I got creative today.....

I was wanting to create something today so I decided why not start with some pictures from a few days ago and do a scrapbook layout before I forget what I wanted to say.
I put Angelo's letter to Santa on the two pages...well, let's say ONE of his letters to Santa - he had about 3 going at any one time but this was the final letter right before Christmas. I broke it apart and scrapped it!

Not much else happenin' today other than the layout. I did manage to get out of bed before 11:00 a.m. I have an excuse though I was up until 2:00 a.m. watching the ER show on Discovery - pretty graphic but for some reason I like it. One of the patient's last night had been scalped by a piece of metal that flew through his windshield while he was driving down the road - can you say OUCH! It was pretty gross to boot, I almost couldn't handle it! Then he was worried about being disfigured on the back of his scalp from the accident. I have to say the gentleman had a pretty good self image if he was worried about the top back of his head being disfigured.

I finally finished the afghan I was crocheting on since this fall. I accomplished that late last night. I started on another afghan last night too - this one is pinks & browns - I think I am giving this one as a gift if it turns out half way decent.

I have to admit I have been kind of naughty the last couple weeks and ordered a few things off ebay...two cricut cartridges for cheap, cheap, cheap still in the original package (less than $25.00) and some fabric today....I really want to start quilting again. I accomplished a small quilt that turned out very nice a few years back and then had to have my gallbladder out and at the time I had 12 ornaments to finish for the exchange that year and then as we all know - time marches on and here I am 4 years later and haven't done anymore quilting. I plan to accomplish some more in 2009.

Tomorrow is the big celebration for the NEW year! We already have our reservations in at two places as we will be starting at one place and heading to another after dinner - "we like to move it, move it! One of the party goers is having a birthday too so things could get a little wild! I will have to have the old camera charged up and ready to go - I am always good for a few blackmail pictures that could show up at any given time anywhere on the world wide web!

Congrats goes out to some "NEW HOME OWNERS"! Way to go! So much closer to the rest of the world now! HA!

Ho-ho-ho and I thought I was going to die.......

Christmas was great - had a good time opening gifts and everyone of mine was a total surprise because I had no clue what I was getting - I scored! Angelo scored the biggest as always!

I got an awesome Brighton necklace with charms on it that I just love, love, love!

We hung out at home in the morning opening and playing with our gifts and then I whipped up an apple/huckleberry pie from some of the berries we picked in the summer. We hung out with my parents most of the afternoon and then called it a night and came home.

Once back at home I fell asleep on the sofa and woke up about 4:30 a.m. to go to bed and by 5:30 I was one sick chick. I spent the next 6 hours attached to the bathroom facilities in one way or another. NOT SO GOOD! At one point Joe asked if I wanted to go to the ER but I said "NO" and headed back to bed. Finally about 9:30 p.m. last night I was able to eat a cup of jello and drink some diet 7-up. I feel pretty much normal today but yesterday I seriously thought I was going to die!

We have the next week off on vacation - we were supposed to head to SLC but the roads are kind of treacherous and the Interstate has been closed off and on heading down south I-84 into Utah because of the winds & snow. I would hate to get that far and be stuck in that less than appealing (to me) part of the world!

I think I will play and look for something to do this afternoon/evening....something fun after my near death episode (okay, okay - so I may be stretching it a little)....at least my dogs hung out with me all day in bed and cuddled with me! That was probably the "best" Christmas present they could ask for....me sleeping with them all day between my "springing from the bed" to run to the bathroom.

Christmas Eve......

Well the big day is almost here.....

Tonight the BIG MAN in the RED SUIT shall fly through the sky delivering his special gifts to each of us.....some people think I deserve a bucket full of coal? What's up with that? I have been good, real good!

I am really having a hard time concentrating today on the work at hand! No wonder Ang has been so jacked the past few days especially! WOWEE....counting down the days and telling me each day how many days are left til Christmas.

I wanted to go to Wally World at 2:30 a.m. today but my lovely husband said I shouldn't.....first off he said I couldn't get "out" of the driveway - YA right, he has every morning why wouldn't "I" be able to get out of the driveway....I am woman, hear me roar, watch me plow through that snow! Secondly, he said he couldn't sleep and would be worrying about me at Wally World if I went! Thirdly, he said I would NOT be able to get back UP the driveway.....ya, again, right.....4 wheel drive and speed will get me up that sucker! I wasn't planning on taking the low rider....I was taking the CRV - DUH! Besides I didn't want to fight any crowds like it will be today and I thought perhaps, just maybe, if they got a shipment in there would be the highly sought after product of the week....a snow shovel! Yep, sold out all over town - no SS to be found anywhere! Go figure, we never have enough snow and especially that sticks around any length of time! Well I have a good 10 inches staring me in the face right now and more predicted in our weather fortune in the near future! I thought if I happened to find snow shovels I would buy a few extra and sell them on CRAIGSLIST and make money like they do with highly sought after local concert tickets - you know the old bend over and I will burn ya technique! Seriously, I could never do that to anyone....well, okay, maybe some naughty person but not the general population! Then I would feel guilty about my dirty deed for weeks/months...and probably years!

The funny thing about all the above chit-chat is dear Joe headed off to work this morning and apparently slipped on the stairs and fell on them.....I am laughing, it is NOT funny but I am laughing. It brings back memories of years prior when he did the same thing with a new puppy in his arm - only that day he was in his robe and sprawled out in the middle of the front yard in the snow with his tools exposed. The dog somehow survived that incident but no wonder she was a nervous nelly after that.....

I have called Home Depot and their truck that could possibly have snow shovels is stuck in Portland. The Kmart lady laughed at me when I asked if they had them. I stopped calling after that....I can only take so much humiliation on the Eve of Christmas.

There were blue skies this morning and I saw a flock of geese fly over in formation this morning - they are truly amazing to watch! It is beautiful just to see them flying in that "V" and how they switch positions around as they fly.

Afternoon has arrived and I still have not completed my blogation....I am getting ready to hit the town for a last minute rendevous with the items I think I must have. I located a possible SS delivery here in the VALLEY - SHHHH......I have a friend staked out at the hardware store awaiting the truck to unload the 100 shovels that came in on it today. That is a friend for ya, headin' out on Christmas Eve to grab 2 shovels for my mom & me. She is waiting patiently with 30 of her closest groupies who also want SS before more snow arrives.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve & who you share it with!

What I am "listening" to..............

I bought this CD a couple of weeks ago and broke it out this a.m. I absolutely love his voice! I hope he is successful in his career as a music maker!

Time keeps on tickin........

Well what a weekend.....


I spent Friday night at Joe's office Christmas party in combo with a retirement party for one of the "greatest" cancer doctors in the valley. It was fun and I laughed a lot - people away from the stress of work letting their office walls down and enjoying life. Food was great even all the SPAM recipes (the SPAM is a story in itself). Anyhow, this doctor is retiring and going to teach college courses in anatomy.....I saw WTG doctor but it will definitely leave a hole in the hearts of many patients and fellow doctors. He was my doctor when I had my battle with cancer and he was just an awesome doctor, you knew he truly cared!


After the party we hit Wally World and can you say "did the weirdos come out of the woods" Friday night or what - there was some interesting people wandering the aisles - kind of like Deliverance kind of people. We picked up a few of the last minute necessities from Wally World and headed home.

Saturday we woke up to more snow and headed out to Costco....early even.....but it was still a crazy scene....The lines were so long and Joe had so much fun standing in line the first time he decided to do it again (actually he had a friend who didn't have a card who was picking up an item for her parents so Joe was nice enough to bring her through on his card). I waited and visited with a nice gentleman from Garfield who was waiting for his family to come through the LONG line. Then we treated ourselves cuz Ang was with G&G and went to Thai Taste - YUM! I ran in to James there and chit-chatted a tid bit....

We then headed out to G&G's to pickup the kiddo and ended up staying a bit to visit. A meltdown ensued and we all left WITHOUT our Christmas spirit! I was supposed to go out with a friend shopping but had to cancel due to the current MOOD I was in.....Life sucks sometimes you know! Saturday evening turned around and ended on a positive note so that was great! I ended up crocheting some more on my blanket that I have been working on forever but it is almost done - I believe I have 8 more rows to go!

Sunday we went to lunch with some friends and ended up running in to James and her fam again - her kids are sooooo cute and I just had to ask "WHERE" they got their blonde hair - just to wind her up a bit!

I hooked up with a girlfriend and Joe hooked up with his friend and we went our separate ways to finish Christmas shopping for one another. WHEW - he is sooo hard to buy for! I am not exaggerating....he truly is!

Things I learned this weekend;
I am getting old - my body hurts after I shop for toooo long!

I ended last night by doing a bit of cleaning and throwing things out (AMAZING...yes, I know) but I have to say "good job Brenda" for accomplishing a few things. I then wrapped all of Joe's gifts but one which I will do tonight. I wanted Angelo to really help me on this last one.....because he is all excited about this gift and "disguising" it somehow so Joe can't figure out what it is!

We still have to get the tree up (ya, I know I am bad) but it is going to happen probably tomorrow night.

I work 2 more days and then I have 11 days off! Yippee! I can drink Rum & Coke or Tom & Jerry's or screwdrivers and not be accountable to the old workplace!

Can anyone interpret this for me..........

I have never been good at interpreting songs - I wanna know what this song is all about....I like it a lot!

THRIVING IVORY
"Angels on the Moon"

Do you dream, that the world will know your name
So tell me your name
Do you care, about all the little things or anything at all?
I wanna feel, all the chemicals inside I wanna feel
I wanna sunburn, just to know that I'm alive
To know I'm alive

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon
Do you believe, in the day that you were born
Tell me do you believe?

Do you know, that everyday's the first of the rest of your life
Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon
This is to one last day in the shadows
And to know a brother's love
This is to New York City angels
And the rivers of our blood
This is to all of us, to all of us
Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon
You can tell me all your thoughts, about the stars that fill polluted skies
And show me where you run to, when no one's left to take your side
But don't tell me where the road ends,
cause I just don't wanna know, No I don't wanna know

Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying

WHAT........

Christmas Tag
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper but "wow" bags are way easier!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? well...hopefully before Christmas.
4. When do you take the tree down? Before February.
5. Do you like eggnog? Ummm that would be no - unless it is mixed in coffee then I can drink it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A walking doll and kitchen set when I was 4.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Angelo
9. Own a Nativity scene? Yes - it is white - Joe got it when he was still single in San Francisco.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards ? Sure, ya right.....
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't remember - I have been through therapy for it I am certain though....
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's "CHRISTMAS VACATION"
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Not yet.....
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.....only because DiYan taught me that trick.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint Ice cream.
16. Lights on the tree? Colored I think.....
17. Favorite Christmas song? Santa Baby
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home usually......
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? ANGEL one night, star the next night.....
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? morning....
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The crowds of people and rush and rude people.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? The ones I have gotten over all the years.....
24. What is your favorite Christmas drink? Diet Pepsi with Egg nog.....
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new car....

I did it again.....

I "NEVER" cease to amaze myself....

So I just had to run to the bathroom to go potty - I took my water pill this a.m. - I think I missed the whole weekend of taking them so I am being a good girl today. So, I am sitting there not wanting to waste time so I am trying to clear my ears (yes, they are still plugged), I am plugging my nose and mouth and trying to pop them open - NOOO that didn't work either!

So I finish my duty and hop up and I don't now how or why but the next thing I know I am falling forward into the bathtub....so I turned to try to catch myself and that mission failed and I find myself laying on the edge of the bathtub on my side, my back hyperextended over the edge of the bathtub which popped as I hit.....and I might add my pants are down....I am laying there wondering if I just broke my back but WHEW....I could move and feel my toes, my next thought is THANK GOD I can move because this would just about put the cherry on top of my life....me, summoning an ambulance, them arriving with me sprawled out on the bathroom floor with my pants down.....don't EVEN picture that okay! Anyhow I managed to quickly get up....I still practiced good hygiene and washed my hands. The arm of my sweater is wet though and I am not sure how that happened.....

So far I feel okay - my ribs are burning a bit but what do I expect from that acrobatic feat?

I did call my dear husband to tell him I figured out what I wanted for Christmas.....I said a LIFELINE!!!! WOOHOO I am getting a new necklace with a pretty black button for me to push when "I have fallen and can't get up"!

Friday night celebrations....

I was in denial....you see Saturday we were going to go out of town to a cabin to play in the snow....with friends from sorority. Ang had been sick all week - it all started last weekend with a headache and fever, missed Monday & Tuesday of school, Wednesday was still not the best, Thursday he was suffering the big "D" and Friday he came home in a "mood" and whiny and crying....I was still thinking that he would HEAL by Saturday.....I was thinking this so positively that I went to the store on Friday night and bought him a new hat & gloves for the event!

I ventured out ALONE Friday night - I had hardly been out of the house all week....we needed Children's DRUGS....Oh and you probably don't want to refer to them as "DRUGS" in front of your child - just an FYI.....I said "I am going to get some DRUGS" - being funny and Angelo was like all over me like white on rice about DRUGS! Then I thought peachy, I can just see him going to school and telling everyone his mom went for DRUGS Friday night - ummm yaa...I can see the Valley DRUG Task Force knocking at my door already.

Anyhow, I ventured out and thought I would have some fun while I was out.....so I went to JoAnn Fabrics and wandered - I couldn't find a thing that I could not live without so I left there and treated myself to a special drink and then went to Shopko because I didn't want to FIGHT The WALMART Christmas SHOPPERS.....anyhow I get in, get out and get home and drug him up on the two Tylenol and send him on his merry way to bed......

I wrap my tasks up short of 11:00 p.m. and hit the hay also. At 12:53 he shows up in our bedroom sobbing, squeaking in his missing voice "I CAN'T take this anymore....I just can't take being sick" sob, sob, sob, "My throat hurts" sob, sob, sob, more "I can't take it" and then I fold and let him crawl into bed and it continues.....so at 1:45 finally I get up and go to the sofa to sleep and leave him in MY SPOT in the bedroom - everything went quiet and we all got a few hours of sleep. I was up at 7:30 a.m. and getting ready to beat the rush to the Minor Care when it opened.....We get there, get in 1st and they run a Strep which comes back positive. So we get the kid on antibiotics (not to be confused with DRUGS) and he is doing much better this a.m. but still speaking in a whisper.

So at any rate, when I should have been doing some Christmas shopping yesterday I was at the Minor Care, picking up anbiotics and a quick run to the grocery store for necessities.....an afternoon nap and making dinner last night. What a life huh - We should have been out of town at a cabin in the snow, laughing and staying warm by the fire........

I am doing fun things today and making Pretzel Hugs....who couldn't use a little extra heat from the oven when it is 14 degrees out......WHO ordered this ice cold weather anyhow?

HELP....we have been ELFED!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

My busyness..........

I created 12 recipe cards for my treat for my ornament exchange last Thursday night. Some ladies called me an "over achiever"....."OUCH" that hurt.....Six of the 12 stockings I handmade for the exchange...portions of each are hand felted.....It was fun to learn something new. I thought they turned out rather charming.

I created a photo folder with my Cricut.....

Down & Out in Lewiston, Idaho......

I will have to admit I am in a low spot in life (AGAIN) and feeling like a DUD......I have been sleeping a ton (whether that is the sadness I am in or the illness I am fighting I don't know...)

It all started about 5 weeks ago when I got this illness that has been kicking my butt now even after two rounds of antibiotics I still am feeling like have a pillow over my head and can't hear things, coughing, aching, and tired. I am ready to be well already - don't you think I have suffered long enough with whatever this is? I don't care WHAT anyone says I will not be submitting myself to a flu shot again....this all started about 10 days after I received my "free" shot.....a friend suggested that if I do get a shot next year to ask for the preservative free one - that I am possibly reacting to the preservatives in the mixture of whatever it is they inject into your body.

Someone in the house suggested I return to the doctor but I don't want to hear her say that it takes time again as I pay her my $20.00 copay.....THANK YOU VERY MUCH & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I have been working to complete my 12 ornaments that I made for the ornament exchange I am a member of, which took place last night.......that has kept me busy when I was feeling "alert" enough to felt on them and sew and cut them out.....it doesn't feel all that FINE to have a felting needle pierce your finger.....trust me on that one! Last night was our exchange and it was a load of fun even with my plugged ears and coughing spells. I will post photos as soon as I find my cable on my desk for the camera.....I took pictures of my creations and you can perhaps understand how detailed these were. 11 of my creations went to new homes last night and I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I do. It is so much fun to be together for a few hours and laugh out loud. I stayed late to help pick up with the organizers and another friend. I don't know how much I actually helped but I tried to be a helper.

I have, AGAIN, had some issues with my child being bullied - will this ever end? I am so DONE with schools these days - I am beginning to see why people opt to home school.....the system sucks people and it if it started to be straightened out NOW it would take a whole entire generation I think to get it back to a functional status. It is very, very, very sad to see what our public system is today from what it was 30 years ago. Something went very wrong when they started taking away discipline in the schools. Although this particular incident did not happen at the school it is the same two brats that were picking on him in school who have now taken it to the B&G Club.....apparently one choked him while the other punched him in the face.....of course, no one saw it and when Ang told the staff they didn't "hear" him (this is what I was told when I marched Angelo back into the club after picking him up that night).....and the staff apologized to him for not hearing him......I thought on this situation long and deep.....we wonder WHY there is a high rate of teen suicides and teens expressing frustration by shootings in schools....NOOO I am absolutely NOT condoning these things but what happens to a child who is bullied over and over for years and years and the system fails to hear them or stop bullies from picking on them? How long are children expected to put up with being picked on before they break? What is the answer to all this crap? This just hasn't set well with me with my being in a mood and not feeling well. I have said this before but "I AM DONE"....I said it a couple of years ago in a certain situation I was in with a family member. That is how I am now "I am DONE", I am done being Mrs. Nice and Smiley.....the bitch in me is beginning to bloom baby! I am certainly not saying my child does NOO wrong and is perfect but I am done apologizing for bringing these situations up to teachers and staff members! You are a part of molding my child's dreams and I fricking expect you to take it seriously! If the teachers and staff don't want to take care of these issues then perhaps an attorney needs to get involved or the law. I am DONE!

This on top of the holiday season, my illness and the mood I am in just isn't the grandest of combinations! You see this time of year I think about how much I miss people that are no longer here on this earth. The memories I have of these people and the laughter they brought to my life, not only my grandparents, aunts/uncles but dear friends who I may have only known for a short time or on a professional basis but they touched my life and changed me and I miss them! It probably doesn't help the situation by the books I have been reading on the concentration camps and the journeys people went through to save their families - I mean what better combination for the holiday season?

Sooooooo, in turn, I need to start digging myself out of this pitty party I am having and figure out how to find the JOY in the JOURNEY and the season we are in the midst of! Oh and by the way, sorry I didn't invite any of you to my PITTY PARTY....it is something I have to do ALONE....you see, in the eye of most I still paste on my smile and be happy......I hope I do a good job of covering up my PPP (private pitty party), it is quite the shin-dig sometimes! I try to function normally during the days and then by night I am so exhausted I crawl in bed by 9:00 which is unusual for me.

Any suggestions for dragging my self from the "PIT OF PITTY" are greatly appreciated but remember to "BE KIND" with your suggestions......