m8UdU4DisUGHFy-L6z9dbsAzB/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+154.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><em>Aunt D wanted me to tell people that this was the boat she was buying!</em></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496527920295834802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 297px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnVk9DhdvikuM4YC1zdg05-c2XUGg7oIGsg8Ne0FZ7miz5wXGRPPovOln87NTSgldFQ7fZcUp8r60JwF-rpDDw39uI6P-5su2z1vTAcXd3XZ3yYCXij4wx52MqKK2sb7Pd1rQS-6HKoW6/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+153.JPG" border="0" /> <em>Can't you just hear the theme of <strong>Gilligan's Island</strong>?</em><br /></p><p>attended a taping of <em><strong><a href="http://anotherdayinmylife-cindi.blogspot.com/2008/03/valerie-bertinelli.html#comments">One Day at a Time</a></strong></em> (with Valerie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bertinelli</span>) </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496521437414062754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h8e8NQ3OOJBnmxPsakRwmLxsuLstbGq1SgKlmHuyIVhXKyeRaZeD5n0f0iXyG5VuRTSB72yM3N_rpta8alA8CqQEjpFnDWDTxnZbFc2pv1hnScCtkrYnTPMZgjDFLx0ekBElHl6a0KhJ/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+152.JPG" border="0" /><br />went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Knott's</span> Berry Farm (an amusement park),</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496524575575223874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XwlSiIirk5_Jfd-ANnxfc9S7kX2pw9-8l5SBKZT2aYWLq6uXr6vFibWd4Z1itcHha4AubeUBDrfAp6GX0Q4a7XkCU-zdie5ppECOTie0SfUlvQEZnUOvd06N_Gznrz0i2VtxAis-l9d5/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+203.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p>took Mary along as we went to San Diego and visited Sea World </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496512507792911714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTdKM2JeKc8bqyEwnNmZOZfLigC7sKVkvzPeO5nVgPwmxCmPUyHzkvKDuewkBoc5rMeQMu-OD4hvt-l9hJ-4b2TT23mpNOWKHEt01Mq-javB0n4HoYo1GUTLq2qlXBC5998TdmGEoegZu/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+165.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496512503487250418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwlrovNJNJu9Mj7Ggk5xinaPO5uo7wqA9C6Vl0sdwQrEQlTyRPgPYUjGxrE18XWVW1InsQtADEHZFYnSOyIDmJvHxKyiORTRtbMt__j8GfTIi1WgPYB394AURvQJIykH9pdDzslY8CcrE/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+161.JPG" border="0" />and the San Diego Zoo.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496512515719397778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 327px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPJnmHWK9Gxnac5G5QoJlfogsUjcTbuWtIubhTG-ovqn-kkzW3yn0Tj2k2Fmiaj7dwVLCCdHl6BbkBpQkMOgPXodfNYpTNAXo6URgde8sXCokyhTm01dDGuWdnpuEBNEIZ5bvOb5KRwAI/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+172.JPG" border="0" />We went to the Hollywood Wax Museum,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496521455910179250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fYBQGYR3AZLwhzVak1y06EQvXnTbsp_5FPONoJAgkW494-Wg18HDIc2gZ-LJ6e2M6K125TJrYFfwjXFQoWb5b40oCG6xpW1h7Vl8EryZ-C4KYJgioAAA_GwoegJtjbu1wE1DvDBiayRd/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+187.JPG" border="0" /> Universal Studios,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496524571317169154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35F4JU8WoThstW4l-K5IEImz_sqXp1im_l5f4OuwndI7fJMsUk5xYntkv4AAAYDXOLD3MeGPCOAnO9RzKTwDPMnziK-RGyB45_myT26DlaJpiZRkP-kwAJ3tm1DQs193eoI-sIHJtut1t/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+200.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>This is Bruce, the mechanical shark, who starred in the movie <strong>Jaws.</strong></em></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496524575271397634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDxfeWvk7uaPfycUtF6Os19EepPEQC3Lmng9klxJ6Ji-ioPbkY62FGQPjp6jQz6aOWQoJW3Uic3pP4nwWnDuvbGkZbPChSCNAXQY5CvhssefQ_MQRE_v3n_Wfd2sguG9i0i1e5uc1VeqO/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+201.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496512528105605794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjjNHNzWi2ssTnVOaHKKY1C6ivVAukFRbHxgGUXTsT7hlRzilTzTnnV7vIqsjAE2hYjA4rJ3sxXGMwe1gpoE9bUXKWOKfquvFRoYRD6qUPwwcKaYcyuTHWUtvk-vLesUZamwqgcvVOfbP/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+194.JPG" border="0" />and of course....<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496512517669576082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGzTH4cXcAfY4UrRaR6pe3g2skLJnqfdEsf6aF4Lk_8Kgw_ayYBpYTamG-AlUmwfwXZTQH4POvs32YvIwfgZK6gPnURYCIHocgEG-fuRR0dfVbb79czLcKwGESW_2hCeO0YkBUrRwmRc4/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+174.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>DISNEYLAND!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496521446292986226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP-QLAryUtCLfJ4kUwCtKeDQQEBrYddEpxm9uHgP2Xh9aea0taydbE2O17fNBKvJjIttKyZnC0MUf7NldqEQGYMWg0Kb7WWNv_HyZeQ_uPmNNex9vad1xCukdOazoBaI-jQK72_6eZLRJ/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+173.JPG" border="0" /><em>*Cue music: <strong>It's a Small World</strong></em><br /></p>We did a lot of other things, went to a lot more places, and had loads of fun! It was a fantastic graduation gift and I had a blast!<br /><br />It was quite a trip...but as Dorothy said, <strong>"There's no place like home!"</strong><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496524581583600482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7jfLv2cBpKtnzocGMdecuukVwzPHhl1jI_z1DArSc5AFXBCR_maCrzXBfbnQ8CWf84-nzucKYj7Qmrfy3ICZlMxI0Fn88IbdzC9b8RKfIVWZ53tjThYlerHbuAG3b38zXkYGNsP_8g7G/s400/Scanned+Photos+4-8-09+207.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/265/DDA8273397C85B648C4B061AEBBD852D.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-69535691282741462472010-07-09T15:10:00.005-04:002010-07-09T18:06:02.096-04:00A Swing SetWhen I was a little girl, we lived in out in the country. It was nice living out there, at least from a child's point of view. We had a big yard, a field behind us, and one on either side of us. We also had a ditch near the road where I could put in a stick and go "fishing." We had neighbors across the road, and that was nice...not only did they have a big yard too, but they also had woods behind their house. They also had a daughter my age, and a son that was my brother's age. We became good friends, and Mary was even the maid of honor in our wedding. <div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492015338215888850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 334px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9GazNV_6yZX5QjO3-9GpQETSl0DHPNJR0LbajnIAhCMzkhhSn9c8omH0IFGotHZ1Z3oTbbBJkFfi9um9m1hYhLFEhAUsHu6Jagvvw1McaE_CW8HkvKknXD_Xkyx4letJ0AXyxn5M9daA/s400/Scanned+4-6-09+236.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center"><em>Tim, Mary's brother (on the left), Mary, and my younger brother (with the ornery look), in our kitchen. Notice the portable TV in the background. </em></p><p align="left">I missed out on bringing cupcakes to school for my birthday because I was born in July. I never had the opportunity to hear my entire class sing "Happy Birthday" to me, but one summer my parents made up for it by getting me a swing set for my birthday. It came in a HUGE box.</p><p align="left">My dad is a wonderful man. He can tell stories better than almost anyone I know. He has a sense of humor and played some good practical jokes on people over the years. He's intelligent too. </p><p align="left">However, my dad is NOT handy with tools, and in his mind the idea of trying to put together a swing set was probably right up there with having major surgery without anesthetic. I did not know that <em><strong>way back when</strong></em>, but I eventually learned it over the years.</p><p align="left">After an early dinner this particular hot, summer night, people started showing up at our house. I thought we were just having a fun-filled evening with a bunch of people over. Of course, I realized as I got older, that dad was just in dire need of some assistance in completing this project for his favorite daughter.</p><p align="left">My grandparents showed up. My Aunt Tillie and Uncle Paul showed up. Mary's parents came over too, as did some other friends.</p><p align="left">We had an enclosed porch along the back of our house, and the "women folk" and children stayed in there and watched the entertainment. The <strong><em>MEN </em></strong>were taking all the pieces and parts out of the box and organizing the construction process. </p><p align="left">Not too long after the box was opened, the beer began to flow...slowly at first, because they had a goal. But as the evening went on and a little frustration began to set in, the empty beer bottles became more frequent. </p><p align="left">My Aunt Tillie brought cookies, but wouldn't let the men have any until the swing set was up, hahaha. Aunt Tillie was a real treat. She tried to give the men a few hints from her perch in the enclosed porch, but they didn't listen to her...poor thing. I still laugh whenever I think about it.</p><p align="left">My Uncle Paul and my grandpa were brothers and it was funny to watch them work on a project like that together. My grandpa didn't always say a whole lot, but liked to let his facial expressions speak for him. Uncle Paul, on the other hand, always had an opinion on things. </p><p align="left">As the sun began to set, the sky was turning a beautiful shade of red, and my Grandma told me the poem:</p><p align="left"> Red sky at night, </p><p align="left"> Sailors' delight.</p><p align="left"> Red sky at morn,</p><p align="left"> Sailors take warn.</p><p align="left">To this day, I have no idea if they completed the swing set that night or if it needed a little more work the next day. What I enjoyed the most was being around so many people I loved and watching these men work so hard on something for me. That's what family and friends do for one another.</p><p align="left">That swing set project is still one of my favorite childhood memories and I think about it often. Several years later we moved over an hour away, and that same swing set made the move with us. My brother and I continued to use it until it pretty much fell apart.</p><p align="left">I don't think we know what are favorite childhood things are until we've grown up and looked back, and I definitely know that was one of mine!</p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/869B3E62EFB6CE7A834237541E1F6B70.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-10884300547162224592010-07-06T18:00:00.000-04:002010-07-06T18:00:02.579-04:00Baked BeansWe recently attended a holiday celebration and I made baked beans to take along.<br /><br />In case you haven't noticed, I like things that are simply and easily made, and this recipe is no exception!<br /><br />Because this was going to be for a crowd, I doubled the recipe. Of course, you can cut it down however much you need to.<br /><br />There are only FOUR ingredients: Campbell's Pork & Beans, ketchup, light brown sugar, and ground (or dry) mustard. (Those of you who happen to know my tastes well, know that I do <strong>NOT</strong> like mustard at all, but I really cannot taste this in the beans, and because it's not the yellow mustard that you put on a hot dog or a hamburger, I can handle it in a recipe.)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmS3BB0x_Ts_j8fUlyk1HZ1sDjIFvE_btc_mbYwNr36CQp8sh4cZI8umdFLFfsuEKd6C8Xl4SKLpKZ_PB3mwb0kOA4n7e1xI018Oy3eTpV6i21dM7yDcjJPo020y3e7gMSA_VX_LaCLtE/s1600/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490218329117132322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmS3BB0x_Ts_j8fUlyk1HZ1sDjIFvE_btc_mbYwNr36CQp8sh4cZI8umdFLFfsuEKd6C8Xl4SKLpKZ_PB3mwb0kOA4n7e1xI018Oy3eTpV6i21dM7yDcjJPo020y3e7gMSA_VX_LaCLtE/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></a>Preheat the oven at 325 degrees, then open up 6 - 11 oz. cans of pork & beans, and put them in a big bowl.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVneja06H-gLZchanTskwjgdxLhj3FfFUU_Lr4nfWfkNQwyxtPRAP4vKroweC0919e71TeGheP4tYKmN_bjkOULzf0ACkQJQvj-MhOATc6WqodcnfpnlJek6ukcNsCYphUAgelQ1GWUQz/s1600/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490218321094258722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVneja06H-gLZchanTskwjgdxLhj3FfFUU_Lr4nfWfkNQwyxtPRAP4vKroweC0919e71TeGheP4tYKmN_bjkOULzf0ACkQJQvj-MhOATc6WqodcnfpnlJek6ukcNsCYphUAgelQ1GWUQz/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a> Add one and a half (1 1/2) cups of brown sugar.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h5G1B3bAttYj2VOSjIl0OXPhYXTu8vS61jdbgkpbk79LqUjrqdccBHpqS7_ovgLHYhwCYIqA9VRfJqffwjn_c2HIwybOpXdSHnyo0PKQ97_Bu9kbjsJ5i0VFoM9jCteTWmWUjDDSHdZ0/s1600/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490218312801105874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h5G1B3bAttYj2VOSjIl0OXPhYXTu8vS61jdbgkpbk79LqUjrqdccBHpqS7_ovgLHYhwCYIqA9VRfJqffwjn_c2HIwybOpXdSHnyo0PKQ97_Bu9kbjsJ5i0VFoM9jCteTWmWUjDDSHdZ0/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Then add 1 cup of ketchup, and make it look like a face. That's just to add a little excitement to your day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfEUjISbof86MhNrbCNETw94U1gDtie9uOwuEZ3b9KP3nucXJ8-p6or1lHWwHpGmaacjkLkeV4FqOp4ycTEmdIkG5a2BUOrHgpeJ459MeLWsITisSjiTdl_m7zsR0A4fVh6MWOww0kEqB/s1600/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490218304646452370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfEUjISbof86MhNrbCNETw94U1gDtie9uOwuEZ3b9KP3nucXJ8-p6or1lHWwHpGmaacjkLkeV4FqOp4ycTEmdIkG5a2BUOrHgpeJ459MeLWsITisSjiTdl_m7zsR0A4fVh6MWOww0kEqB/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lastly, add 2 teaspoons of ground mustard. Now it looks like the face is saying, "OH NO!!"<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bE8if2OFkA2wHBp3tQkLYDjmpRkO1JvcAcY3N6V7q_FVZi6l0mGk8zI4o_warrYq_8emQIhgD9O03EhIHtfTNWpLWgouoJNS_shO1TgWDRQmCQL57gfD9nVX-BtrDiMqaHSEwSi7R1sp/s1600/007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490218296629159394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bE8if2OFkA2wHBp3tQkLYDjmpRkO1JvcAcY3N6V7q_FVZi6l0mGk8zI4o_warrYq_8emQIhgD9O03EhIHtfTNWpLWgouoJNS_shO1TgWDRQmCQL57gfD9nVX-BtrDiMqaHSEwSi7R1sp/s400/007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ruin the face by mixing the ingredients well.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490216998317872770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPlCPwn5lkJ2lQBKfB0XhgP1xkzBhUh446VFS2hP-ZEyzOjuJjkyqGPDWoFpkDM46o9Hw8NE1K1M7YGuzaPe3qiLOqtYzfxuT4-i96dh7ZbAWPcK7_QUMTRzdS_I9ypElupRpUjEhVjP7/s400/009.JPG" border="0" />Now comes the hardest part of all...spray Pam in your cake pan. I used a disposable pan since we were going to take it somewhere and it would be easy to dispose of.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXrl26OHzQ_6J4dea1sZe43Rr4HGwP4MVp8dpUg0PBZTEq6-At-DvA-ZmikiIpdjNOpo1jtbU0Xx3Zrdvm3Gnqk3OrCuz-c6MmIZJiXDaB96qIfmaihKTIy7i1-jf-EwAZtd9Tu7gNNLg/s1600/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490217001749656194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXrl26OHzQ_6J4dea1sZe43Rr4HGwP4MVp8dpUg0PBZTEq6-At-DvA-ZmikiIpdjNOpo1jtbU0Xx3Zrdvm3Gnqk3OrCuz-c6MmIZJiXDaB96qIfmaihKTIy7i1-jf-EwAZtd9Tu7gNNLg/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a> Pour the bean mixture into the pan.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPVr3ayBbJ5S9rB7PmEIEmQGpm6ReSM6DQyBcMhXlm_U-xY5xgTvYAtH-fae5lpoxSTPCxXRIwSWwgvVTBkdxhNucqpCX3E7zJdPff7GGEYdxy5J1lvcjV3Kh8aoU49CC_dLFzWtoC-M0/s1600/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490216993913379474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPVr3ayBbJ5S9rB7PmEIEmQGpm6ReSM6DQyBcMhXlm_U-xY5xgTvYAtH-fae5lpoxSTPCxXRIwSWwgvVTBkdxhNucqpCX3E7zJdPff7GGEYdxy5J1lvcjV3Kh8aoU49CC_dLFzWtoC-M0/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Cover it with foil.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwUiN51xKOCMfwh4GAFNOpQDdBHsSDrmL65U-L0EPHiyv9GWPWp-w8_zyrI139dhMWv9aa2TRLtzCOhv6qSIxdZFwXc394FxQWNqLoku7JKnH6R-8ivQYk7l8tatlEF0OjuulBUdzb0FC/s1600/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490216983564632194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwUiN51xKOCMfwh4GAFNOpQDdBHsSDrmL65U-L0EPHiyv9GWPWp-w8_zyrI139dhMWv9aa2TRLtzCOhv6qSIxdZFwXc394FxQWNqLoku7JKnH6R-8ivQYk7l8tatlEF0OjuulBUdzb0FC/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Bake it for an hour and 45 minutes at 325.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8SmI0aGVtS8NrZcW67PeP4qAMQn31hjUT-8B5zv0rk55kUOXKUf_bm2XLFd54BpjioCC93uNQiVJBPKDrp7-aMjLlx5Sj8v2vgEYBhTSqyi4EWZIhd3mbM28hCxfXKiR1GTrnO2jxw5h/s1600/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490216977492436050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8SmI0aGVtS8NrZcW67PeP4qAMQn31hjUT-8B5zv0rk55kUOXKUf_bm2XLFd54BpjioCC93uNQiVJBPKDrp7-aMjLlx5Sj8v2vgEYBhTSqyi4EWZIhd3mbM28hCxfXKiR1GTrnO2jxw5h/s400/012.JPG" border="0" /></a> Take the foil off. Stir a little.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>(Don't pay any attention to my dirty oven. Yes, I am fully aware of the fact that it needs cleaned. Did you know that a dirty oven can add flavor to anything that is baked in it?)<br /><br />Bake for another 45 minutes uncovered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Serve.<br /><br /></div><div>How easy is that???</div><div><br /></div><div>I must give credit where credit is due. I got this recipe from my mom. I have no idea where she got it though. For all I know, she made it up. Maybe she got it from one of her old cookbooks that she has had for over 50 years. I don't really know. But what I DO know is that this is the only baked bean recipe she ever fixed and it's the only one that I fix!<br /><br /></div><div>Of course I live with three males, so their poem of the day every time I make this recipe is:<br /></div><div> </div><div></div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div><strong><em>Beans, beans, </em></strong></div><div><strong><em>The musical fruit.</em></strong></div><div><strong><em>The more you eat,</em></strong></div><div><strong><em>The more you toot!</em></strong></div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/265/DEF922488D00A97AF49C35B3735B9A9C.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-58282824486578445072010-07-04T19:02:00.008-04:002010-07-04T21:45:25.561-04:00A Fun-Filled Holiday CelebrationWe had a very nice time yesterday over at AP and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UT's</span>. There was plenty of food, family, friends, and fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LguuTbvnS7OxE6hNxQwd_CxJ12-_ejustxcGLLtqH8anQn9IJIuUE2au7hXt04UxUJZU-Nr7LHHe9fLEV-EAf7BwXbYStU6g7mX83gYW6goBEAx8rPphh5ft1I-fb3RARe6l1Rr686Fc/s1600/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490211143003294402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LguuTbvnS7OxE6hNxQwd_CxJ12-_ejustxcGLLtqH8anQn9IJIuUE2au7hXt04UxUJZU-Nr7LHHe9fLEV-EAf7BwXbYStU6g7mX83gYW6goBEAx8rPphh5ft1I-fb3RARe6l1Rr686Fc/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cornhole</span> was a big hit. I've never played before, but I learned a little bit about it, and of course asked the most brilliant question of all: What do they put in the little bags they throw? Beans? Small stones? NO.........CORN. Hence the name, <strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CORNHOLE</span></em></strong>. I swear, sometimes I can be really <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ditzy</span>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5lnpZKUdf71I1NjcgGB9bVijTruCRTaDf2MkElzTfgc0lMjz5bhMqN5oTQWwHcFsbBIMjOcd9glKVrQupUTX2FaYblPCUNDMPv9i7ApCF8gVHmzbiTfAGIhN_w7I50aj1Gc7ZQVuVC-j/s1600/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490211133118404434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 340px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5lnpZKUdf71I1NjcgGB9bVijTruCRTaDf2MkElzTfgc0lMjz5bhMqN5oTQWwHcFsbBIMjOcd9glKVrQupUTX2FaYblPCUNDMPv9i7ApCF8gVHmzbiTfAGIhN_w7I50aj1Gc7ZQVuVC-j/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></a> My brother-in-law loves a good beer, and there was plenty of it to go around yesterday!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEWoFBggeS8882hwVoENFwV8QRssqFEA_dKCZ3pexYCoSrIi8zoaG7eOGJmK28szap08dOKl_Xi6TSMJFX6rRrSyW-wHI7uyWL6uGM_MoC01uovAh2Z5sl8BZ98-FhwzWBsfJlaXkgWqM/s1600/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490211119970054258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEWoFBggeS8882hwVoENFwV8QRssqFEA_dKCZ3pexYCoSrIi8zoaG7eOGJmK28szap08dOKl_Xi6TSMJFX6rRrSyW-wHI7uyWL6uGM_MoC01uovAh2Z5sl8BZ98-FhwzWBsfJlaXkgWqM/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yes, Ted was studying the label of the beer he was drinking.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeUOwVaVO3rm46reH9EfRf1LZ7GvxPsKha_2DUMAX-8sekMaEnaqBipL-LFKIz_JVotcN8VWVNL1I4ZlVIMVO3gXngi0FCsEEDxM3MWdh4l2TRERP7aKraDfJdsvLGeA7zk7_xJsAuePz/s1600/019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490211111998228642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeUOwVaVO3rm46reH9EfRf1LZ7GvxPsKha_2DUMAX-8sekMaEnaqBipL-LFKIz_JVotcN8VWVNL1I4ZlVIMVO3gXngi0FCsEEDxM3MWdh4l2TRERP7aKraDfJdsvLGeA7zk7_xJsAuePz/s400/019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We did a lot of chatting too...it's always fun to just take the time to catch up on things with friends.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bwXKvjlIPEXLlucb-zTy4DMg-cmymfhta4g-kxRlm2tF4Y4jPsdvsHoE89NIcXe1_LhJ3Xa9G7Hq9Rk_zPHF9gTaj5awZk2wOO26eybEXQYqLPCy46oB4hTJlaU9DDW0cS2zYgB5cz-S/s1600/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490211102692910178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bwXKvjlIPEXLlucb-zTy4DMg-cmymfhta4g-kxRlm2tF4Y4jPsdvsHoE89NIcXe1_LhJ3Xa9G7Hq9Rk_zPHF9gTaj5awZk2wOO26eybEXQYqLPCy46oB4hTJlaU9DDW0cS2zYgB5cz-S/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /></a> As the sun went a little lower in the sky, it was time to get a fire going. John really enjoyed getting it started. He took his job VERY seriously...and was VERY successful!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOuCL4mdVfXE8wmsP-G_6gIJJ83ACv4HC8ztbe5p8Hnlmnqrpgp-GfL-Fg-Tu3_AcsGor9Fth3TWj43OHXmKIZYIAEpbWj77njp7cGVnDC9hbfRj11r8piTekBBavLblbHPjIaXiiDoJP/s1600/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490209678610970962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOuCL4mdVfXE8wmsP-G_6gIJJ83ACv4HC8ztbe5p8Hnlmnqrpgp-GfL-Fg-Tu3_AcsGor9Fth3TWj43OHXmKIZYIAEpbWj77njp7cGVnDC9hbfRj11r8piTekBBavLblbHPjIaXiiDoJP/s400/022.JPG" border="0" /></a> He and Allison watched it carefully, making sure that it didn't go out.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl4p4fB6iwDNaMlaBL3FZkD4RUBrD2LpgwwQ8_dUQCxMeyDKjawqpGeHGjRk6vB9ZvppRK-qTV3LFSmQ_HcwwMdjKYN9lLO2N3Bsqwa0n8-mvSzRXI2UxtZS36j2_5mk7tkHSQOJthVSH/s1600/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490209673447036258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl4p4fB6iwDNaMlaBL3FZkD4RUBrD2LpgwwQ8_dUQCxMeyDKjawqpGeHGjRk6vB9ZvppRK-qTV3LFSmQ_HcwwMdjKYN9lLO2N3Bsqwa0n8-mvSzRXI2UxtZS36j2_5mk7tkHSQOJthVSH/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></a> Patty and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">BJ</span> were giving John moral support by cheering him on.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAfkl5gfgult86xmQCgp4UPLzxdbxF6wQ9UyA_Ok7s9yPDynvD8FiM1OkNuT8E8_sI19_7SF7j40lo_Qtj-ox82rQbdXg6oiwRRwKIex1GMRFPqcnezyTmu_A5jxr5Sm1DLuHThs6C2Oo/s1600/025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490209668364350898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAfkl5gfgult86xmQCgp4UPLzxdbxF6wQ9UyA_Ok7s9yPDynvD8FiM1OkNuT8E8_sI19_7SF7j40lo_Qtj-ox82rQbdXg6oiwRRwKIex1GMRFPqcnezyTmu_A5jxr5Sm1DLuHThs6C2Oo/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></a>Our niece Holly, along with her friend Sharon, and UT were having a great time as the evening wore on.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxroGoE0JnpCx5tZrUGUwfvAVlr25upRXGPWeJsf48rzd4Kie4skfHbALy6l8W6urTkF8i_7l4b1uky9tX_XuiUwgVPyPOS26ZeaFXuJ2lF0xzftAg4nWsDi_J9a5II3Nz9FiWjdbvco4R/s1600/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490209659031325698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxroGoE0JnpCx5tZrUGUwfvAVlr25upRXGPWeJsf48rzd4Kie4skfHbALy6l8W6urTkF8i_7l4b1uky9tX_XuiUwgVPyPOS26ZeaFXuJ2lF0xzftAg4nWsDi_J9a5II3Nz9FiWjdbvco4R/s400/030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, this was the part that I just didn't get...I don't know who came up with the idea of bringing an <em><strong>electric</strong></em> guitar and amp outside at 10:30 pm, but many of them took turns playing it. Tim is playing with Joe, Alex, Ted, and John looking on. Unfortunately they didn't take requests.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkIIpXy3qMGabztEpCg8exgg_9aGnbwOcYiJEedQWLtCLiqhFqLavTZTSR-Mpeqke6qcV7UeJ3lsKL1NGeFSH81FiVXrtCxGFoyWR-6HbOpZMZVxHAe-WiESgEP8DdK3LKsCPMfDh7ftd/s1600/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490209650470725522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 378px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkIIpXy3qMGabztEpCg8exgg_9aGnbwOcYiJEedQWLtCLiqhFqLavTZTSR-Mpeqke6qcV7UeJ3lsKL1NGeFSH81FiVXrtCxGFoyWR-6HbOpZMZVxHAe-WiESgEP8DdK3LKsCPMfDh7ftd/s400/031.JPG" border="0" /></a> When Tim decides to wear a cup as a hat, it's time to call it a night!</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope all of you had a great holiday weekend!<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/4BB51A6F613A0A424416B8DCF0303658.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-42194514163759113052010-06-28T17:49:00.005-04:002010-06-29T00:54:11.785-04:00A REALLY Easy MealPasta alfredo is one of the EASIEST meals to fix! It doesn't take long, and the clean-up is simple too.<br /><br />Now, I do take a lot of shortcuts with this, using purchased things instead of home-made, but we'll just keep that our little secret. I could go the home-made route...but who has time?<br /><br />Start with a box of pasta of your choice. I tend to use penne pasta for this dish, but sometimes live on the wild side and use rotini. A bag of frozen broccoli is a must, but I suppose that you could substitute mixed vegetables if you really wanted to. Although I don't like spicy stuff (that's where my italian heritage steps back), I have found the Chicken Breast Meat for Fajitas from Schwan's to be really good. There's just a wee little bit of a kick to them, but not too much. Occasionally I've taken boneless skinless chicken breasts and grilled them on the George (Foreman), then cut them up.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpMqQ2DG3kPdTlOLHwjISxvYYlkPVnNO0opQ2ZDvLfbOJjn9HXMvuTMW_nRj-LXBPPiDb60x50B3SvAeNgnLPltYihbqS9tFDCPLdigmUd2LHMnD7IxDlKVpQuAYBenBi0P-o_xfcypHK/s1600/261.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487946475230701954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpMqQ2DG3kPdTlOLHwjISxvYYlkPVnNO0opQ2ZDvLfbOJjn9HXMvuTMW_nRj-LXBPPiDb60x50B3SvAeNgnLPltYihbqS9tFDCPLdigmUd2LHMnD7IxDlKVpQuAYBenBi0P-o_xfcypHK/s400/261.JPG" /></a><br />I begin by boiling the pasta. (I always add a little bit of oil when I boil pasta, just to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.)</div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487946483965809890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElVVMLW5BQvCnBkMu3O1GabJ98WDgL9rsQKhkqWYz2a9wuGFngys9wIZFu7kW2qSK3OnuPQ85fq1EcNzpD6sX4yX9z9J3NO0_F7sJESsTteCrzAkuPQNhMTGTAyZrwIaUfTZjpXWc18rq/s400/262.JPG" /></div><br />About halfway through the recommended time, I slowly add the frozen broccoli.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487946501205769730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJhL0AVyY_45ktRAc3VD01uQQsbrgcvjnpXJBhJ3rSrP8d10oKHm1ExdnHglLAjTOCYuGFR6HmQ1BL40pLSFvf9amigCcJmQXv6X6JWNMQT6I3QC9HkrnV7ITn8lKw42NVdhSoyA0BoJw/s400/264.JPG" /><br />While that's returning to a boil, I take out the amount of chicken I want to use. That can be however chickeny you want your dish to be. Sometimes I add a lot. Sometimes I add a LOT. It's all a matter of personal preference. I put it on a paper plate, then put it in the microwave to thaw it and warm it up. Once it comes out of the microwave, I cut the larger pieces up, so that they aren't too large. </div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487946492197415810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy_xI1Mmi2Imtgq9AzuZJfHtnEEhEIrA2EmR_uv3xEzQUM1-m1Owuyulfhih5aHwTXJ1bIIwg61FucZikAt4YUS4_kRZ9eZNcg_MjmhnQ7b3xAKIaqLWErJuWVoX55TWLNq1xb1HOz1xZ/s400/263.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div>I also preheat the oven, then put the garlic bread on a foil lined cookie sheet. It only takes about 6 or 7 minutes to bake, so I put it in when I'm getting ready to mix everything together.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487946506347788178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIbnFIr5CvhJIp7xHGQR-2e_kZvmP9mOvVjYyzVNCbsI941X9E7baAOV-W_UmeB2IuWUNCugyekyqLlalHhtcjQkV2anHACpujXKt7ksIxbCil9ri7RGjKxG8vLt_DrutrTLVWmukYRgx/s400/265.JPG" /></div><div><br />When the pasta/broccoli is finished, I drain it in a colander, then return it to the pot. I put the pot in the kitchen sink because it's just easier to maneuver and mix that way.<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487948252213531314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike7ZYy8Js61hLM9KuSCMTQxSTS5Z0huj8aEgFnW8UmIG9ATo0Q1WRyPezwVQZepqXfVlqFKHeewJM9Cu-ZAHyK4znUj-0IsThCMzl39pk1y8WRFsPSdt0iR0KOa8dqjqw6KFspDVuA-1F/s400/266.JPG" /><br /><p>This is where I add the warmed, cut-up chicken, and mix a little.</p></div><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487948246719436498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQp7QSHFL-DKbxMXXBtKrwbcB06b0kyaSYZntTw-qkDmjKiPzeKGDSSNfvJq47Tny2IlJDBk5HkF65Z8tY6npnZJuDG-v7QLoMq171opEekXBPkGQEq1emsg66G7vh38CgIaewvntQa0e/s400/268.JPG" /></p><p>Now comes the <em><strong>really</strong></em> hard part.</p><p>Open up both jars of alfredo sauce, pour them into the pasta/broccoli/chicken mixture. </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487948238730058786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGR9dszcgsKDXuLwGk7VkN-z7C9Anh7OpllMSk5GHO1tghyphenhyphenYah9PD31OJ-e9YMUZBqmfOsEVhvzIA5lADdwO-qQ3ZRmKpJT7goTMytRkmEtUQw9tlngYNB38ml9tRrqUi7a4nS46QyahEr/s400/269.JPG" /></p><p>Mix the sauce in. I used a rubber spatula because I had just used it to get all the sauce out of the jar. Why dirty another utensil? (Yes I have a dishwasher, but it's just as easy to use the spatula as it is to open the drawer and get out a large spoon.)</p><p>If you're really energetic, and have the various ingredients in the fridge, you can put together a salad too. </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487948229633242210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmCKFqDpeNbeYqCcp-2wWGc2D9eYIyK3z3O3c1qw7gH_2jO34RGGhyphenhyphenJQaO1sg3GY6EzSiImByAgsd6yBbyG4jhjIhw4F_J33dDgVRxt1TSFx0msABBsLTMwrZDA4i0EI_KhLLGnJnii44/s400/270.JPG" /></p><p>And there you go...a very SIMPLE meal, start to finish in about 20 minutes. Fortunately, Ted really likes this, so it's a win-win for us!</p><p></p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/050E75CBD0953698C6054191EC9DF354.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-5294914921409640552010-06-26T19:30:00.001-04:002010-06-26T19:30:00.449-04:00"You Boys Are Going to College!"<div align="left">When our sons were younger, Ted would come home from work, more often than not, sore. His knees hurt. His legs hurt. His arms and back hurt. Occasionally, depending on what he'd done at work, he'd have a headache too.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong...he really enjoys plumbing. Anymore, very little of what he does involves working on toilets, so the "gross" factor barely exists these days. He repairs and changes various gas lines and water lines. Sometimes, when the economy was better, he would work on new houses. He works on remodeling projects, changes water heaters, replaces gas and water services. The job is quite varied.<br /><br />There isn't a thing wrong with being a plumber, trust me. He's extremely handy to have around. When we built our new home, he saved us thousands of dollars by doing all the plumbing himself. When something went wrong with the pipes in our old house, he was always able to fix them. He's been a real help to my parents with their various plumbing needs. In fact, sometime this weekend, he'll be going there to change a laundry tub faucet.<br /><br />However, it can take a toll on a person's body, and he's had his shares of cuts, bruises, a trip to the E.R., time at the local orthopaedic office, and of course, many trips to the chiropractor.<br /><br />He used to come home, occasionally moaning from the pain, and would look at the boys and say, "This is why you boys are going to COLLEGE."<br /><br />They both heeded his advice.<br /><br />One of his latest plumbing related issues was a fluid filled area below his left knee cap. The doctor entered the exam room, glanced at Ted's leg and said, "Holy sh*t, Ted, what did you do?" </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486769456642558018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsfP97SrD3YsSbpNH15dYEpxo7r7kl83M3WLvp1fm0wArKOxb2jHhyBBnzxO5B5EmkFYpVPlw0NYDdt2z2nNIlos6XCFSWiHQ-sRM3b0QKrZ-nWLGosQNkwt4e1byFjBy5URCY3sqV_N0/s400/293.JPG" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>It almost looks like an extra knee cap. His "real" knee cap is at the top, and the bursa is down a little bit. The doctor said it was "baseball sized."</em></div><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486773065772676066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkLbLajPZxTwzkC7zd8x6HluocZCXflN4-iQ6cKmUBOPnLo4ZKMzVItyqGsG3tGC1AIvQTkrnHM1uWlRoDHjnLh-9ADOPSZfG-SXsVHJElF9YiFPV2WQ0cds1GFMLFV0rDJADK90uWc3p/s400/295+-+Copy.JPG" /> <p align="center"><em>The x-rays came out fine, thank goodness.</em><br /></p><br />After checking it all out and having some x-rays taken, the doctor said that this came from kneeling so much with his job. Then he said he wanted to try an anti-inflammatory medication before anything else. That didn't help. In fact, the bursa was a little larger, so we went back to the doctor several days later.<br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486769478636354210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gNOcZ5jP8qu9EwNcwre1P_mN3w6GOr5AGrX_DSfup_sadmTWKoFTVV19vhePjb9-G_mDLthsDUe6KkWGgem9LSz4Y87-lDWPDc1-d5qUmh2J9qiDGJ0MV2r5bcsqwNJ_Cu6LKp9sXnpV/s400/297.JPG" /> <em>It was a little larger by this time.</em><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left">On the second visit, the doctor came in, and said it was indeed larger and that he was going to drain it. </div><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486770772506336754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ61kwP5zeUwVrnzl6QF2xiekakgeADstWIT4SbTQepBxf97LBH0aZICfu8vENvzg1z3sJRZUrvzMLPEIFyzWEld6saJofgBarYSRq3xF7Qw8EUDOhsMnwDt0Eem1wio2_lYHkeHCk7SUY/s400/302.JPG" /></p><p align="center"><em>Ted was laughing because I was taking pictures of the doctor's tools. </em><br /></p><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486770766921707090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rN-roQ3f8R3ZsiLdGuqR85mE3wegISEAOyjhAiFTNf-X6yzfT__9FfF6R9rD0qfGrET1mTY-aWBK-a_OuN1r2-pCxhRWorIIRtde_dKjJqNhoU_qx5u0xw2H5FCjcQ5EsMpMX68cwxX2/s400/298.JPG" /><em>All cleaned up and ready to be STABBED and drained.</em><br /></p><p>I thought it was quite interesting to see how the doctor inserted the needle into the bursa along the side, and sucked all that gunk out. He got out a fair amount.<br /><br />After we left the office, we had to stop over at the hospital because Ted had to drop off the fluid that was drained, so it could be checked by the lab.<br /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486770780898736578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWjaBLcUV7mzLtZ4W-97Q3ikDJjg520M0pFsl4H87NzvPOVjv0BZuU3v8szlP6w5Vi3HrdQTKs3D6qwn31VbWtiR_buiqrTwSKSXu6h17dzFudmeTeTB2wU3biBA8uL8kOL6NgVl1ECZg/s400/303.JPG" /><br />Fortunately, it was all okay. </p><p>This was the FOURTH time he's had a bursa drained near a knee.<br /><br />And the boys are looking forward to returning to college in the fall.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/869B3E62EFB6CE7A834237541E1F6B70.png" /></a> </p>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-82615609167438203342010-06-24T15:06:00.004-04:002010-06-24T15:50:46.322-04:00An Unwelcome VisitorA few nights ago, around 11 pm, I was sitting in the recliner in our bedroom, reading a book. Ted was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, "listening" the Cleveland Indians game on TV. Joe and Alex were somewhere around the house.<br /><br />Suddenly I heard the gate to the fence around the pool SLAM, then a HUGE splash. Being the brave person I am, I immediately woke up Ted and said, "Someone's in the pool!"<br /><br />He sat up quickly and wasn't too sure where he was or what was going on. (Yeah, he was awake with his eyes closed...right). I called for Alex, to see if it had been him getting in the pool. He was in the kitchen. I called for Joe. He was in the bathroom. That pretty much led me to believe that it was someone other than the immediate family.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486425678289183890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6iXhUpqLTMG6V9GNezc1PVYFunGajDSpGUfYMO6cHYFqaiyFQuqNkn2nn6fuaGlQJAkuB0SBSAqPVATowo_5ltSK0ZO97t_9sVYQrF3WD6r_-mR98tmfEm2UEvDsmPi5ImEn5QM9z_Mn/s400/2007.07-20-07.001.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>This picture is from a few years ago <strong>(pre-landscaping),</strong> showing how close the fence is to our bedroom. Never mind Marina, who thought she was a direct descendent of SpiderMan, and climbing the screen.<br /></p></em><p align="left"><br />Ted got up, and instead of going out the door in our bedroom, went to the kitchen, then outside. He didn't see anything, so he came back in and got a flashlight. He went out, shone the flashlight all around the pool and saw nothing. Then he went inside the fence, and turned on the light in the pool.<br /><br />Nothing.<br /><br />I told him to look for water on the concrete and he saw a big splash mark by the deep end, then another, slightly smaller one, by the shallow end. By this time, Joe and Alex had gone outside to investigate too. Of course, I stood by the bedroom door to the outside and tried to stay out of the way, hahaha.<br /><br />I said to Ted that I thought it was a deer. He concurred. We decided that the deer must have jumped the fence, but hit it with her hoof making the gate shake, then jumped in, swam across the pool, jumped out, and hopped over the fence again. They looked on the outside of the fence to see if perhaps there was an animal of some kind lying around, but there was nothing.<br /><br />Case closed.<br /><br />Or so we thought.<br /><br />The next day, my folks came to use the pool and Ted relayed the whole story to them. I commented that the water level seemed really low. Ted said he had added water that morning. I said that something just wasn't right. He thought that the sun was really evaporating the water, but I disagreed. There was no way that the water level would go down 4-5" in a few hours.<br /><br />As I went around the pool using the screen thing to get out a few bugs, I noticed something.<br /><br />There was an upside down "V" shaped tear in the liner, near the top of the pool. We were losing water through the tear. There were also some hairs around the tear, that seemed to be consistent with those of an animal....probably a deer. Her hoof must have scraped along the edge as she went into the water.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486425641571282626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbfP_SQ11THjf6IjVX88YcBlwgO30ALt_ro1g5jZJDprCMgz2BAJjuHGPjs0n7RS231YcdTumVclySCW8ORllNNwbHZvgVxpKl5uZn7W7_t37wSIhDO0mZResZr0tTVh3wn9zSvo7Kit1/s400/308.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>The tear...and of course it was at the deep end, making it just a little more challenging for us to patch. </em></p><p>Ted went in and called the company that installed our pool, and talked to them about it, then went there to purchase a couple patch kits. They said that they've heard of this happening before, and we were fortunate that the deer got in, and then got out. </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486425664000877618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixhEN3kMG_VOXITSGkpoE_dvIGVWqn71lma8XxPewoJfc-6_JFa5VJ7-U3z9GT7a9IUZ4Ff90EpOSCHA4k3k6GaracMvDfEkRotwivZub52o37QVnkbLtwJ4pz-eJfsaGzp0-mIWFylmn/s400/310.JPG" border="0" /><em>You can barely see the water line, along the lower half of the blue diamonds on the liner. The water had been up around the top of the brownish squares above the diamond.</em></p><p align="left">Joe helped me patch the tear, but it's not pretty. Because the tear was in the rounded corner, I didn't have a flat surface to work on. I also couldn't stretch it enough so that all the edges met. However, it's patched, and we're not losing anymore water, and that's all that counts.<br /><br />We don't mind people coming over and using our pool...but when it comes to wildlife, I just wish they'd wait until they were invited!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/92/BF8D8B00A2C3AD36EAE36FE9F2705B6D.png" /></a></p>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-91222053990950403622010-06-12T22:06:00.004-04:002010-06-12T22:35:14.967-04:00Three Things...I was just reading posts at a teachers site I go to fairly often and one of them was quite interesting. The original poster asked readers to list at least three things they are horrible at. As I read through them, I realized that limiting myself to only three would be tough!<br /><br />I thought about it, however, and these are what I feel are the top three things that I am NOT good at:<br /><br />1. Housecleaning - I am a terrible housekeeper. I tend to let things go for as long as possible, then spend WAY too much time trying to get it all done. I don't think that our house has ever been all clean at the same time. Right this moment, the bathroom in our bedroom is very clean...but that's about it. Other rooms aren't necessarily dirty, just cluttered.<br /><br />2. Doing things in a timely manner - This is a bad one for me. I'm the <strong><em>Queen of Procrastination.</em></strong> I put things off as long as I can, then put them off even longer. I'm absolutely TERRIBLE at getting cards sent out. I have several sympathy cards to send out to people I know, and their loved ones passed away as long ago as last November! I'm horrendous with birthday cards. I'm lucky if they get sent out within 6 months of the person's birthday. I put off doing laundry until I absolutely have to. I suppose procrastination is why our house is never clean. It's just one continuous cycle.<br /><br />3. Being "girly" - I rarely wear makeup, jewelry, or fuss with my hair. I know I should make an attempt to look my best, but I guess it's just not important enough to me. I begin each school year by doing the makeup thing, toss on a little jewelry, and even mess around with my hair a little. But by the beginning of October, it's too much trouble. I don't get new clothes very often because I don't like to shop. Having to pick out an outfit to wear to work is NOT the highlight of my day. One of our teachers always looks so "pulled together" down to her nail polish matching her purse and jewelry. She can take things and match them up with other stuff and come off looking like a million bucks...must be as gift.<br /><br />So, now that I've put it "out there" for the world to see, anyone else care to join me??<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/197/9755638831BED58E860335E526772D4B.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-85875553521124982102010-05-03T20:40:00.005-04:002010-05-03T21:36:29.649-04:00We Rarely Go OutMany years ago, we used to go out quite often, but we had children and settled into a routine. It became very comfortable to stay in and just go out to an early dinner once in a while, then come home, relax, then go to bed. As the kids got older and became adults (ACK! How did THAT happen?!?!) we found ourselves with a lot of free evenings, and nothing to do. So being the old f*rts we are, we continued to just stay home, relax in the evenings, then go to bed and repeat.<br /><br />However...a little over a week ago, we ventured out into the world and had a FABULOUS time! Our local Italian American Festival Foundation held their annual spring gathering and not only did the four of us attend, but my parents went too!<br /><br />The food was catered by a local italian restaurant and it was very good...they had a nice variety of pasta, among other things. They had punch, water, beer, and wine to drink, and we ended up sitting right next to the bar area. It was quite convenient, hahaha! Not only was it easy to get our drinks, but we saw a lot of people we hadn't seen for a long time, as they made their way to the beverage center.<br /><br />We had a great time, and I want to give a shout out to my sister-in-law Patty (also known as A.P. for frequent readers of this blog) for organizing everything. She did a GREAT job!!<br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467220233521326610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 349px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4-wcWy01kEj1bxuI0y15miwH9PY8xxbY7fOll-aqTFKPJ9iHJvnYUd4_8X1Oku_n3SvIqHOpmC7y7EVMKObKGcZjTu1OixUhSyVofubXMqYebpLChkwnxXNfVngEt12i9piJMzE5asAD/s400/527.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Tim (known here as U.T.) and John were happily taking care of the bar area.</em></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467220239081058082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKXJj0hoO70oWghfOiCd_P4m-um-2DoOpvJM2gMf607cu6NEkzQetOl26zGVAh3j9t-PvHUUtMRWE2ELpMXH4hAVyFPlu5bc-74gs86Zyssz7DCuLmdbBskdqgG8KCSxgtsGQFIvd7gWN/s400/525.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Joe was trying to get his point across during a very important discussion.</em></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467220198963801154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 380px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIgnzUjBzLQNomFv2HUTo5L21iGqj5SjLDv_gFwlp9hhRmYuSTCJrZxw2OOyET8xrzy5WyPWrY3da2FX2GHD4iYf88izRlzROD4mmF0j6CfLvLCJnTBDXiSb5Aob3b9dCv-8aqXOC7S99/s400/513.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Alex was being goofy with my mom.</em></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467221209952782610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjgc42bnGNgwtsl7gsHpbeAJxUd1KiC6CElRCVhBNSIKCcIQsgQ6jYeWZqA2FmspjZjJFjF8EJCrgCM86v21Uc988qSEs19OFIG2mYb2TlAVWNPWf2THe8K5QgG63ba6Qqww2unJJauje/s400/516.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Ted and I had a very nice time!</em><br /></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467220224383670898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRXdH53OoU4xeFjS0a449adIth8CUWsKsGMbPCXUv3HiJDQH_LH1LxvXXKTnewXJ9LO-dqBEFtT5S0e5-N7R5OkA1ycyYmm4ofnHQdhfJ_r1QLfyVg-sH8ghqesgMxM8UsgCCaDqMRJzO/s400/520.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>as did my parents!</em><br /><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467220208412617778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7JCtoYSrfp1bNKBdlw7t1mkYnhREVHfc_570pi7P7HZJdAvJLx8fssSHZxuQ0lONWrB_1jsddrY58OV8qWBnFD4kPkJjoC7jMyYOfBHZRHwLG_xJXehNfblEFcZwjTp6yEG1nBEOBZtn/s400/530.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em>Alex (again being silly) and Joe with their cousin Holly.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left"></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/050E75CBD0953698C6054191EC9DF354.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-87532323535468227722010-04-17T19:48:00.004-04:002010-04-17T20:13:30.421-04:00PredictionYes, I'm an American Idol junkie. And I'm about to make a prediction.<br /><br />Before I actually tell you who I think is going to win, let me tell you <em><strong>why</strong></em>.<br /><br />The Cleveland, Ohio area is very loyal to their own. Although those of us who live in the northern half of Ohio have known this since birth, the rest of the country found out about it back in 1996 when Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell decided to move the Browns to Baltimore.<br /><br />Even though Modell had spent DECADES in Cleveland, he sorely underestimated the loyalty of the blue collar city.<br /><br />The Browns were not the first team to be relocated by their owner, and have not been the last. However, Cleveland is the ONLY city to go to court to retain the team's name and colors for a future expansion team.<br /><br />Clevelanders (and northern Ohioans) are very proud and loyal.<br /><br />The old Municipal stadium, sitting on the shore of Lake Erie, could easily boast a wind chill of <strong><em>ZERO</em></strong> degrees or below during a December or January football game. However, there would still be 80,000 fans in the stands. Even if the Browns had a losing record, the stands would still be filled.<br /><br />Their loyalty persevered. That's why when the Browns came back in 1999, they were still called the Cleveland Browns AND wore the brown, orange, and white.<br /><br />So....on to American Idol.<br /><br />Back in 2005, there was a contestant from the Cleveland area. Scott Savol was a pretty good singer. He finished 5th in the competition that year. Was he good enough to end up in 5th place? Many would say probably not...he was a top 10 contestant for sure, but maybe 8th or 9th was more realistic.<br /><br />However, Scott finished 5th and that was more than likely due to the fact that northern Ohioans showed their loyalty once again and voted for him enough so that he made it as far as he did.<br /><br />That loyalty is something that can always be counted on, and that is why I predict that.....<br /><br />the winner of American Idol this year will be..... <br /><br /><div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461263394422808354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWP_1GD0TZZpNXsizQRkIlSQIgg_jhPaYgk8AzDQ1bnZfRRpRYOPvh541n1kYyJB5J-TdAmVjUb9p_ScWQqe1DQ_rTl2oo2tb-AIky_PNZNHjteE3qlldWkVhmQaLhdWczOs1JyOvZ23v/s400/crystal+b+1.jpg" border="0" /><br />CRYSTAL BOWERSOX.<br /><br />Crystal is from a northern Ohio town called Elliston. It's a small town of approximately 1509 residents. Although the town is almost 2 hours west of Cleveland, it's still in northern Ohio.<br /><br />Please don't get me wrong. I think that Crystal is extremely talented, and would probably finish in the top 2 or 3 regardless of where she is from. But you just can't rule out that northern Ohio loyalty factor. <br /><br /></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461263401336756530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 82px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvynIFzVqaFRFdobPKxtQCaZQDqyQI5eOj2i1K9ytD00XrTnipPOAVt9EEZGnRrsjlSDzWkqslyhmAkJ3kWFod1-eJ5207pA5_9XY4FDd_bX3_cpMESdEUvwqdaKJnXQhxjhx53DJ_y22/s400/crystal+b+3.jpg" border="0" />If you haven't watched Crystal on American Idol, you may want to give her a listen. She really is a great singer.<br /><br />That's my prediction, and I'm sticking with it.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/CA37D1D2456B1971B1DB27CCB050E54D.png" /></a></div>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-75708336416158861982010-04-02T12:05:00.003-04:002010-04-02T13:03:22.371-04:00Happy EasterWhen I was young, the upcoming Easter celebration always involved a new dress. Not only did I get an Easter dress, but Easter shoes, an Easter hat (or other hair decoration), an Easter coat if the holiday came early in spring, an Easter purse, Easter gloves, and a new slip and under garments.<br /><br />After Ted and I had been married for a year or so (and before we were thinking about children!) I happened to run across the most GORGEOUS fancy little girl's dress and coat set. It was frilly and pink and absolutely adorable. I was at a sidewalk sale at a local department store and it was on the end of the rack next to a table of clothes I was looking at for myself. I immediately thought that it would make a wonderful Easter outfit!<br /><br />It was a size 2T and I held it up and looked at it. I put it back, then returned to it, studying it again. I wanted this set. I don't recall how much it was originally, but it was on sale for $20, and I remember that being a HUGE discount. I tried to rationalize this possible purchase.<br /><br />Although we weren't currently considering having children, someday we would. We knew we would have more than one child, so there was a chance (at least 50/50) that at least one of our kids would be a girl. No matter what time of year this potential little girl would be born, more than likely she could wear a size 2T at Easter at least one year in her life.<br /><br />I must have picked that dress/coat set up at least four times, considering purchasing it. Finally, I decided that even though there was a drastic discount, $20 was a lot of money to spend on a dream at this point in my life, and I put it down for the last time. I walked away that day, having purchased nothing.<br /><br />I still think of that dress and coat occasionally, and am thankful that common sense took over, because we never had a daughter. However, I wonder if anyone bought the outfit, and how it looked on a little girl.<br /><br />****************************************************************<br /><br />When I was young, my mom would always make sure that she and I had a corsage for Easter. They were always so pretty and smelled so wonderful. To this day, when I smell carnations, I think of Easter. The church would be full of that sweet scent. If I turned my head, the side of my face would brush against the soft flowers. What a comforting feeling. Sometimes my mom would let me wear my corsage to school the next day.<br /><br />We would always go to my grandparents' for Easter. My uncle and aunt, along with their children (my cousins) would be there too. We all arrived in our Easter finest, then after dinner, we could change into "play" clothes if we wanted. I would wait a while, continuing to get in touch with my feminine side.<br /><br />****************************************************************<br /><br />Although the traditional dinner of Easter consists of ham, my Grandma switched things up a bit. We usually had homemade ravioli. OH MY. If you've never had homemade ravioli, then you haven't experienced italian food.<br /><br />Grandma made meat ravioli and cheese ravioli. I never liked the cheese ravioli, but my mom would make me eat one. I was allowed to have a meat ravioli, but then I had to have a cheese ravioli before I could have another meat one.<br /><br />Grandma let me "help" her make the ravioli once in a while (on a non-Easter Sunday) when I was young. The pasta dough was the same as when she made spaghetti, but when pushing it through the pasta machine, it wasn't cut. Grandma would put a spoonful of the filling on the dough every few inches along one side. Then she would fold the other side over top and press down with her hand in between the bumps of the underlying meat or cheese. Once she felt the edges were sealed well enough, she would cut them with a small roller that made zig-zag edges. She would let me use the roller tool, showing me exactly where to cut. I felt so special when she let me do that.<br /><br />She never told me how long to cook them. She always just put them in boiling water, then when they rose to the top of the pot, they were done. Sometimes it took longer than others, based on the current weather.<br /><br />Such fond Easter memories!<br /><br />****************************************************************<br />I hope you all have a very happy Easter! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/125/8078B896B47345DCE82F911FDA2803E3.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-44835769063337959962010-03-29T12:20:00.006-04:002010-03-29T12:42:40.761-04:00The KindleI've been tossing around the idea of getting a Kindle for a while now. I was actually going to buy myself one for Christmas, then decided to wait it out, sort of hoping it would go down in price. (It hasn't.)<br /><br />I sent out an email to people in my building, asking if anyone had one and what the pros and cons were. One person (Christa) has one. She even brought it in for me to look at.<br /><br />WOW. She said it could be dangerous. After about half an hour with it, I <em><strong>totally and completely</strong></em> agree. You can download a FREE excerpt from a book, then if you like it, purchase the entire thing. NY Times best sellers and new releases start at $9.99. Other books can be purchased too, and many for less than that.<br /><br />The regular Kindle can hold 1,500 books. Amazing!<br /><br />You can get newspaper and magazine subscriptions. USA Today is $11.99 a month. Other newspapers are comparable. Newsweek Magazine is $2.99 a month.<br /><br />I just mentioned this Kindle thing again the other day and Ted suggested that I get an iPad instead. I haven't done any research on the iPad, so I have no idea what all it has on it. I may have to check it out.<br /><br />BUT...that might not be necessary. You see, I entered a contest at another blogger's site today. She is giving away THREE, count them <strong>THREE</strong> Kindles, each with a $75 Amazon gift card. Never mind that after only two and a half hours I was "contestant" number 4 thousand and something. I still have a chance to win!<br /><br />(And no, I'm not going to tell you which blog it is because I don't want to decrease my chances of winning! Most of you already know anyway, sigh.)<br /><br />Wish me luck!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/92/BF8D8B00A2C3AD36EAE36FE9F2705B6D.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-4331631401600174222010-03-26T08:13:00.004-04:002010-03-26T08:44:33.022-04:00Dear Mother NatureDear Mother Nature,<br /><br />Today is March 26. I do not currently appreciate your sense of humor.<br /><br />Measurable snow is totally and completely acceptable from December 1 through February 28. Any snow <em>before</em> or <em>after</em> those dates must be approved by a majority vote of all those who would be affected by your sudden burst of independence.<br /><br />I have yet to find anyone in our area who approves of your latest move. Did someone or something upset you? Did you perhaps push the wrong button on the weather computer? Or are you just trying to show us that you can basically do what you want, when you want?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong...I thoroughly enjoy the snow accumulations you have given us this year, as they were between the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-approved dates (see above) and resulted in a few extra days off from school. I didn't even complain when you caused us to go over our limit of five calamity days, thus requiring us to make up two days in June. That's okay. I can deal with that.<br /><br />There must be almost 2" of snow outside. The grass is not visible through the snow. I do, however, find a little satisfaction in the fact that Ted was considering taking the snow plow off the lawn tractor and I told him I thought that would be a mistake. He listened to me.<em> </em><br /><em></em><br />So, my dear friend Mother Nature, please take note of the date the next time you decide to shower us with the white stuff. It would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/118/75EAB653289A91758528A3D4C2F1B511.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-1278641526109040222010-03-21T18:39:00.006-04:002010-03-21T19:33:48.305-04:00Well...We had a very nice day yesterday. Alex came home from college for the day, the weather was gorgeous (and that has such an impact on everything at this time of year), and we attended a family party to celebrate our great-nephew Michael's third birthday.<br /><br />Oh, and did I mention that Alex brought his <strong><em>girlfriend</em></strong> home with him???<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div></div><div>Ah yes...the boy went off to college and got himself one of those girlfriends. </div><br /><div>My little baby has ventured into territory I wasn't sure I'd be comfortable with. The child who purposely put mud inside the car when he was about 5 years old, and smeared it all around. The little boy who tried to ride his toy tractor beyond his sidewalk boundaries, and when I told him to turn around, he called me Cruella De Ville. The sweet little thing who would look at me and say "But I love you Mommy" whenever he'd throw up. The angel who couldn't go to sleep without Doggie Doggie every night...</div><br /><div><em>has a girlfriend</em>.</div><br /><div>Here's the best part though....</div><br /><div>we like her.</div><br /><div>We really do. Natalie's not only sweet and kind, but she's charming, intelligent, and beautiful!</div><br /><div>She scored BIG brownie points with Ted when she arrived with a box of Anthony Thomas candy. Her mom works there, and Natalie does too during the summer. I'd include a picture of the candy, but it's, <em>ahem</em>, almost gone. Ted let me have a few pieces though. Wasn't that nice of him?</div><br /><div>We went to our favorite restaurant for lunch....Bravo. Of course I had to take some pictures. Maybe when Alex sees this he'll realize that his hair is too long. It practically pokes out Natalie's eye. He has an appointment to get a haircut when he comes home for Easter weekend. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451224557695363874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 355px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8r_Q46pAc-0Wq7F-hRWJIaoSebA7yxThB3SbCaoFHYlOChdaxtv7-Mvz1Mj0vKPF3las16_MsMjq7_2r_urWtCnL3pf-hefjHnu_Wm613XkkcNHdJFsB9zUSE-CTzA3BeRMeyDgP90N0l/s400/IMG_0622.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><p>We spent the evening at Peg and Mac's celebrating Michael's birthday and we all had a great time.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451227815822299026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_THVlNrTp4XzcePJVOrAduJqcxUjRwhSToEC8BG2blPxFoi5KwmVp6jih5QKutm_yjvbbGH3Gvduh7JruUneg1gRgmt3d2xPPrajb9fRiy6jS3IQ3JRpyvU87bpdJQWH20rdsz8OTaJY3/s400/IMG_0626.JPG" border="0" /></p><div>Check out Peg's Barbie collection in the background. She specializes in "I Love Lucy" and "The Wizard of Oz."<br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451224570698755986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAkZDu8J-3Ks_molVPu03CB5Ta2pgzJcFMyBSuRYaejc4l7AO1uW0Urnml8_k2HlaCL0sTQ04ernblOfBYaaXQwg_Zd-pE9cIYJKfBd3OaybJHdHKaYexzVfx9ZoyOXklTTYHNz463mxq/s400/IMG_0629.JPG" border="0" /></p></div><div>Natalie was great...we had given her a rundown on who was who before we went and she just went with the flow.</div><div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451227838524715586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 374px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-BbNtBPdG5MGTVsR0g6Ve44Ct-EgHVCwnGU4SBK9oY0-H41Jii95feii9bFEnQ1gvXtv7m535Vjgu0kNp4XG5DKvbD47bn3B8y_LaEkNh9L2Llhus3LfnE5XlpT23U-uP-QTF7yXCGpg/s400/IMG_0636.JPG" border="0" />Our niece Holly was busy on her phone throughout the evening, sending and receiving texts, as she and her friends made plans to go to the Kentucky Derby in May. She's also going to Scottsdale, AZ in May, then Tybee Island in September. She loves to travel, and does so whenever she can. Good for her!<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451224589899914018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodZ5idRCm7HA6lRHC_8EXPiOyI_ecxIDh1enHJwU91HcfoX7yXjLouEc2spAMNJt9l3k_Ez2Ar3UyEWrutCAzyV-brkuPOcYxvPaHX483J9_Kn6dbhMnQUFS6CbPJNdRsokZgvdhsTa0B/s400/IMG_0639+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Alex even played with one of Michael's toys and it didn't phase Natalie. Wow, that's impressive.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451227826679328690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGQKL2KmJvv0Y8e9Z2ZYfJRWZdCxxXmUf1raUm71-T6SE_wUZMHb0T6reatyHGh8stIbROSL1Vgd2cOYyWgk0h4Bg5bv2AOpCSxLg5vowbYH5a6jcBRKCOTnnTAKPivILGt_VzktdqHFr/s400/IMG_0628.JPG" border="0" /><br />Alex was very busy with the remote control because Peg and Mac have DishNetwork and he was checking out all the music channels. Aunt Patty (also his godmother) tried to distract him, but you can see the death grip he has on it.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451224561868928466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZV79hhmvNfxAfEBQ_uNgVVZRka6YH2Dh1Od_pSkDxjhutCDkWQh82QuePtaF2QZBaKnxevHQRkeFLJoMwHgAwwuK-xY8nWxto_fscu8cJFgBny_Zec6h2ecTXaWvCxtdXmVO8TLTwmYV/s400/IMG_0623.JPG" border="0" />I'm so glad that he feels he can be himself around her and be as goofy as he is normally. Heck, I think she even "gets" his sense of humor.</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451227852695536818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy-w3DwwV9VMzcD2jRooM66XS91Y2dMQidFc8GJ7qSodCwm-otQw4ASSZ5aphW0AkByx_4mdRfrBMbaNvxtFwkRRPiYF83wzKLWFr-lrDgIZ349MsEi4uB-Yg8Vl4IWj67-XgcIGrbxgj/s400/IMG_0633.JPG" border="0" />Michael was relaxing in this chair, as his mom Kelly (our niece), looked on. He liked it so much, he took a little break from opening his gifts!</p></div></div></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451227848590739922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_Eu5fMyt8H3lBrnYpWsQCXRLcIHQo4bzKk5vMEi67cozwsaDKyio3SZIN1TviZf40CRCpEGSJj180sG0WcdrRbj0IIljKiTj0vYbA8c_aKoB2IHvD1s0Encu6y8hH8zny4Do0TGPzXFR/s400/IMG_0640.JPG" border="0" /></p>Michael got a tricycle and was trying to figure out the pedal thing. He also got a John Deere tractor and was ready to take it out and start mowing.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451231559566501426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 343px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-I9PglK_1dw1qcp5aHgp7HXcmcmxlvjDmsOKCVSt8Z6LLgfpdv6YgtTEIdu3HNWV6YptHXS7gcn7rRAHn96GOvJirKq1klwJwRsDPRqsdM4YbfEzt4wd6b6JrveQOXqWAHSU6drop_dx1/s400/IMG_0635.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>What a nice day!</p><p> </p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/92/A4BA91F3F7D91E1ACF29388FE2C8FD78.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-42327191420325399032010-02-17T14:54:00.003-05:002010-02-17T15:11:56.859-05:00Snow Days Can Be Very BusySo we had Monday off for Presidents' Day. We were off yesterday because of snow. We are off today because of snow, too.<br /><br />Let me tell you, I've gotten SO much done this week!<br /><br />Let's see...Monday, I spent way too much time perusing the internet and Facebook. Then I made dinner and watched the Olympics.<br /><br />Yesterday, I cleaned out my purse, and then thought about all the things I could be doing. After that, I spent some time on the computer again, and watched TV.<br /><br />Today, I sorted some dirty laundry and actually washed a load. I also answered the phone a couple of times. I love caller ID...when I see it's someone I know really well, instead of saying "Hello," I like to say "Front Desk." The first time I do it to someone, there's usually silence. Then laughter. But I can't take full credit for this; Alex did this to me once and I laughed like crazy.<br /><br />I'm thinking about what to make for dinner tonight too.<br /><br />I might even cross a few things off my "To Do" list....not because I actually DID them, but I'm just tired of looking at how long the list is.<br /><br />I guess you could say that I'm lacking motivation.<br /><br />I hope we get to go back to school tomorrow.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/254/FC90006C2D17614C0E03AF1680AC912E.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610891339986355360.post-63139997396699436502010-02-15T10:54:00.005-05:002010-02-15T11:31:38.591-05:00Let it Snow!We've had a LOT of snow here in east central Ohio lately. Last week we missed three days of school due to the snow.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506895236525746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnXxU9cRb9CbSLlVVMkMBRx6A5OAnliEb0lERgtkcJoWr2wN0X2e6X7wbGLEFgHKo-m3e_fOiTKNgPHv-KXA-gOotwbGhUQPWqLqLQtI3DDFCPtV88HsLQVrg2LH8GGIeLu1Y8Y-XorYr/s400/2-6-2010+010.JPG" border="0" /><br />I saw my oncologist last week (another post in itself) and he lives in the "big city" just north of here. He just couldn't seem to understand why school was cancelled. I told him that our county is rural and if he took a snowy day ride on the county and township roads that our school district encompassed, he would <strong><em>NEVER</em></strong> put his kids on the bus. He seemed to understand the situation a little more once I put it in perspective for him.<br /><br />The snow is beautiful, but it can definitely cause some issues for people getting around and living their normal every day life. Unfortunately, the world does not come to a standstill because of snow. Even though we didn't have school, I still had some doctors' appointments and errands to run.<br /><br />Here in Ohio school districts may choose to start the day with a 2 hour delay (mostly due to weather, but occasionally for meetings). They may also choose to dismiss 2 hours early (again mostly due to weather, but occasionally for meetings). However, they cannot do both, or the day will not count toward the 180 day minimum requirement. Also, here in Ohio, we are allotted <strong>five</strong> calamity days before we need to make missed days up. Next year that will change to three (bad move, in my opinion).<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506917560724274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDhJQjSQiYQwt8CniISc0_GbQFaZ-IuWAREHcSC-aExMCjKeLmga97Q1XsvhuQethsdJH_k2HiQ0vOFsOdTWsvWWk1SFPZbUCURFErTTph6wSIkr-yI6Lk9SOWnvabvqloj7pRENGnvjn/s400/2-6-2010+020.JPG" border="0" /><br />A district may choose to implement a 2 hour delay in hopes that the weather will calm down or the temperature will rise a little, and the day will then count. Once in a while, we begin with a 2 hour delay, then the decision is made to cancel school altogether for the day. Safety of the students and staff is the top concern, and I'm glad that I'm not involved in making the decision as to what to do as far as a delay or cancellation.<br /><br />This is how our recent school attendance has gone:<br /><br />Friday, February 5 - 2 hour early dismissal<br />Monday, February 8 - 2 hour delay<br />Tuesday, February 9 - No school<br />Wednesday, February 10 - No school<br />Thursday, February 11-No school<br /><br />We also had a snow day in January, so we are now at 4 days off, with only 1 to go before having to add days at the end of the year.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506914845611922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhuI6u-cAxq06Jniwptj7OyvyaBvUaTWCnce1yQ2IyhuiSqRQLKgesmn0yZsWPPo0iPS8Ehnd6zr3SQB8IjDRhfBzwZt43hBsxt2Iyyx0K6ZVG1iH9TWEOR-rHg7ItfEpuEuDUCow5LFg/s400/2-6-2010+012.JPG" border="0" /><br />Yet another snow "event" is due to come through the area today. We are off school because of Presidents' Day, but hopefully we'll be able to make it in tomorrow. I don't recall the last time we've had so much snow. Usually the snow will almost completely melt off before the next snow comes, but this year, we're just getting them one right after the other. </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506909587126578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-l8ScYXoOlChRGp-sBo-l-UIPsHzyskVH2lDkg5HC4Li7BwE44voqlwaH7mpk46vi05rjSwXi5WtWO7RixSaBbOE-IdOk97yvoOskooEjTokZ7-oR-fQYML5evuEik_QRynbqt76BCqTn/s400/2-6-2010+023.JPG" border="0" /><br />But it is pretty, you have to admit. </div><div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/92/A4BA91F3F7D91E1ACF29388FE2C8FD78.png" /></a>Cindihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05223695299377158162noreply@blogger.com3