It's 9 PM and I still can't think of anything to write about in this darn blog. I just got back from a Veteran's Day concert put on by my son's band. The band was very good. I think they need to hire a publicity agent though. It would have been nice to have more of an audience. Oh well...instead of thinking up an original blog, I'll share a "funny" that a friend sent. Good thing I keep a file of them.
Headline Stories for Year 2035
1. Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.
2. Spotted Owl plague threatens Western North America crops & livestock.
3. Last remaining Fundamentalist Muslim dies in the American Territory of the Middle East (formerly known as Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon)
4. Afghanistan still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least ten more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.
5. George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.
6. 35 year study: diet and exercise is the key to weight loss.
7. Nursing home event... Bill Clinton denies allegations of affair with candy striper.
8. Texas executes last remaining citizen.
9. Upcoming NFL draft likely to focus on use of mutants.
10. Baby conceived naturally.....scientists stumped.
11. Authentic year 2000 "chad" sells at Sotheby's for $4.6 million.
12. Ozone created by electric cars now killing thousands in Los Angeles.
13. Average height of NBA players now nine foot seven inches.
14. Microsoft announces it has perfected its newest version of Windows so it crashes BEFORE installation is completed.
15. New California law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, and baseball bats be registered by January 2036.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The words loosen and unloosen mean the same thing. On the other hand, cleave and cleave are two completely opposite words. Isn't the English language wonderful. I sure am glad that I don't have to learn it as a second language. Learning Italian is challenging enough.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Sunday, November 09, 2003
I got up at 5:30 AM. Church. That explains a lot. I played my clarinet at the first two services. It was pledge Sunday. Amazingly enough the place was packed. This could be a sign of an improving economy. Last year there weren't too many people in the pews for pledge Sunday and the poor minister ended up preaching to the converted. Regardless on how many people showed up today, encouraging as that may be, the minister still ended up preaching to the converted...there just were a lot more of the converted on hand.
A good friend sent me the following "funny" that I just had to pass along. I do dye my hair red but I never concidered myself "blond".
A young redhead goes into the doctor's office and says that her body hurts wherever she touches it.
"Impossible" says the doctor. "Show me!"
She takes her finger and pushes her elbow and screams in agony.
She pushes her knee and screams, she pushes her ankle and screams.
Everywhere she touches makes her scream.
The doctor asks, "You're not really a redhead, are you"
"No" she says, "I'm actually a blonde."
"I thought so," the doctor says. "Your finger is broken."
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
When asked to name a color, three out of five people will say "red".
A good friend sent me the following "funny" that I just had to pass along. I do dye my hair red but I never concidered myself "blond".
A young redhead goes into the doctor's office and says that her body hurts wherever she touches it.
"Impossible" says the doctor. "Show me!"
She takes her finger and pushes her elbow and screams in agony.
She pushes her knee and screams, she pushes her ankle and screams.
Everywhere she touches makes her scream.
The doctor asks, "You're not really a redhead, are you"
"No" she says, "I'm actually a blonde."
"I thought so," the doctor says. "Your finger is broken."
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
When asked to name a color, three out of five people will say "red".
Saturday, November 08, 2003
What? You blinked and missed the picture that I had posted of the Mother-of-the-Bride? OK. For those who failed to read my blog yesterday, here's your last opportunity. Just click on the highlighted word above and you will finally see what The Old Grey Frog looks like after visiting a beauty parlor.
My husband and I stopped by to visit our new home today. It's still a vacant lot. No progress visible as yet though it looked like someone drove their car over the lot because there were tire tracks.
I went outside tonight and viewed the eclipsed moon. Neighbors were oohing and awing over it's beauty from their boats on the lake. It was beautiful. I went back inside. It's cold outside....for my little bit of Arizona.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The average person will catch 140 colds in their lifetime. I don't know how many colds I've had in my lifetime so far. I try to avoid them and, failing that, I strive not to dwell upon my past experiences with them.
My husband and I stopped by to visit our new home today. It's still a vacant lot. No progress visible as yet though it looked like someone drove their car over the lot because there were tire tracks.
I went outside tonight and viewed the eclipsed moon. Neighbors were oohing and awing over it's beauty from their boats on the lake. It was beautiful. I went back inside. It's cold outside....for my little bit of Arizona.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The average person will catch 140 colds in their lifetime. I don't know how many colds I've had in my lifetime so far. I try to avoid them and, failing that, I strive not to dwell upon my past experiences with them.
Friday, November 07, 2003
Confession is good for the soul. I added a couple of pictures to my blog this morning. A past blog. One of the pictures is the Mother-of-the-Bride which I've since posted for all of you to enjoy. I will be changing it soon. I have this crazed look in my eye and I'm not sure how long I want to have everyone think that I look like that on a daily basis. The other picture is of The Happy Couple which you can now enjoy without checking out past blogs. I promise not to alter past blogs...unless I warn you about it after the fact.
Tomorrow I have Italian class. My husband and I signed up for Italian language classes a while back. We completed the first classes offered and signed up for the second group of classes. Unfortunately we missed the first class of the new series due to the marriage of our daughter. Now we need to quickly see if we can cram for this next class which we'll be attending tomorrow morning. I hate playing catch-up.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The comic strip Peanuts was originally called Li'l Folks. I used to love reading that comic strip. Just as I often feel torn between identifying with Rocky on the one hand and Bullwinkle on the other, I also feel torn between identifying with Snoopy on the one hand and Charlie Brown on the other. My sister was definitely Lucy.
Tomorrow I have Italian class. My husband and I signed up for Italian language classes a while back. We completed the first classes offered and signed up for the second group of classes. Unfortunately we missed the first class of the new series due to the marriage of our daughter. Now we need to quickly see if we can cram for this next class which we'll be attending tomorrow morning. I hate playing catch-up.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The comic strip Peanuts was originally called Li'l Folks. I used to love reading that comic strip. Just as I often feel torn between identifying with Rocky on the one hand and Bullwinkle on the other, I also feel torn between identifying with Snoopy on the one hand and Charlie Brown on the other. My sister was definitely Lucy.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
I'm still tired from all the activity surrounding my daughter's wedding. I suppose I shall eventually recover. There's so much to do between now and the first of the year. We have to prepare the house so we can sell it. We have to figure out where to put all this stuff. Just like there is no way that one can fit a square peg into a round hole, one can not fit the accumulated years of stuff from a 3000 square foot house into a 1900 square foot house. It just isn't going to happen. There's this wonderful program on TV right now where they go to people's homes and organize them. They take everything out of the house and make them sort it into three piles. Things to throw away, things to sell at a garage sale(that which doesn't sell is donated), and things to keep. Sounds like a plan to me. Things to throw away, things to sell at a garage sale or donate, and things that are kept...here or moved to Wisconsin. Only problem will be that I hate to get rid of anything. One never knows when one may need the very thing that one gets rid of but one knows for certain that this usually occurs one week after one gets rid of said object.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Gangster Al Capone's business card listed him as a "second-hand furniture dealer". I may have to see if his descendants are still in the business.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Gangster Al Capone's business card listed him as a "second-hand furniture dealer". I may have to see if his descendants are still in the business.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
My Daughter's Wedding Day
I took my daughters out for breakfast at one of Sam's Town's restaurants. It was about 8 AM. My daughters and I had a hair appointment at 9 AM. We each were getting prepped and primped and pampered for the wedding. We were "finished" at around 11:45PM. Please note that I don't normally clean up this nicely. This is when we learned that we had to quickly corral the Matron of Honor and her daugher The Flower Girl so we could all race over to Paris to check into the Bridal Suite in order to get dressed for the wedding. We were to be joined by our photographer, my oldest daughter, The Mink.
We arrived at the Paris at a little after 1 PM. As we were all piling out of the car with all our various "stuff"...the wedding gown, the dresses, etc. etc. etc. we ran into some of the wedding guests who were exploring the Vegas Strip. Pictures were taken of the frantic Mother-of-the-Bride by two of said Mother's former Bride's Maids from 25 years ago. We checked into the Paris Bridal Suite which we discovered was a non-smoking suite. No problemo for me. I don't smoke. Unfortunately, the bride was horrified. She smokes. So does the groom. OK. I went down to the check-in desk and begged for a smoking suite. I got one. Yuck! Those rooms sure do stink. The smoker didn't seem to notice.
I left everyone smoking in the room (well...not the flowergirl...just the rest of them) while I raced up to the Wedding Chapel so I could meet the Wedding Co-Ordinator. My husband had warned me that the gal that we'd been working with all this time was sick and they had had to find a replacement. I hurried up to the reception desk and asked to see the co-ordinator for the wedding. The receptionist called back to the offices saying, "The bride for the wedding is here to see the co-ordinator." Blink, Blink? "I'm the Mother-of-the-Bride". I straightened that out and met with the co-ordinator, making sure that she had the names correct and the times etc.
Returning to the room, I found that we still had plenty of time before we had to get dressed for the wedding. I was already dressed (maybe this is why the receptionist thought I was the bride) because I didn't want to have to lug all my stuff back to Sam's Town after the wedding like the Matron-of-Honor and her daughter would have to do. My daughters and I went down to the casino, had a drink at the bar, and then I played a couple of quarter machines. I doubled my money, cashed out, and we all returned to the room to get ready for the wedding.
In all of our wedding attire, we arrived at the chapel to meet the co-ordinator at around 4:15 PM. My husband was waiting for us. The rest of our guests were waiting down in the casino, having arrived by chartered bus earlier then anticipated. We quickly hustled the bride and her attendants into the Bride's Waiting Room. A photographer (professional) came and took a multitude of pictures. A photograper (The Mink) had already taken a multitude of pictures. The professional photographer and The Mink discussed cameras. The bride drank a glass of water, wanted more water but was reminded of the difficulties that could present themselves should she decide that she had to go to visit the little girl's room in all of her wedding splendor.
Meanwhile, the co-ordinator was lining people up and pinning flowers on all the immediate family members. This is when we discovered that the ringbearer's pillow had been left up in the Bridal Suite. Thankfully it wasn't left at Sam's Town. The Mink raced (she really did race...she took off her shoes and ran) back to the Bridal Suite to get the ringbearer's pillow. Thankfully, I wasn't around when my husband asked the groom if he had the marriage license (he had left it up in the room at Sam's Town). Fortunately, this disaster wasn't too bad since they hadn't as yet left Sam's Town. The groom raced up to his room at Sam's Town and recovered the missing document. The Best Man did not lose the rings.
Everyone was seated in the Chapel du Paradis. The minister waited by the podium. The groom waited nervously at the front of the chapel. He quipped that he wished he had hired a juggler to take some of the attention off of him. The music started. In walked the Matron-of-Honor on the arm of the Best-Man. After a short pause, in walked the Flowergirl on the arm of the Ring-bearer. Music. More music. More music. I think they time the music for a larger wedding party. More bride's maids and groom's men. Then everyone is directed to stand and in marches my daughter, The Bride on the arm of her Father. She was so beautiful!
I'm sure the minister was a professional actor who happened to be a minister but that was just fine. He sounded like he really knew my daughter and her fiance. He sounded really sincere. He delivered a moving wedding speech. He didn't sound like he'd been giving the same speech night after night down through the ages. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Afterwards the guests were directed to head back to the chartered bus area while the wedding party and their families stayed behind for more pictures. More pictures were taken. The family was directed to leave so that even more pictures could be taken of just the Bride and the Groom and their attendants. We all headed down to the bus to wait for the Bride and Groom. Soon, the attendants joined us as we waited for the Bride and Groom. While we waited, we watched as my husband's father tried one of the slot machines. No luck. Oh well.
We oogled the limosine that was waiting to pick up the Bride and Groom and their attendants. Wow! A red stretch limo with flames painted on it's side and a leopard print interior. Sinful4 was the license plate. And then the fire alarms went off inside the casino. Thankfully it was a false alarm but the Bride told me that the elevators were sealed shut. They had to wait until the all-clear was given before they could join us downstairs. The wedding couple and their attendants entered the Sinful limosine and were off to Sam's Town and the reception. The wedding guests piled into the humble CoachUSA bus and followed them to Sam's Town and the reception.
The reception went well. The bride changed into a pair of running shoes studded with diamonds (not real ones...let's get real). The food was fabulous. The guests blew bubbles. The bride and groom kissed upon request. Wedding Confetti (Jordan Almonds) was explained for those who didn't understand the Italian tradition. The Bride's Father danced with the Bride. The Groom's Mother danced with the Groom. The Bride and Groom danced. The Bride threw her wedding bouquet...no-one caught it. The Groom threw the wedding garter...the Groom's 5-year-old nephew caught it. The Bride and Groom cut the cake and shared their first bites. Cameras flashed. Lots of Kodak moments. Champagne flowed.
Guests were swept out the door at 10:30PM. Many adjourned to Roxie's (a Sam's Town nightclub and bar) after the reception. Meanwhile, I rescued the cake-topper and all the rest of the numerous items that we wished to save until we don't want to save them anymore. My parents took the flowers and the rest of the wedding cake off to their house so that at least one layer of the cake could be preserved for the happy couple's first anniversary (it's sitting in my freezer right now wrapped in multiple layers of plastic). The unopened bottles of champagne were delivered up to my room (No...I did not drink them....not yet) along with the wedding guest book, all the extra wedding confetti, the cake knife and server, etc. etc. Thank goodness for bell people.
And so ends the tale of My Daughter's Wedding. The Friday and Saturday after the wedding was spent connecting with as many of our guests as we could because we didn't have nearly enough time at the wedding or the reception to talk to everyone we needed to and wanted to talk to before we had to say goodbye. Sunday was spent recovering from My Daughter's Wedding and it's aftermath, not to mention that I finally had time to play video poker.
Monday we left for home...after my husband played with my father's computer. Hoover Dam is really pretty after dark. There was little or no traffic on our trip back home. We arrived back in Phoenix at around 2 AM....Tuesday.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The father of writer Hart Crane is the creator of Life Savers candy. Clarence Crane.
I took my daughters out for breakfast at one of Sam's Town's restaurants. It was about 8 AM. My daughters and I had a hair appointment at 9 AM. We each were getting prepped and primped and pampered for the wedding. We were "finished" at around 11:45PM. Please note that I don't normally clean up this nicely. This is when we learned that we had to quickly corral the Matron of Honor and her daugher The Flower Girl so we could all race over to Paris to check into the Bridal Suite in order to get dressed for the wedding. We were to be joined by our photographer, my oldest daughter, The Mink.
We arrived at the Paris at a little after 1 PM. As we were all piling out of the car with all our various "stuff"...the wedding gown, the dresses, etc. etc. etc. we ran into some of the wedding guests who were exploring the Vegas Strip. Pictures were taken of the frantic Mother-of-the-Bride by two of said Mother's former Bride's Maids from 25 years ago. We checked into the Paris Bridal Suite which we discovered was a non-smoking suite. No problemo for me. I don't smoke. Unfortunately, the bride was horrified. She smokes. So does the groom. OK. I went down to the check-in desk and begged for a smoking suite. I got one. Yuck! Those rooms sure do stink. The smoker didn't seem to notice.
I left everyone smoking in the room (well...not the flowergirl...just the rest of them) while I raced up to the Wedding Chapel so I could meet the Wedding Co-Ordinator. My husband had warned me that the gal that we'd been working with all this time was sick and they had had to find a replacement. I hurried up to the reception desk and asked to see the co-ordinator for the wedding. The receptionist called back to the offices saying, "The bride for the wedding is here to see the co-ordinator." Blink, Blink? "I'm the Mother-of-the-Bride". I straightened that out and met with the co-ordinator, making sure that she had the names correct and the times etc.
Returning to the room, I found that we still had plenty of time before we had to get dressed for the wedding. I was already dressed (maybe this is why the receptionist thought I was the bride) because I didn't want to have to lug all my stuff back to Sam's Town after the wedding like the Matron-of-Honor and her daughter would have to do. My daughters and I went down to the casino, had a drink at the bar, and then I played a couple of quarter machines. I doubled my money, cashed out, and we all returned to the room to get ready for the wedding.
In all of our wedding attire, we arrived at the chapel to meet the co-ordinator at around 4:15 PM. My husband was waiting for us. The rest of our guests were waiting down in the casino, having arrived by chartered bus earlier then anticipated. We quickly hustled the bride and her attendants into the Bride's Waiting Room. A photographer (professional) came and took a multitude of pictures. A photograper (The Mink) had already taken a multitude of pictures. The professional photographer and The Mink discussed cameras. The bride drank a glass of water, wanted more water but was reminded of the difficulties that could present themselves should she decide that she had to go to visit the little girl's room in all of her wedding splendor.
Meanwhile, the co-ordinator was lining people up and pinning flowers on all the immediate family members. This is when we discovered that the ringbearer's pillow had been left up in the Bridal Suite. Thankfully it wasn't left at Sam's Town. The Mink raced (she really did race...she took off her shoes and ran) back to the Bridal Suite to get the ringbearer's pillow. Thankfully, I wasn't around when my husband asked the groom if he had the marriage license (he had left it up in the room at Sam's Town). Fortunately, this disaster wasn't too bad since they hadn't as yet left Sam's Town. The groom raced up to his room at Sam's Town and recovered the missing document. The Best Man did not lose the rings.
Everyone was seated in the Chapel du Paradis. The minister waited by the podium. The groom waited nervously at the front of the chapel. He quipped that he wished he had hired a juggler to take some of the attention off of him. The music started. In walked the Matron-of-Honor on the arm of the Best-Man. After a short pause, in walked the Flowergirl on the arm of the Ring-bearer. Music. More music. More music. I think they time the music for a larger wedding party. More bride's maids and groom's men. Then everyone is directed to stand and in marches my daughter, The Bride on the arm of her Father. She was so beautiful!
I'm sure the minister was a professional actor who happened to be a minister but that was just fine. He sounded like he really knew my daughter and her fiance. He sounded really sincere. He delivered a moving wedding speech. He didn't sound like he'd been giving the same speech night after night down through the ages. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Afterwards the guests were directed to head back to the chartered bus area while the wedding party and their families stayed behind for more pictures. More pictures were taken. The family was directed to leave so that even more pictures could be taken of just the Bride and the Groom and their attendants. We all headed down to the bus to wait for the Bride and Groom. Soon, the attendants joined us as we waited for the Bride and Groom. While we waited, we watched as my husband's father tried one of the slot machines. No luck. Oh well.
We oogled the limosine that was waiting to pick up the Bride and Groom and their attendants. Wow! A red stretch limo with flames painted on it's side and a leopard print interior. Sinful4 was the license plate. And then the fire alarms went off inside the casino. Thankfully it was a false alarm but the Bride told me that the elevators were sealed shut. They had to wait until the all-clear was given before they could join us downstairs. The wedding couple and their attendants entered the Sinful limosine and were off to Sam's Town and the reception. The wedding guests piled into the humble CoachUSA bus and followed them to Sam's Town and the reception.
The reception went well. The bride changed into a pair of running shoes studded with diamonds (not real ones...let's get real). The food was fabulous. The guests blew bubbles. The bride and groom kissed upon request. Wedding Confetti (Jordan Almonds) was explained for those who didn't understand the Italian tradition. The Bride's Father danced with the Bride. The Groom's Mother danced with the Groom. The Bride and Groom danced. The Bride threw her wedding bouquet...no-one caught it. The Groom threw the wedding garter...the Groom's 5-year-old nephew caught it. The Bride and Groom cut the cake and shared their first bites. Cameras flashed. Lots of Kodak moments. Champagne flowed.
Guests were swept out the door at 10:30PM. Many adjourned to Roxie's (a Sam's Town nightclub and bar) after the reception. Meanwhile, I rescued the cake-topper and all the rest of the numerous items that we wished to save until we don't want to save them anymore. My parents took the flowers and the rest of the wedding cake off to their house so that at least one layer of the cake could be preserved for the happy couple's first anniversary (it's sitting in my freezer right now wrapped in multiple layers of plastic). The unopened bottles of champagne were delivered up to my room (No...I did not drink them....not yet) along with the wedding guest book, all the extra wedding confetti, the cake knife and server, etc. etc. Thank goodness for bell people.
And so ends the tale of My Daughter's Wedding. The Friday and Saturday after the wedding was spent connecting with as many of our guests as we could because we didn't have nearly enough time at the wedding or the reception to talk to everyone we needed to and wanted to talk to before we had to say goodbye. Sunday was spent recovering from My Daughter's Wedding and it's aftermath, not to mention that I finally had time to play video poker.
Monday we left for home...after my husband played with my father's computer. Hoover Dam is really pretty after dark. There was little or no traffic on our trip back home. We arrived back in Phoenix at around 2 AM....Tuesday.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The father of writer Hart Crane is the creator of Life Savers candy. Clarence Crane.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
And now we skip right over to post partem wedding. My daughter's wedding was beautiful. Since so much went on during the days when I didn't find time to blog, I'll have to split the story into various blogs.
We left for Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 29th. The morning started with my coffeemaker overflowing and making a real mess of my countertop. Not a good way to start the morning. Thankfully we were able to pick up some coffee in Wickenburg on the way to Vegas. My husband is currently out looking for a new coffeemaker.
When we arrived in Vegas, we stopped to drop our dogs off at my folk's place in Henderson. They had kindly agreed to look after the little monsters for us while we were in Vegas. We picked up the bridal shower supplies and the wedding supplies that I'd left with them on a previous trip to Vegas.
After checking into Sam's Town, my son and I raced the wedding reception stuff (Jordan Almonds, wedding favors, cake topper, etc) over to the caterer. I made sure that the pop and champagne was chilling in the fridge in our room for the bridal shower planned for later in the evening after the rehearsal dinner and then I joined my oldest daughter and my sister and brother-in-law down at the bar in the park. They had arrived earlier in the day. In the meantime, because of the wildfires in California, there were numerous flight delays for people arriving at the airport for the wedding. Plan A had to be scrapped and Plan B had to be quickly formulated. Plan A was that the groom's relatives would all take the airport shuttle to Sam's Town and would arrive there at 3 PM. Plan A would allow my husband to go the airport and pick his parents up at 3:30 PM. Plan A would allow my husband to gather all those needing to be fitted for tuxedos and take them for a fitting at 5 PM. Plan A needed to be tossed in the trash can due to the fires in California. The skies in Vegas were brown and choking with smoke. All flights were delayed at least one hour. Plan B still provided that the groom's relatives would all take the airport shuttle to Sam's Town. Just later then expected and we all prayed that the ringbearers tuxedo would fit since he wouldn't be able to go to the tuxedo fitting. Plan B demanded that my husband corral the groom, the Best Man, and my son to immediately take them all for the tuxedo fitting before racing off to the airport to pick up his parents from their delayed flight. Plan B worked just fine. Thankfully we didn't have to resort to Plan C which obviously hadn't been formulated. We were lucky to have the presence of mind to formulate Plan B on the fly.
In the meantime (post tuxedo), the groom and his future bride raced over to the courthouse to correct a glaring error on the wedding license. After correcting this, everyone who was invited and a couple who weren't all met to have a rehearsal dinner buffet.
After the dinner, the women all deserted the men and headed directly to our suite for the bridal shower. Champagne flowed. Henna was used to decorate the bride's feet. The female wedding guests bonded. All went well. I have no idea what the male wedding guests and the groom did with themselves. I heard something about cigars and the bar.
You may have noticed that although we all were staying at a casino hotel, there was no gambling going on. There was no time to gamble on Wednesday. And so ends my tale of 1 Day Before My Daughter's Wedding. I will continue this wedding story in tomorrow's blog. Just writing about all this exhausts me. Thurday was the wedding day and that was just as exhausting and more so then what I've just described. You may also note that even though I had access to a computer during this entire wedding trip, I never touched it and am only now able to finally "blog".
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Astronauts on the moon weigh only one-sixth of what they do on earth. Since I don't live on the moon, I'll have to work really hard at losing all the weight I gained while we were in Vegas.
We left for Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 29th. The morning started with my coffeemaker overflowing and making a real mess of my countertop. Not a good way to start the morning. Thankfully we were able to pick up some coffee in Wickenburg on the way to Vegas. My husband is currently out looking for a new coffeemaker.
When we arrived in Vegas, we stopped to drop our dogs off at my folk's place in Henderson. They had kindly agreed to look after the little monsters for us while we were in Vegas. We picked up the bridal shower supplies and the wedding supplies that I'd left with them on a previous trip to Vegas.
After checking into Sam's Town, my son and I raced the wedding reception stuff (Jordan Almonds, wedding favors, cake topper, etc) over to the caterer. I made sure that the pop and champagne was chilling in the fridge in our room for the bridal shower planned for later in the evening after the rehearsal dinner and then I joined my oldest daughter and my sister and brother-in-law down at the bar in the park. They had arrived earlier in the day. In the meantime, because of the wildfires in California, there were numerous flight delays for people arriving at the airport for the wedding. Plan A had to be scrapped and Plan B had to be quickly formulated. Plan A was that the groom's relatives would all take the airport shuttle to Sam's Town and would arrive there at 3 PM. Plan A would allow my husband to go the airport and pick his parents up at 3:30 PM. Plan A would allow my husband to gather all those needing to be fitted for tuxedos and take them for a fitting at 5 PM. Plan A needed to be tossed in the trash can due to the fires in California. The skies in Vegas were brown and choking with smoke. All flights were delayed at least one hour. Plan B still provided that the groom's relatives would all take the airport shuttle to Sam's Town. Just later then expected and we all prayed that the ringbearers tuxedo would fit since he wouldn't be able to go to the tuxedo fitting. Plan B demanded that my husband corral the groom, the Best Man, and my son to immediately take them all for the tuxedo fitting before racing off to the airport to pick up his parents from their delayed flight. Plan B worked just fine. Thankfully we didn't have to resort to Plan C which obviously hadn't been formulated. We were lucky to have the presence of mind to formulate Plan B on the fly.
In the meantime (post tuxedo), the groom and his future bride raced over to the courthouse to correct a glaring error on the wedding license. After correcting this, everyone who was invited and a couple who weren't all met to have a rehearsal dinner buffet.
After the dinner, the women all deserted the men and headed directly to our suite for the bridal shower. Champagne flowed. Henna was used to decorate the bride's feet. The female wedding guests bonded. All went well. I have no idea what the male wedding guests and the groom did with themselves. I heard something about cigars and the bar.
You may have noticed that although we all were staying at a casino hotel, there was no gambling going on. There was no time to gamble on Wednesday. And so ends my tale of 1 Day Before My Daughter's Wedding. I will continue this wedding story in tomorrow's blog. Just writing about all this exhausts me. Thurday was the wedding day and that was just as exhausting and more so then what I've just described. You may also note that even though I had access to a computer during this entire wedding trip, I never touched it and am only now able to finally "blog".
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Astronauts on the moon weigh only one-sixth of what they do on earth. Since I don't live on the moon, I'll have to work really hard at losing all the weight I gained while we were in Vegas.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
2 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding.
The more nervous I feel, the calmer my husband is acting. You just want to hit someone like that.
I woke up this morning before sunrise. My son marches in the school band and he has what is called a zero hour class. That's a class that starts before school starts. That's a class that starts before the sun rises in the sky. He's been doing this for four years. Only this year he can drive so I don't have to take him. I still make sure I'm up to see him off though.
I made coffee and while sipping on my first cup of the day, I pondered all the things that I have on my TO DO list. Lots of stuff TO DO. I gazed outside at the rising sun and marveled at the beautiful red sunrise. How beautiful! And then it hit me. The fires in California. All those fires in California. I really have nothing in the world to complain about or worry about. We leave tomorrow for the wedding. Life is all about perspective. There's always going to be someone who is prettier, richer, younger, and happier then you. And there's always going to be someone who isn't. I woke up this morning and enjoyed a cup of coffee, listened to the birds singing, watched the ducks on the pond and marveled at a beautiful sunrise. And there are people dying in the Middle East. And California is burning. Thankfully my beautiful sunrise has more to do with some high clouds blowing in from the east and not from the smoke created by the many fires in California but it sure did stop and make me think.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A frog has to close its eyes in order to swallow.
The more nervous I feel, the calmer my husband is acting. You just want to hit someone like that.
I woke up this morning before sunrise. My son marches in the school band and he has what is called a zero hour class. That's a class that starts before school starts. That's a class that starts before the sun rises in the sky. He's been doing this for four years. Only this year he can drive so I don't have to take him. I still make sure I'm up to see him off though.
I made coffee and while sipping on my first cup of the day, I pondered all the things that I have on my TO DO list. Lots of stuff TO DO. I gazed outside at the rising sun and marveled at the beautiful red sunrise. How beautiful! And then it hit me. The fires in California. All those fires in California. I really have nothing in the world to complain about or worry about. We leave tomorrow for the wedding. Life is all about perspective. There's always going to be someone who is prettier, richer, younger, and happier then you. And there's always going to be someone who isn't. I woke up this morning and enjoyed a cup of coffee, listened to the birds singing, watched the ducks on the pond and marveled at a beautiful sunrise. And there are people dying in the Middle East. And California is burning. Thankfully my beautiful sunrise has more to do with some high clouds blowing in from the east and not from the smoke created by the many fires in California but it sure did stop and make me think.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A frog has to close its eyes in order to swallow.
Monday, October 27, 2003
3 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding.
I really don't have time to write in this blog. I picked up the wedding dress. Now I just have to remember to pack it. It's on my list. I still have to do laundry...tomorrow. I have to pack...tomorrow. I have to wrap the presents....tomorrow. See a pattern here? I've done enough today. The rest of this stuff can be done tomorrow. I went out to Razzelberries tonight and listened to my son's jazz band play and drank iced tea until I began to float. Then I had to go out and buy Hamlet for my son so he can keep up with his English class while he's in Vegas (of course I found a couple of books for me too...very dangerous to send me into a bookstore) and then he told me he ran out of deoderant and hair spray. Can't have that. One more quick trip to Target and then home to write this blog. If I don't get around to writing my blog tomorrow...don't be surprised. We actually are heading out to Vegas on Wednesday morning....after my son's zero hour marching band practice. "Doesn't your sister know that it's marching season?" Hey! I'm flying him back so he can march on Friday night aren't I? He's only going to miss two practices. Gimme us a break here.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Mark Twain was the first to type a book manuscript. He worked on a Remington Model No. 1 which he purchased in 1874. Mark Twain typed at the lightening quick speed of 19 words a minute. I wonder if that was with or without typo's?
I really don't have time to write in this blog. I picked up the wedding dress. Now I just have to remember to pack it. It's on my list. I still have to do laundry...tomorrow. I have to pack...tomorrow. I have to wrap the presents....tomorrow. See a pattern here? I've done enough today. The rest of this stuff can be done tomorrow. I went out to Razzelberries tonight and listened to my son's jazz band play and drank iced tea until I began to float. Then I had to go out and buy Hamlet for my son so he can keep up with his English class while he's in Vegas (of course I found a couple of books for me too...very dangerous to send me into a bookstore) and then he told me he ran out of deoderant and hair spray. Can't have that. One more quick trip to Target and then home to write this blog. If I don't get around to writing my blog tomorrow...don't be surprised. We actually are heading out to Vegas on Wednesday morning....after my son's zero hour marching band practice. "Doesn't your sister know that it's marching season?" Hey! I'm flying him back so he can march on Friday night aren't I? He's only going to miss two practices. Gimme us a break here.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Mark Twain was the first to type a book manuscript. He worked on a Remington Model No. 1 which he purchased in 1874. Mark Twain typed at the lightening quick speed of 19 words a minute. I wonder if that was with or without typo's?
Sunday, October 26, 2003
4 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding.
I'm starting to panic now. It's not that I haven't got everything under control. Let's hope I have everything under control. Tomorrow I pick up the wedding dress if they haven't lost it. I still need to buy a card and wrap a couple of presents. I have to pack and not forget to bring something important like the wedding dress. I have to call my son's school and get him excused from school for a few days so he can come to the wedding. I have to make sure he gets all the homework he'll be missing when he misses school. I have to make sure he brings his e-ticket so he can fly back to Arizona after the wedding. Homecoming. Can't miss that. Better make sure he packs his house keys so he can get back into the house too...and his car keys. I wonder if he's written that scholarship essay yet? What am I forgetting? Am I forgetting something? I need to check my lists. Lists are good. Lists are your friends.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A banana tree isn't a tree. It's an herb. And in honor of that I'd like to share the following banana facts a friend sent me. I think I need to run out to the store and buy some bananas.
Doctors' Home Remedy
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at the Banana in the same way again!!
Banana. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives..
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, you see, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
Maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
I'm starting to panic now. It's not that I haven't got everything under control. Let's hope I have everything under control. Tomorrow I pick up the wedding dress if they haven't lost it. I still need to buy a card and wrap a couple of presents. I have to pack and not forget to bring something important like the wedding dress. I have to call my son's school and get him excused from school for a few days so he can come to the wedding. I have to make sure he gets all the homework he'll be missing when he misses school. I have to make sure he brings his e-ticket so he can fly back to Arizona after the wedding. Homecoming. Can't miss that. Better make sure he packs his house keys so he can get back into the house too...and his car keys. I wonder if he's written that scholarship essay yet? What am I forgetting? Am I forgetting something? I need to check my lists. Lists are good. Lists are your friends.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A banana tree isn't a tree. It's an herb. And in honor of that I'd like to share the following banana facts a friend sent me. I think I need to run out to the store and buy some bananas.
Doctors' Home Remedy
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at the Banana in the same way again!!
Banana. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives..
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, you see, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
Maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Saturday, October 25, 2003
5 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding.
Just when things start looking like they just might settle down someone pulls another rabbit out of the hat. But it isn't always a rabbit. Again I'm reminded of Rocky and Bulliwinkle. I found out yesterday that my son has a science fair project. This is a major project. He has to have all his research books, an idea for an experiment with a hypothesis, and all this has to be written up and presented to the teacher by Monday. He's at the library now because he has to present a bibliography with real books, internet knowledge is not exceptable. Apparently the science fair project...the end result with the story boards etc. isn't due until February? So what do you think my first question to him was? "When did you get this assignment?" He got it two weeks ago...of course. I realize that he's been busy with band, SAT tests, college entrance applications and other projects like sleeping and enjoying his two week "break" but it sure would have been nice to know about this "little" project two weeks ago. This is typical though. I not really surprised. He's my youngest and I've gone through this sort of thing more often then I can say with my two daughters. I suppose I should be happy that we were notified of my daughter's plan to marry four months before the wedding even though most weddings take a year to plan. Oh well. We spent last night brainstorming and refining his science fair project so at least he'll know what books to look for when we take him to the library today. Something about bullet proof vests. Actually, my husband will be taking him to the library. I have to go to church for that practice. Never a dull moment.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Before 1859, baseball umpires sat behind home plate in rocking chairs. I added this little bit of trivia because of the World Series. I haven't been watching but I hear that the Marlins are beating N.Y.
Just when things start looking like they just might settle down someone pulls another rabbit out of the hat. But it isn't always a rabbit. Again I'm reminded of Rocky and Bulliwinkle. I found out yesterday that my son has a science fair project. This is a major project. He has to have all his research books, an idea for an experiment with a hypothesis, and all this has to be written up and presented to the teacher by Monday. He's at the library now because he has to present a bibliography with real books, internet knowledge is not exceptable. Apparently the science fair project...the end result with the story boards etc. isn't due until February? So what do you think my first question to him was? "When did you get this assignment?" He got it two weeks ago...of course. I realize that he's been busy with band, SAT tests, college entrance applications and other projects like sleeping and enjoying his two week "break" but it sure would have been nice to know about this "little" project two weeks ago. This is typical though. I not really surprised. He's my youngest and I've gone through this sort of thing more often then I can say with my two daughters. I suppose I should be happy that we were notified of my daughter's plan to marry four months before the wedding even though most weddings take a year to plan. Oh well. We spent last night brainstorming and refining his science fair project so at least he'll know what books to look for when we take him to the library today. Something about bullet proof vests. Actually, my husband will be taking him to the library. I have to go to church for that practice. Never a dull moment.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Before 1859, baseball umpires sat behind home plate in rocking chairs. I added this little bit of trivia because of the World Series. I haven't been watching but I hear that the Marlins are beating N.Y.
Friday, October 24, 2003
6 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding.
Everything was going according to plan. We rushed out and made it just in time for our appointment at the Design Center for our new home. Our appointment lasted 4 long hours. For the first three hours my husband taught the design center staff all about Cat5 wiring (I think they should have paid him for the class) and showed them exactly where he wanted the outlets and what type of outlets to be placed in each of the rooms in our new house. He then talked to someone who knew what he was talking about. Let's face it. Not too many people living and building in an Active Adult Community know much about Cat5 wiring. Del Webb is proud of the fact that their homes all have Cat5 wiring. They boast about it. People buy their houses and seem pleased as punch that they have it. But not many of them know what the heck it is or what to do with it now that they have it. My husband knows what it is and is prepared to upgrade from the standard. We are the new breed of Active Adult. Del Webb better start expecting this sort of thing. Electrical engineers eventually do retire and want to live somewhere. But they still want their toys. The last hour of our appointment was spent choosing flooring, countertops, and landscaping. This they understood. They loved me. I actually spoke their language. Cat5 took 3 hours. The rest of the house took only one hour.
And then we called home because we were running late. Gasp! Oh my goodness! We find out that today is our future son-in-law's birthday! Happy Birthday! We ran out to the store to quickly find a present, a card, and gift wrap. What does one get one's future son-in-law? OK. He loves coffee. I bought him a coffee grinder and some coffee. We're talking about a quick stop at the grocery store on the way home. He loved it. So there! We took our future son-in-law and our daughter out for supper to celebrate. Happy Birthday! They brought him a free piece of mudpie and sang the Happy Birthday song.
One more fire put out. Tomorrow I have to go to church to practice the music I'll have to play for the Sunday after I get back from the wedding. And I have to quickly get a wedding shower organized for the night before the wedding. My suite. 8:30 PM. Bring a gag gift. If my other daughter reads this she'll know but I suppose I'd better email her just in case.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia.
Aluminum was spelled "aluminium" until 1925 in the U.S. I remember having to relearn the spelling of aeroplane, colour, and theatre while I was going to school. And then there was that little bit of confusion about the front and back door. My teacher and the book kept telling me that the front door of a person's house was the door that was most often used. OK. So I kept placing the front door at the back of the house. And she kept marking it wrong. She even called in my mother. It took them a while to figure out why the heck I was so stubborn about placing the front door at the rear of the house. I was just going by the definition given in the book and by the teacher. My teacher even tried to tell me that the front door was the one where the doorbell was located. Hah! We had three doors on our house. Eliminating the side door where the old doorbell had been removed. We had a doorbell on the other two doors too. No help there. She must have thought I was hopelessly dyslexic. Our "front" door was one that no-one really used except when we had company like the minister or company on holidays. That darn door had the trickiest latch! You had to throw your hip into it in order to unlock or lock it. I wonder if the new owners ever fixed that?
Everything was going according to plan. We rushed out and made it just in time for our appointment at the Design Center for our new home. Our appointment lasted 4 long hours. For the first three hours my husband taught the design center staff all about Cat5 wiring (I think they should have paid him for the class) and showed them exactly where he wanted the outlets and what type of outlets to be placed in each of the rooms in our new house. He then talked to someone who knew what he was talking about. Let's face it. Not too many people living and building in an Active Adult Community know much about Cat5 wiring. Del Webb is proud of the fact that their homes all have Cat5 wiring. They boast about it. People buy their houses and seem pleased as punch that they have it. But not many of them know what the heck it is or what to do with it now that they have it. My husband knows what it is and is prepared to upgrade from the standard. We are the new breed of Active Adult. Del Webb better start expecting this sort of thing. Electrical engineers eventually do retire and want to live somewhere. But they still want their toys. The last hour of our appointment was spent choosing flooring, countertops, and landscaping. This they understood. They loved me. I actually spoke their language. Cat5 took 3 hours. The rest of the house took only one hour.
And then we called home because we were running late. Gasp! Oh my goodness! We find out that today is our future son-in-law's birthday! Happy Birthday! We ran out to the store to quickly find a present, a card, and gift wrap. What does one get one's future son-in-law? OK. He loves coffee. I bought him a coffee grinder and some coffee. We're talking about a quick stop at the grocery store on the way home. He loved it. So there! We took our future son-in-law and our daughter out for supper to celebrate. Happy Birthday! They brought him a free piece of mudpie and sang the Happy Birthday song.
One more fire put out. Tomorrow I have to go to church to practice the music I'll have to play for the Sunday after I get back from the wedding. And I have to quickly get a wedding shower organized for the night before the wedding. My suite. 8:30 PM. Bring a gag gift. If my other daughter reads this she'll know but I suppose I'd better email her just in case.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia.
Aluminum was spelled "aluminium" until 1925 in the U.S. I remember having to relearn the spelling of aeroplane, colour, and theatre while I was going to school. And then there was that little bit of confusion about the front and back door. My teacher and the book kept telling me that the front door of a person's house was the door that was most often used. OK. So I kept placing the front door at the back of the house. And she kept marking it wrong. She even called in my mother. It took them a while to figure out why the heck I was so stubborn about placing the front door at the rear of the house. I was just going by the definition given in the book and by the teacher. My teacher even tried to tell me that the front door was the one where the doorbell was located. Hah! We had three doors on our house. Eliminating the side door where the old doorbell had been removed. We had a doorbell on the other two doors too. No help there. She must have thought I was hopelessly dyslexic. Our "front" door was one that no-one really used except when we had company like the minister or company on holidays. That darn door had the trickiest latch! You had to throw your hip into it in order to unlock or lock it. I wonder if the new owners ever fixed that?
Thursday, October 23, 2003
7 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding. I called the bridal gown shop yesterday morning and after convincing the manager of the bridal gown place where my daughter's gown was to be altered that my daughter had not brought in a burgundy gown to be altered but a full length traditional wedding gown, I was relieved to discover that my daughter's gown had indeed been altered. So with confidence I brought my daughter over there and surprise, surprise, it had been altered. And it looked very nice. They did not ruin the gown. Now if they can just hang on to it and not lose it, I can go pick it up on Monday. I shall keep my fingers and toes crossed. Toe crossing isn't very good for your feet. Maybe I'll just cross my fingers.
I feel really good about how much I did today. I went over with my husband to the eye doctor and then I tortured him by forcing him to sit in the passenger seat while I drove him on several small errands. I had to get replacement batteries in three of my watches. All three of those watches died at the same time. Since I want to wear one of those watches for the wedding I thought I'd better take care of the problem as soon as possible. I had two coupons. I was able to get two watches fixed with new batteries at one jewelry store for $5. And then I brought the other watch over to another jewelry store and got that one fixed for $2. Meantime, my husband looked a bit like a drugged out zombie with his dilated eyes.
I was just about to relent and take him home when the cellphone rang. My daughter, had locked her keys in her car along with her "purse". She needed us to go over to her apartment and get her spare set from her fiance and bring it to her clear across town. During rush hour traffic. I told my husband to close his still dilated eyes and relax and to keep his mouth shut. He has a real problem with that part. Keeping his mouth shut. It's not like I'm a horrible driver. I just drive a little differently then he drives. I close my eyes and zone out when he drives because he drives differently then I drive. He doesn't like to be driven because he's likes to be in control. I don't like to be driven because I like to be in control but I'm a bit more flexible.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Vincent van Gogh didn't begin to draw until he was 27. I'm still going to take that painting class. And the stained glass class too.
I feel really good about how much I did today. I went over with my husband to the eye doctor and then I tortured him by forcing him to sit in the passenger seat while I drove him on several small errands. I had to get replacement batteries in three of my watches. All three of those watches died at the same time. Since I want to wear one of those watches for the wedding I thought I'd better take care of the problem as soon as possible. I had two coupons. I was able to get two watches fixed with new batteries at one jewelry store for $5. And then I brought the other watch over to another jewelry store and got that one fixed for $2. Meantime, my husband looked a bit like a drugged out zombie with his dilated eyes.
I was just about to relent and take him home when the cellphone rang. My daughter, had locked her keys in her car along with her "purse". She needed us to go over to her apartment and get her spare set from her fiance and bring it to her clear across town. During rush hour traffic. I told my husband to close his still dilated eyes and relax and to keep his mouth shut. He has a real problem with that part. Keeping his mouth shut. It's not like I'm a horrible driver. I just drive a little differently then he drives. I close my eyes and zone out when he drives because he drives differently then I drive. He doesn't like to be driven because he's likes to be in control. I don't like to be driven because I like to be in control but I'm a bit more flexible.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Vincent van Gogh didn't begin to draw until he was 27. I'm still going to take that painting class. And the stained glass class too.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
8 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding. Actually, we leave in exactly one week. A smart man recently commented that I shouldn't sweat the nuts. I'm not sure exactly what he meant. The Jordan Almonds? Or was he referring to families being like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts. Probably both. He tends to favor double entendre.
I've decided that things could be worse. Don't ask me for clarification of that. I always think of someone innocently telling the photographer for an outside shoot on a grey and dreary day that "Things could be worse?" The photographer absently replies, "How's that?". At that point, the heavens open and the rain pours, lightening strikes, and the whole town is flooded. Yes, things could be worse.
I took my daughter for her fitting yesterday. " Oops! We're sorry! We made a mistake." We were supposed to feel better because the petticoat we ordered was there and "Isn't the ring-bearers pillow that you ordered lovely?" For some reason that I can not fathom, they didn't connect the dress with the order. Nor were they concerned that there was an order that was supposed to be completed by a certain time but they couldn't find a dress to match the order? Of course, no-one bothered to call me about the confusion. This was supposed to be my daughter's final fitting. We leave in a week for the wedding. They hadn't even touched the dress since we went in for the initial fitting three weeks ago. I've been promised that the entire job (and we're talking major alterations here) will completed by 3 PM this afternoon...even if they have to work all night long. Needless to say, my daughter was and is upset. What sort of quality work can be done with so little time available? She has visions of walking down the aisle with seams splitting and her gown falling apart halfway down the aisle leaving her standing in her petticoat. I had to take her to coffee and calm her down. I told her that things like this happen and that everything will turn out just fine. Since she doesn't have a computer and she won't be reading this I can tell you that I'm upset too. I have nightmares of going there today and finding out that they've shortened the dress, not from the waistband as they are supposed to and promised, but by cutting 6 inches off the bottom of the beautifully embroidered and beaded skirt of the dress and then have them tell me that that's what they thought I wanted them to do. Ruin the dress!
Yes, things can be worse but I refuse to speculate. I prefer to put my rose colored glasses back on and go into that final final fitting today with rosy expectations. But just in case, I think I'd better make sure that my daughter doesn't come to the fitting armed with any sharp objects. She sounded a bit like she was ready to kill someone yesterday....and it wasn't me. That's a plus.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Turkeys are not from Turkey. They are from North America. I personally know of a few that work at a certain bridal shop in Arizona.
I've decided that things could be worse. Don't ask me for clarification of that. I always think of someone innocently telling the photographer for an outside shoot on a grey and dreary day that "Things could be worse?" The photographer absently replies, "How's that?". At that point, the heavens open and the rain pours, lightening strikes, and the whole town is flooded. Yes, things could be worse.
I took my daughter for her fitting yesterday. " Oops! We're sorry! We made a mistake." We were supposed to feel better because the petticoat we ordered was there and "Isn't the ring-bearers pillow that you ordered lovely?" For some reason that I can not fathom, they didn't connect the dress with the order. Nor were they concerned that there was an order that was supposed to be completed by a certain time but they couldn't find a dress to match the order? Of course, no-one bothered to call me about the confusion. This was supposed to be my daughter's final fitting. We leave in a week for the wedding. They hadn't even touched the dress since we went in for the initial fitting three weeks ago. I've been promised that the entire job (and we're talking major alterations here) will completed by 3 PM this afternoon...even if they have to work all night long. Needless to say, my daughter was and is upset. What sort of quality work can be done with so little time available? She has visions of walking down the aisle with seams splitting and her gown falling apart halfway down the aisle leaving her standing in her petticoat. I had to take her to coffee and calm her down. I told her that things like this happen and that everything will turn out just fine. Since she doesn't have a computer and she won't be reading this I can tell you that I'm upset too. I have nightmares of going there today and finding out that they've shortened the dress, not from the waistband as they are supposed to and promised, but by cutting 6 inches off the bottom of the beautifully embroidered and beaded skirt of the dress and then have them tell me that that's what they thought I wanted them to do. Ruin the dress!
Yes, things can be worse but I refuse to speculate. I prefer to put my rose colored glasses back on and go into that final final fitting today with rosy expectations. But just in case, I think I'd better make sure that my daughter doesn't come to the fitting armed with any sharp objects. She sounded a bit like she was ready to kill someone yesterday....and it wasn't me. That's a plus.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Turkeys are not from Turkey. They are from North America. I personally know of a few that work at a certain bridal shop in Arizona.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
9 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding. Today I take her out for the final fitting of her wedding gown. Final arrangements are being made for the bus to take everyone from the hotel in Las Vegas to where the wedding is being held and then back to where the reception is being held. The logistics of arranging for getting out-of-town guests from the airport to the hotel and back again are a complete nightmare. There used to be airport shuttles to take care of this sort of thing but apparently we can blame the September 11th terrorists for yet another change in our modern world. I'm an out-of-towner too but...I'm driving. The bride and groom are driving too. And so are most of their friends. Oh well, we did find a shuttle. Unfortunately, they charge an outrageous sum of money but....it's cheaper then renting a car. I think.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
If you have at least 5/8 of a torn dollar bill, it can be redeemed at full value. Just don't try to stick it into one of the slot machines in Vegas. Actually, don't try to stick a brand new one or a really well worn one into one the of the slot machines either. The machines get confused and will usually reject them. I wonder how the machines will react to the new $20 bills? They really hated the new $100 bills when they first came out. Some of them still hate the not so new anymore $100 bills. Not that I go around sticking $100 bills into slot machines. I think I'd have a panic attack if I did that not to mention that my husband would probably kill me.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
If you have at least 5/8 of a torn dollar bill, it can be redeemed at full value. Just don't try to stick it into one of the slot machines in Vegas. Actually, don't try to stick a brand new one or a really well worn one into one the of the slot machines either. The machines get confused and will usually reject them. I wonder how the machines will react to the new $20 bills? They really hated the new $100 bills when they first came out. Some of them still hate the not so new anymore $100 bills. Not that I go around sticking $100 bills into slot machines. I think I'd have a panic attack if I did that not to mention that my husband would probably kill me.
Monday, October 20, 2003
10 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding. Have faith! All will happen as it is supposed to happen...whatever that means. I've always felt, good or bad, things happen the way they are supposed to happen. And with that little gift of a piece of my belief structure, I will share a "funny" that was sent to me by my mother.
Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
There is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look.
For example, I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
The best way to keep kids at home is to make a pleasant atmosphere - and let the air out of their tires.
Families are like fudge . . . mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
My mind not only wanders; sometimes it leaves completely.
If you can remain calm, you just don't have all the facts.
Sometimes it's better not to know all the facts.
If you don't believe in God, rest in the comfort that He still believes in you.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The origin of "God Bless You" is nothing to sneeze at. An old superstition had it that when someone sneezed, their soul momentarily left their body through the nostrils. This enabled the devil to creep in and prevent the return of the soul, but by saying "God Bless You" the devil was stopped cold from entering the body.
Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
There is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look.
For example, I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
The best way to keep kids at home is to make a pleasant atmosphere - and let the air out of their tires.
Families are like fudge . . . mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
My mind not only wanders; sometimes it leaves completely.
If you can remain calm, you just don't have all the facts.
Sometimes it's better not to know all the facts.
If you don't believe in God, rest in the comfort that He still believes in you.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The origin of "God Bless You" is nothing to sneeze at. An old superstition had it that when someone sneezed, their soul momentarily left their body through the nostrils. This enabled the devil to creep in and prevent the return of the soul, but by saying "God Bless You" the devil was stopped cold from entering the body.
Sunday, October 19, 2003
11 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding. Now I'm trying to figure out seating arrangements. People can't figure out where to seat themselves? OK. Maybe not. I can do this. I wish I knew who all these people REALLY are. Should be interesting. In the meantime, I scored a major coup. I found some shoes to wear for the wedding. Is there some kind of rule out there that the Mother of the Bride has to wear shoes that match her dress? I bought one pair of shoes that are really cute but they don't match the dress. I bought another pair of shoes that match the dress, but they aren't all that cute. So now I have to decide whether it'll present a major faux paux if I wear a pair of really cute shoes that don't exactly match my dress.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Leonardo da Vinci could draw with one hand and write with the other--at the same time. Hah! Ask any mother how many different things she has to take care of similtaneously with only the two hands God blessed her with. Thank goodness God blessed us with hips too.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Leonardo da Vinci could draw with one hand and write with the other--at the same time. Hah! Ask any mother how many different things she has to take care of similtaneously with only the two hands God blessed her with. Thank goodness God blessed us with hips too.
Saturday, October 18, 2003
12 Days Before My Daughter's Wedding Why don't people RSVP? Why do they think I sent those little self-addressed stamped envelopes? All they need to do is drop them in the mail with a yes or a no. I realize that people have busy lives. But at this point I don't even know if the father of the groom is going to come to the wedding. Should I order him a steak dinner anyway? What if he shows up? Where do I put him? Now some people called me, talked to me personally and told me that they were coming to the wedding. That's OK. That's just fine. I know. Some people called me and sent the RSVP anyway. I'm keeping the RSVP's for my daughter's memory box. So the burning question is: "How many steak dinners do I order for the reception? And how many chicken dinners?" I have to have a definite answer to this question next week. On a lighter note, a friend sent me the following "funny".
A Story With a Morale
THINK YOU'RE UNHAPPY?
Once upon a time, there was a 'nonconforming' sparrow who decided not to fly south for the winter. However, soon the weather turned so cold that he reluctantly started to fly south. In a short time ice began to form on his wings and he fell to earth in a barnyard, almost frozen.
A cow passed by and crapped on the little sparrow. The sparrow thought it was the end. But, the manure warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy, able to breathe, he started to sing.
Just then a large cat came by and hearing the chirping, investigated the sound. The cat cleared away the manure, found the chirping bird and promptly ate him.
~~~~~MORAL OF THE STORY~~~~~
1.) Everyone who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy.
2.) Everyone who gets you out of the shit is not necessarily your friend.
3.) And, if you're warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
In most cases, its cheaper to send a student to college than it is to keep a prisoner in jail. My son is graduating from high school in June. Save taxpayer money....send donations.
A Story With a Morale
THINK YOU'RE UNHAPPY?
Once upon a time, there was a 'nonconforming' sparrow who decided not to fly south for the winter. However, soon the weather turned so cold that he reluctantly started to fly south. In a short time ice began to form on his wings and he fell to earth in a barnyard, almost frozen.
A cow passed by and crapped on the little sparrow. The sparrow thought it was the end. But, the manure warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy, able to breathe, he started to sing.
Just then a large cat came by and hearing the chirping, investigated the sound. The cat cleared away the manure, found the chirping bird and promptly ate him.
~~~~~MORAL OF THE STORY~~~~~
1.) Everyone who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy.
2.) Everyone who gets you out of the shit is not necessarily your friend.
3.) And, if you're warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
In most cases, its cheaper to send a student to college than it is to keep a prisoner in jail. My son is graduating from high school in June. Save taxpayer money....send donations.
Friday, October 17, 2003
13 Days before my daughter's wedding. And there will be Jordan Almonds! They arrived today in good condition. The border guards let them through. Woohoo! And I haven't received any visits from strange men in suits either. I'm not a terrorist! I'm just a mother planning her daughter's wedding! Some people may compare the two (mothers and terrorists) and find some sort of similarity but as the mother in question, I just don't see it.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
An average American will eat 350 cows, 310 hogs, and 225 lambs in a lifetime. I have no idea where this little bit of trivia comes from but I really don't think that I eat that much meat. Well...maybe cows but not lambs. I don't like lamb. I do eat a lot of chickens though. Do eggs count? Pre-chickens?
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
An average American will eat 350 cows, 310 hogs, and 225 lambs in a lifetime. I have no idea where this little bit of trivia comes from but I really don't think that I eat that much meat. Well...maybe cows but not lambs. I don't like lamb. I do eat a lot of chickens though. Do eggs count? Pre-chickens?
Thursday, October 16, 2003
My landscaper finally showed up. He was supposed to come last week but he really isn't all that reliable when it comes to telling time. He loses whole days and even weeks sometimes. Why in the world don't I fire this guy? Because he doesn't attack my trees like a Texas chainsaw murderer when they need trimming. One must take the good with the bad. Anyway, he's here today overseeding my lawn for the winter months so that my grass will look nice for any potential buyers this spring. And my trees remain trees and not little lollipop wanna be's.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A bee uses 22 muscles to sting someone. The last reason my landscaper gave me for not coming to do my yard was that there were too many bees and there must be a hive in one of my bushes. I called my exterminator and was told that there were no hives in the area or in the bushes. The bees were just busy pollenating my sage bush. I wonder what excuse my landscaper will use next time. Both his grandmothers and his aunt have already died.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A bee uses 22 muscles to sting someone. The last reason my landscaper gave me for not coming to do my yard was that there were too many bees and there must be a hive in one of my bushes. I called my exterminator and was told that there were no hives in the area or in the bushes. The bees were just busy pollenating my sage bush. I wonder what excuse my landscaper will use next time. Both his grandmothers and his aunt have already died.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
15 More Days before the wedding. "Hey Rocky! Wanna watch me pull a rabbit out of this hat?" I haven't decided yet whether I'm Rocky or Bullwinkle. I tend to be a bit schizophrenic about that. Sometimes I'm Rocky watching in horror as Bullwinkle pulls a lion out of his hat, and sometimes I'm Bullwinkle innocently thinking that he's actually going to pull the expected rabbit out of his hat. Did he ever actually pull a rabbit out of that hat?
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The average American drinks three and a half cups of coffee a day. I can't start on that project today until after my dentist appointment. Coffee has a tendency to make the nitrous gas ineffective. I want my coffee. I miss my coffee but I really hate sitting in a dentist chair. The smells, the sounds, someone probing around in your mouth with sharp objects. I'll wait and drink my coffee later. Only problem is that I'm sure that I'll have to schedule at least two more of these torture sessions after today's torture session. Kinda makes on want to forget the whole process. I'm going, I'm going. In an hour.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The average American drinks three and a half cups of coffee a day. I can't start on that project today until after my dentist appointment. Coffee has a tendency to make the nitrous gas ineffective. I want my coffee. I miss my coffee but I really hate sitting in a dentist chair. The smells, the sounds, someone probing around in your mouth with sharp objects. I'll wait and drink my coffee later. Only problem is that I'm sure that I'll have to schedule at least two more of these torture sessions after today's torture session. Kinda makes on want to forget the whole process. I'm going, I'm going. In an hour.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Only 16 Days to go before the wedding. We've gone from using pink roses, to using peach roses and now we're back to pink roses because pink goes better with Stargazer lilies. I talked to the DJ and I'm assured that there will be tunes for the reception. We've added one more person to the guest list too. My daughter and her fiance move into their new apartment tomorrow and will need the help of The Ma and Pa Moving Company to move tomorrow. That'll have to be in the late afternoon because Ma has to go to the dentist in the morning. We all know how I feel about anything remotely related to dentists and dentistry. I plan to drug myself silly before my husband drives me over to the oral torture chamber.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A bear has 42 teeth. A five year U.S. Public Health Service study discovered that kissing can cause tooth decay. I'd rather not get close enough to a bear to check that first bit of trivia. As for that second bit of trivia....I don't kiss and tell.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A bear has 42 teeth. A five year U.S. Public Health Service study discovered that kissing can cause tooth decay. I'd rather not get close enough to a bear to check that first bit of trivia. As for that second bit of trivia....I don't kiss and tell.
Monday, October 13, 2003
I am truly getting old. The majority of people out there are starting to look like....my kids. I've noticed this before but it's starting to bug me. I went with my husband and my son to have them measured for their tuxedo's for the wedding. Men's Warehouse. They were our best bet because the wedding is being held in Vegas, some of the wedding party is coming from Florida, and the rest is coming from Arizona. They were willing to measure everyone at the various computer connected stores across our nation and then have the finished rental product ready for pick up in Las Vegas on the day before the wedding. And then we can return the same rental product in Las Vegas the next day. Anyway, I was shocked at the age of the kids (young men who looked about the same age as my 17 year old son) who were taking the measurements for my husband and my son. They looked really really young. I hope to heck they knew what they were doing. I'll let you know how things go after the wedding. All I can tell you is that they've told me that everyone has now been measured for the wedding. Let's all pray that all the tuxedo's end up at the same store (the correct store), at the same date and time (the correct date and time), and in the correct colors, styles, and sizes.
Something always goes wrong at every wedding that I've ever heard of. My husband's car broke down on the way to our wedding. Our organist managed to contract pneumonia and we had to get a last minute replacement and the priest was late. Someone in the wedding party passed out at my sister's wedding. The bride passed out at my brother-in-law's wedding. I've never heard of one married person who can't tell you about one harrowing incident that happened at their wedding. All that's gone wrong for this wedding so far is that the Jordan Almonds got stopped at the Canadian/United States border. They were searched, dumped out of their packages, and who knows what else, before they continued on their messed up way to my house. More Jordan Almonds have been sent and are currently on their merry way to replace the first. According to Tracking, they are currently being searched by custom's agents in Michigan as we speak. Apparently, Jordan Almonds are very dangerous. I expect I've been added to some secret government list of people with terrorist ties. I pray that this is the worst to happen because quite frankly, I don't think anyone will notice if I have little tulle bags of Jordan Almonds or not. I better check up on the D.J. again. I think people will notice if he doesn't show up. I got the placecards done! I wonder how many people will show up who never RSVP'd?
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A peanut is not a nut. It is a legume. Apparently, Jordan Almonds may not be almonds. I wonder who tasted one to make sure? How many had to be tasted? I may have been smuggling gold and silver shaped like almonds. And what about those white ones?
Something always goes wrong at every wedding that I've ever heard of. My husband's car broke down on the way to our wedding. Our organist managed to contract pneumonia and we had to get a last minute replacement and the priest was late. Someone in the wedding party passed out at my sister's wedding. The bride passed out at my brother-in-law's wedding. I've never heard of one married person who can't tell you about one harrowing incident that happened at their wedding. All that's gone wrong for this wedding so far is that the Jordan Almonds got stopped at the Canadian/United States border. They were searched, dumped out of their packages, and who knows what else, before they continued on their messed up way to my house. More Jordan Almonds have been sent and are currently on their merry way to replace the first. According to Tracking, they are currently being searched by custom's agents in Michigan as we speak. Apparently, Jordan Almonds are very dangerous. I expect I've been added to some secret government list of people with terrorist ties. I pray that this is the worst to happen because quite frankly, I don't think anyone will notice if I have little tulle bags of Jordan Almonds or not. I better check up on the D.J. again. I think people will notice if he doesn't show up. I got the placecards done! I wonder how many people will show up who never RSVP'd?
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
A peanut is not a nut. It is a legume. Apparently, Jordan Almonds may not be almonds. I wonder who tasted one to make sure? How many had to be tasted? I may have been smuggling gold and silver shaped like almonds. And what about those white ones?
Sunday, October 12, 2003
We signed enough papers to give me writer's cramp. Wow! A whole book of papers! And we haven't even applied for the loan yet. I shudder to think about the paperwork that will generate. Those poor trees. Those poor, poor trees. I wonder how many trees had to lose their lives so I could sign my name to some incredibly boring documents so that Del Webb can protect their legal rear ends? I now have a 4" ring notebook full of papers. I'm sure there will be much more paperwork to be generated like octopus ink when the loan people gently drag us inward with their long suckered tentacles. Lovely bit of imagery? I could be wrong...but I doubt it.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The handshake is a friendly gesture today, but it originated in ancient times out of suspicion. Strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed. And then lawyers took over and generated reams of paperwork for everyone to sign.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The handshake is a friendly gesture today, but it originated in ancient times out of suspicion. Strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed. And then lawyers took over and generated reams of paperwork for everyone to sign.
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Caught one! I told you we've been hunting for a new home. We reserved a lot at Solera, a Del Webb developement in Chandler, Arizona. (We picked out the Saguaro model....B Elevation with that cute little blip of a golf cart garage which we'll probably never use for anything but storage.)
We weren't satisfied with the amount of stress piled in our lives with a daughter getting married at the end of the month, a son taking SAT tests for college entrance requirements, the same son working hard to get good grades for his final year of high school, and the same son hoping to get scholarships for college. Did I mention that our daughter is getting married at the end of the month? Oh yea, that's right. I did. We even took a trip to Vegas to take care of some of the details. And I got a royal flush playing video poker sometime between visits to see the caterer and visits to meet with the wedding co-ordinator.
Tomorrow we go out and sign a contract for the new house and then sometime next week we meet with the money people and then sometime before the wedding we pick out our flooring and stuff like that but it would be nice if we could do that after the wedding if we can talk them into delaying that and then sometime in April or May we can start moving stuff into our new and smaller home in an active adult community and then we can hopefully have an offer already for the house we're in right now and gradually get rid of everything that won't fit into the new house from the old house that we don't want to take to Wisconsin to keep up there at that house? All this without disrupting our high school senior's life too much. Oops. I forgot that the landscaper is supposed to come by next week to overseed our lawn so that the grass will be green for prospective buyers. Do I sound scattered? Gotta love the stress. Where would I be without it? As a plus, our high school senior made Who's Who Among American High School Students, 2002-2003. Anyone want to buy a copy of their publication? They also sell mugs...and key chains.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Tuna fish swim at an average speed of 9 miles per hour constantly. They never stop moving.
We weren't satisfied with the amount of stress piled in our lives with a daughter getting married at the end of the month, a son taking SAT tests for college entrance requirements, the same son working hard to get good grades for his final year of high school, and the same son hoping to get scholarships for college. Did I mention that our daughter is getting married at the end of the month? Oh yea, that's right. I did. We even took a trip to Vegas to take care of some of the details. And I got a royal flush playing video poker sometime between visits to see the caterer and visits to meet with the wedding co-ordinator.
Tomorrow we go out and sign a contract for the new house and then sometime next week we meet with the money people and then sometime before the wedding we pick out our flooring and stuff like that but it would be nice if we could do that after the wedding if we can talk them into delaying that and then sometime in April or May we can start moving stuff into our new and smaller home in an active adult community and then we can hopefully have an offer already for the house we're in right now and gradually get rid of everything that won't fit into the new house from the old house that we don't want to take to Wisconsin to keep up there at that house? All this without disrupting our high school senior's life too much. Oops. I forgot that the landscaper is supposed to come by next week to overseed our lawn so that the grass will be green for prospective buyers. Do I sound scattered? Gotta love the stress. Where would I be without it? As a plus, our high school senior made Who's Who Among American High School Students, 2002-2003. Anyone want to buy a copy of their publication? They also sell mugs...and key chains.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Tuna fish swim at an average speed of 9 miles per hour constantly. They never stop moving.
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Everyone repeat after me! Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear Mink, Happy Birthday to You. It's my daughter's birthday today. Happy Birthday Mink! Love you. I owe you a drink...when I see you later this month.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
I can't think of anything trivial except that it's really hard to wash my hair in the tiny little sink here at Sam's Town and I forgot my trivia book back in Arizona. I'll resume Today's Little Bit of Trivia tomorrow night when I get back to Arizona if I actually blog tomorrow.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
I can't think of anything trivial except that it's really hard to wash my hair in the tiny little sink here at Sam's Town and I forgot my trivia book back in Arizona. I'll resume Today's Little Bit of Trivia tomorrow night when I get back to Arizona if I actually blog tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
I normally try to post a blog on a daily basis. But I'm in Las Vegas right now. Sin City. I'm slaving away on the laptop right now writing this blog while I could be down gambling away my life savings. Poor me. OK. So I already gambled away my life savings (only kidding...I just gambled away half my life savings...OK...I gave up way before that) and now I can spend some quality time up in my room writing my blog. Anyone who thinks they can make a quick buck by gambling in Vegas is dilusional bordering on insane. There are support groups out there for those who think this way. I've heard countless accounts from people who claim that they hit it big out here but quite frankly I've never met anyone who has. I think most of these stories are kind of "fishy". Gambling and Fishing are kind of related in my mind. A good fisherman is always after that illusive big fish. A cronic gambler is always after that illusive pot of gold. Both can tell you tales that will awe and amaze you...if you believe them. Quite frankly, I'm awed and amazed even when I don't believe them. Did I ever tell you all about that fish I caught off the dock one year....it was bigger then the boat. It got away because I was all by myself and the fish was too big to fit into the landing net.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
How much money can one errant mother gamble away in one evening at Sam's Town? I'll let you know.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
How much money can one errant mother gamble away in one evening at Sam's Town? I'll let you know.
Sunday, October 05, 2003
We're still "hunting" for a new home but I think we've got one in our sights. I'll keep you posted. This one is really nice and is closer to where we currently live. I can still keep going to my church...when we're here in town. Speaking of church, I thought I'd pass along the following "funny" that a friend sent me.
The Creation of Pets
Where do pets come from?
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.
And it was a good animal.
And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him
DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."
And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.
And Cat would not obey them.
And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't give a shit one way or the other.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Droplets of moisture from a sneeze can travel as far as twelve feet and as fast as 100 miles per hour. I don't have time to catch a cold right now, much less have the time to duck someone's sneeze moisture.
The Creation of Pets
Where do pets come from?
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.
And it was a good animal.
And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him
DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."
And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.
And Cat would not obey them.
And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't give a shit one way or the other.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Droplets of moisture from a sneeze can travel as far as twelve feet and as fast as 100 miles per hour. I don't have time to catch a cold right now, much less have the time to duck someone's sneeze moisture.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
As a follow up on the contact blog, I have been doing...OK...with the mono vision plan. Yes, I do have a weird "starburst" effect after dark but...it's so pretty, kind of like fireworks. My father tells me that I lost my contact at the Jefferson Memorial. I told you he'd remember. As for my Italian class...we did so well that our instuctor threw two more chapters at us along with a huge amount of homework. We're adults, after all, we can handle the stress that comes with an overload of too much homework.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
President U.S. Grant ate cucumbers for breakfast. What's so unusual about that? My family has been known to have: Chives on toast, Elf brand herring on toast, green onions with toast, and Piccalilii relish on toast, for breakfast. I even love Fried Italian Peppers on my toast in the morning. And let's not forget my fondness for caviar in the morning.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
President U.S. Grant ate cucumbers for breakfast. What's so unusual about that? My family has been known to have: Chives on toast, Elf brand herring on toast, green onions with toast, and Piccalilii relish on toast, for breakfast. I even love Fried Italian Peppers on my toast in the morning. And let's not forget my fondness for caviar in the morning.
Friday, October 03, 2003
What?! It's Friday again! So soon?! I did do my homework for tomorrow's Italian class. I'm not sure if I remember it all or if it all sank in or not but I did do my homework. Actually...I'm pretty sure I'd better take a look at the first three lessons again sometime before now and tomorrow morning.
My son starts his interim break from school on Monday. This doesn't mean that he'll be spending the next two weeks in bed. He's a busy boy. He has his trumpet and guitar lessons. He has his SAT prep classes. He has his SAT test after that. He has a solid week of marching band practice for competitions coming up. He's even going to go camping with a friend and his family. All this in two short weeks. And then the wedding is going to be coming up too and he has to go in and get fitted for his tuxedo. Busy, busy boy.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Donkeys aren't the only jackasses. A variety of penguins are called jackasses too. I probably don't need to add my opinion here of various of our public officials and politicians...or that person with the cellphone glued to his ear who cut me off (no turn signals of course) while I was driving home from the post office today.
My son starts his interim break from school on Monday. This doesn't mean that he'll be spending the next two weeks in bed. He's a busy boy. He has his trumpet and guitar lessons. He has his SAT prep classes. He has his SAT test after that. He has a solid week of marching band practice for competitions coming up. He's even going to go camping with a friend and his family. All this in two short weeks. And then the wedding is going to be coming up too and he has to go in and get fitted for his tuxedo. Busy, busy boy.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
Donkeys aren't the only jackasses. A variety of penguins are called jackasses too. I probably don't need to add my opinion here of various of our public officials and politicians...or that person with the cellphone glued to his ear who cut me off (no turn signals of course) while I was driving home from the post office today.
Thursday, October 02, 2003
OK. I caved in. I went to get fitted for contact lenses today. I used to wear the stupid things while I was in my teens. I paid for hard contacts with my own hard-earned money at that time. It took forever to get used to them. Red, tearing, eyes for months. They kept flying out of my eyes. My fault. You should never pull at the corner of your eyes while wearing hard contact lenses because that's how you take them off. My most noted time for "taking off" my contact lenses was the time my parents and I were visiting Washington D.C. I no longer recall if the incident happened in front of the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial. I'm sure my father could tell you. I can no longer remember how many tourists were crawling around on their hands and knees looking for my contacts lens. Again, I'm sure my father could tell you. I try to forget these little embarrassing incidents of my youth. I don't fully recall the exact moments each of my kids entered this world either. One tends to block such things out...otherwise who would ever agree to have more then one child? So, who would ever agree to wear contact lenses?
A point in my favor (to prove that I haven't totally lost my mind), is that I stopped wearing hard contact lenses as soon as they invented a safer version of the soft contact lens. I wore those for years and years and was quite happy. But then my vision started to "age" faster then my hair turned grey. I noticed that I could no longer see up close when I was wearing my contacts. I could not do needlework if I wore contacts and then it got so bad that I couldn't even read a menu if I was wearing my contacts. Bifocals. I needed bifocals. And I got used to my bifocals but I couldn't wear contacts ever again.
And then they invented bifocal contacts. Old Grey Frog's husband really hates Old Grey Frog's glasses. I got bifocal contacts. I liked them...kinda. I could see in the distance...kinda. Who needs to drive a car? I could see the menu....kinda. OK. So the bifocal contacts just didn't work out. I need to drive a car. I need to order my own meal at a restaurant. No more contacts. Ever again. Old Grey Frog's husband had to adjust.
My daughter is going to get married at the end of this month. Vanity, thy name is The Old Grey Frog. I went in today and got fitted for contacts. I'm going to try Mono Vision. This is where they correct one of your eyes for distance and the other eye for closeup. Your brain is supposed to figure it all out. I'm told most people eventually adjust to it. Let's hope that my brain is adjustable and not like that old dog who couldn't learn new tricks. All I want is to look good for my daughter's wedding photos.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The only mobile U.S. National Monument are San Francisco's cable cars. Hey, Dad! Aren't you glad we went to Washington D.C. that year and not San Francisco?
A point in my favor (to prove that I haven't totally lost my mind), is that I stopped wearing hard contact lenses as soon as they invented a safer version of the soft contact lens. I wore those for years and years and was quite happy. But then my vision started to "age" faster then my hair turned grey. I noticed that I could no longer see up close when I was wearing my contacts. I could not do needlework if I wore contacts and then it got so bad that I couldn't even read a menu if I was wearing my contacts. Bifocals. I needed bifocals. And I got used to my bifocals but I couldn't wear contacts ever again.
And then they invented bifocal contacts. Old Grey Frog's husband really hates Old Grey Frog's glasses. I got bifocal contacts. I liked them...kinda. I could see in the distance...kinda. Who needs to drive a car? I could see the menu....kinda. OK. So the bifocal contacts just didn't work out. I need to drive a car. I need to order my own meal at a restaurant. No more contacts. Ever again. Old Grey Frog's husband had to adjust.
My daughter is going to get married at the end of this month. Vanity, thy name is The Old Grey Frog. I went in today and got fitted for contacts. I'm going to try Mono Vision. This is where they correct one of your eyes for distance and the other eye for closeup. Your brain is supposed to figure it all out. I'm told most people eventually adjust to it. Let's hope that my brain is adjustable and not like that old dog who couldn't learn new tricks. All I want is to look good for my daughter's wedding photos.
Today's Little Bit of Trivia
The only mobile U.S. National Monument are San Francisco's cable cars. Hey, Dad! Aren't you glad we went to Washington D.C. that year and not San Francisco?