Pics and Giggles

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De-Federalizing Samantha

I was at the best resource site for Ron Paul writings, (click here.. if you dare!) and was really impressed with his stance on De-federalizing social issues. I have seen him appearing on CNN a lot .. maybe he is finally on the "political radar". I sure hope so!

Wonderful

Thursday went so great! I went to the gym with Maria and was very proud of my workout. I also figured out I need a good stretching beforehand. :-)
On the way home, Matthew and I stopped at Rib n Loin and picked up BBQ sandwiches for ourselves and my sister, mom, and dad. It was a great dinner, and all counted up, I only ate 1690 calories throughout the day! And I didn't even miss out on anything.
We heard back from the Clayton dealer in Athens and he was able to get us the larger house, with better options, for the same amount of money! Well, they "made it work" to earn our business, because I know they are giving us a huge discount for all of the options we elected for. But that is a plus when buying mobile homes rather than regular homes.. they can pretty much do whatever it takes to fit your budget and make you buy from them. So, we will most likely be ordering from him soon, after we get a few things squared away.
Woohoo

Personal Fuel

Resting (basal) metabolic rate: 2439 calories per day
Typical daily activities: 1189 calories per day
Typical daily intake: 2300 calories per day
Total calories burned: 1328 per day
Note: 3500 calories = 1 pound weight loss


I got this info from a calorie counter website. I was completely honest and now I have a tangible calculation to work with. If I just stay on task and don't pig out on Little Debbies or anything, I should steadily lose weight (Although the PCOS makes it 10 times harder!)
Yay!

The picture of the plate of celery above represents 200 calories. Now, I just need to like celery.....

Cheddar

I began my new workout regimen after work Wednesday and started slowly, a brisk walk on the treadmill for about 30 minutes. I am just so happy that I now have people to go with! Being there with people I actually know made me feel a lot less self-conscious.
I also began a food diary with calorie counter spreadsheet I am maintaining at work. Yesterday was my trial run, and I was trying hard not to alter my normal food intake, so that I get an accurate picture of what I eat, snacks and all. Well, it was enlightening. Just one day and I consumed almost 2300 calories. Although I don't usually eat breakfast, I had a half of a plain McD biscuit and that might have skewed things. Oh well. I am beginning to try and consume less starting today, although it will be a slow process, and I am not immediately going to get rid of the indulgences I know I need to unload, like "Real" Cokes!

I was the recipient of a generous donation of one goldfish by my sweet nephew. He did not come with a name, or a definite gender. I am naming him Cheddar, because he makes me crave the Pepperidge farms Goldfish snacks.
After the Wal-Mart fiasco this weekend, Matthew and I went to PetCo and looked around at what they have to offer. I am leery about getting any more fish right now, because I want to make sure I can handle the water chemistry and general tank maintenance before I commit to too much too soon. I bought some food just for goldfish, some clarifying drops, and a PH test kit. I already have some PH tablets, so I think I am good to go. I just have to decide if I want the bar magnet glass cleaners, or the wands that look like something for your dirty dishes. Oh Well.


No news on the second house quote yet....

Cool!

How neat. I really like the Idaho one.

Live Images!

Holiday Blessings.. and Holiday Rantings.

Obligatory Disney Picture. You can also follow the link to the right and see them all.
~~~Blessings~~~
I hope everyone's Christmas weekend was as good as mine.
I had a lovely breakfast with my friend, Niki. The weather was pleasant, too.
Matthew and I went with my Mom Saturday and toured the mobile home dealerships in the area again, finding a new floorplan we like very much. I will hear back today to see if this new dealership in Athens can beat the estimate from the one in Chattanooga. I like being able to sit back and make decisions slowly, with a lot of information.
I spent a morning with my sister and nephew, Matthew made lunch for us, and the weekend sailed by.
Then on Christmas Day we went to Matthew's parents' house. Dinner was great, and we stayed way past our bedtime but we enjoyed ourselves so much it was hard to leave.
Christmas went off without a hitch, and I hope that everyone was happy with what they received as gifts from us. With our holiday budget we tried really hard to place the emphasis on quality gifts, and not quantity of gifts. I think we ended up giving some thoughtful gifts. It only seemed fitting then, that our gifts we received this Christmas have been the most thoughtful, loving, memorable things to cherish. So, I feel really great about the whole thing.
The main part was we had two really great evenings with each of our families.

~~~Rantings~~~
Well, Matthew got me an aquarium for Christmas. I had been hinting that it would be nice to have one, but he suprised me on Sunday and we bought a nice set at Wal-Mart, 14 gallons. That was nice.
I set it up, and over many rises in my blood pressure and hollering for assistance, Matthew and I got all the bubbly contraptions connected and working properly. We were given a goldfish, donated by my nephew, and that was really nice.
Then came Monday, Christmas Eve, and my sister and I headed into town to get a few things and I went back to the same Wal-Mart where I bought the tank and set out to find a few more fish.
I was appalled at the state of the fish department! There was no employee back there at all, and at least 5-15 fish in EACH TANK were dead! The poor lonely Beta fish that they keep in all of 1/2 inch of water in their solitary cups were mostly living, although a few were belly-up. The sink area had about 5 dead goldfish laying in it like hours past an employee cared enough to clean out a tank, then just gave up and never thought another thing about it. It was so gross!
I had never seen so many fish dead before at once! I was so sickened. But as I was waiting on my sister to come back from the grocery side of the store, I was stuck there. Stuck staring at the pools of dead fish.
And I vowed to call the manager on Wednesday. I also vowed to not purchase ANY fish from Wal-Mart ever again, even if it means paying more $ to go to the pet stores. Who knows why those fish even died, they could have been neglected, over-crowded, under-fed, or just plain diseased! And I am not putting a possible disease carrying fish into my aquarium.
The worst part was a little girl about 7 or so that stood there with me talking about all the dead fish and carrying-on. I felt bad for her, and also wondered where her parent's were. In my mind they told her to go watch the pretty fish while they snagged up some last minute toys from the adjoining department without her seeing, only to come back to find her crying and morbidly fascinated with the display of dead fish. Merry Christmas! ick!
Then I get to work this morning to the same-old, predictable behavior patterns I am used to. Home Sweet Home! The genuine nice people inquiring on how my Christmas went versus the self-centered, ego-driven, materialistic people who only want to know what you got compared to what they got. Yuck! Elementary, revisited around here!
So, I just said I got some "nice things, but the best part was getting to relax and spend time with loved ones." That got the pesky person out of my office - QUICK!

Eat that - petty people who only want to talk about themselves! HA

Friday! At Last!

Random Disney Picture-a-Day

Last night we went to Matthew's parents' house and had a great dinner and had more people to impose our vacation photos on! HaHaHa

I am so glad the end of this incredibly loooong week is here! 4 day weekend!!

Almost there!

Random Disney Picture-a-Day

Last night we went to Mom's for some soup.. excellent! I went with my Sis and Nephew Bowling, Fun!

Funny Funny

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Christmas was great

Random Disney Picture-a-Day

We had a great time last night exchanging gifts with all of my family. My om made an awesome dinner!

Matthew got a cookbook!

and here is Matthew showing off his present to my Nephew!

Neat-O !

The 24 million World War I Draft Registration Cards in the custody of the National Archives Southeast Region provide an invaluable resource for academic researchers and genealogists. All males in the United States, born between the years 1872 and 1900, were required by law to register for the draft throughout 1917 and 1918. This series of records includes cards from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The answers provided to the questions on the cards typically reveal details about where a man lived, his occupation, race, immigration status, and in many cases his place of origin and nearest relative. The following selection presents a unique snapshot of what is available in this extensive collection.

I personally like looking at what people put as their occupations(Duncan Hines was a salesman? James Cagney was a Draughtman? I don't even know what that is!) and their ages at the time.

And get a load of the handwriting! Wow.

Christmas a week early!

Random Disney Picture-a-Day
Oh No! Matthew, watch out for that Viking!!!

Well, last night we spent some time at Mom's house, and picked up a cheese ball she had made for my office.
My Sis and I drove around a few blocks and saw the disappointing Christmas lights. :-( Oh Well.
When I got home I realized that we had gotten the Disney package I was waiting on, and in PERFECT timing, since we are exchanging gifts with my family tonight!
I am so happy everything got here in time. WooHoo!

Merry Christmas!

Weekend whimpers

I am going to begin this week with a bang! Random Disney Picture-a-Day!


Last week was entirely ruined. My ears throbbed and my stomach ached so badly I was not about to force my misery on my co-workers, so I stayed home. Got caught up on some TV episodes I had from the vacation. Michael came up Friday night and we watched a scary movie called Severance. I had watched it the day before with my sis, so I was about 20% less frightened.
This weekend Matthew, S, and I all went driving to Tullahoma (stopping a LOT for my terrible tummy!) We went to a Clayton dealer up there and saw a comparable doublewide to the one we want, which is currently nowhere in the TN Valley for us to arrange a walk-through.
But things seem to work out just fine anyways, and since we are going to order the house, instead of buying a model off of a lot, we can take our time, and not be in some frantic rush.. which is such a blessing because of budgetary constraints brought on from vacation and holiday gift-buying. Whew!
So, we have our approval pending some routine documents about workplaces and finances, and then we will be ready to order the house. I am really betting on it being ordered in January, since there is SO much going on for us at the end of the year.
I still feel wimpy and gross today, but I made it in to work OK and I am looking forward to getting back into some regular paychecks again.
We found a great airbed at Target last night for $25! and the pump was, of course, $21, so we got a cool temporary mattress for all of forty-six bucks! The 4'' serta memory foam mattress fits perfectly and we slept on the best cloud ever last night! I woke up a ton of times, not uncomfortable, just kept waking myself up.. maybe it needs more air. We will have to fiddle with it tonight some more.
Anyway, so I am just looking forward to getting through the end of the year with everything OK, and getting back to normal. Christmas shopping sure does take a chunk out of me.. but I just can't say NO when I buy for other people. :-)
We got our pricey prints from Disney and they are so cute! I am waiting on one more package we arranged to have delivered from Epcot on the 8th, but they have until the 22nd to deliver.
I made come candy goodies witht he help on my Sis and Nephew last night. I made white-chocolate cheerios candy, and my nephew made some ooey-gooey rice krispies treats.. YUM!!

We are doing Christmas with my family a full week early. We are meeting tomorrow night after work at my parent's house and will get the whole gift-thingy over with. I am excited to see my nephew open all the stuff he's getting. I have a few small things for everyone else, but for the most part my parents and sister already have their big gifts from us. Since my nephew will be away at his Dad's for the holiday, we are giving him a full week to play with his toys and I am cool with that.
Because the more we get through with the non-religious aspect of it, the more time we have on Christmas Eve and Day to go to midnight mass and not feel like we are going in too many directions. I like getting the presents over with early, it doesn't spoil anything for me. The only place I want to be on Christmas Eve is at the midnight mass. It really is something. I know the first year Michael went with us and it is so nice to have someone there who gets into the Christmas songs as much as I do. Matthew enjoys them, but I really like to belt them out! HaHa.
Hopefully it will be as beautiful as past years' have been.
Ont he political scene I keep getting all these e-mails from Ron Paul supporter's about some huge fundraising record he accomplished. That's so great! I know I have seen a couple of hundred signs all over Chattanooga recently.. and there is a huge surge of grassroots support here. It would be nice to get a little more press attention, though.
Well, I hope everyone is well and looking forward to Christmas!!

The anatomy of vacation

Well, it is over. Our week-long festivities at Disney World have ended, and we all came back tired, sick of beiing around so many people, but still on good terms with each other, and that is all that counts.
I could rant and rave about all the unsupervised kids, annoying temperaments, lackluster customer service, a grueling haul home after almost 14 hours in the parks (thank to the maker's of Visine and No-Doz).. but I choose NOT to. I am totally zen.
All in all, it was a great vacation because we always have so much to do and good memories to take home.
Maria at work has told me about Wal-Mart's collage thingamajig (see pic above!).. and I have playing around all day with it, I love it. I am going to wait to order one (or more!) until I get a copy of Michael and Jennifer's pictures too. Because that is the best part of it all, getting to save all those pictures and be creative about how you do it.
We got good news on the house while in Orlando, and we will hopefully have something lined up soon!

Blogging blues

I read blogs, a lot of them. And many times bloggers go long stretches without writing.. and I feel that this is my time. Life has been brutally hectic, and gearing up for the vacation has been ceaseless. I haven't had much to say, and next time I post will be with vacation pics. Work has actually been less stressful than most months, as we are gearing down for inventory.
We leave Friday night, and at this point I am so ready to get out of town I would spend a week anywhere. Things have been running together, and these last few months have been a string of frustrations and anxiety. I am more than ready for a little escapism. In fact, just today I have developed a fever blister/ cold sore/ all around nasty mutation on the inside of my nostril.. stress related, no doubt!
I have bought 85% of the Christmas gifts before our trip, and that was important to me. I gave my Mom her art print early, so she could get it framed. I got my sister something cool (can not divulge as she might read this), Matthew a leather jacket (also received early!), my Dad a 100 pack of blank DVRs (his request), a neat gift for my office recipient (we draw names), and my nephew some books (especially a kid's cookbook!) and RC Stunt car. I have Matthew's parents' gifts well on the way to being finished, with a few loose ends to tie on Vacation. (also not divulging for fear of ruining the surprise!)
I can't wait to show off some vacation pictures! Until Mid-December!!!

No lifeguard on duty

Well, it is an end to an era. The water bed has come down and found a new home at my co-worker's house. I am so glad! Although it was my very first water bed, and ever so warm to sleep on.. it made my back ache like no tomorrow. It is only now that we are sleeping on something different that I realize I don't have to wake up and "work out the kinks" for 20 minutes before I am normal.
I bought a 4'' Serta Memory Foam Mattress Topper from Overstock (gee, I love them). It is on the floor expanding as we speak. Fortunately I kinda like our pull-out couch and we have been sleeping there until after the Disney vacation in December. Then I will start seriously shopping. We have decided to get a platform, because there is no way to justify spending $$ on box springs (which aren't even box springs anymore!) when you can have a perfectly cute, modern platform bed.
There are some I like at Overstock, and at Ikea.
This weekend Mom and my Nephew are going to the Ga. vs. Ga. Tech football game. Needing a ride, Michael and I will be going along and dropping them off, then going to the mall to walk around.. maybe I can get him to the Ikea so I can see the bed up close! Poor Matthew is on call at his job this weekend and it stinks that he cannot go.. but I am going to be taking pictures of what I find.
Work this week has been a breeze. I am almost through and ready for my 4 day Holiday weekend!
We are still in financing limbo with the house. Pray for us!
Only one more full week until the trip, and I am getting really excited to be leaving my routines and getting some fresh, Florida air!
Do you like the picture? It is by my new favorite artist, John Millais, and I cannot wait to get some prints ordered! The one above is called, Christ in the House of His Parents, and this is what Wikipedia says about it:
The painting depicts the young Jesus assisting his father Joseph in his workshop. Joseph is making a door, which is laid on his carpentry work-table. Jesus has cut his hand on an exposed nail, leading to a sign of the stigmata, prefiguring the crucifixion. As Saint Anne removes the nail with a pair of pincers, his concerned mother Mary offers her cheek for a kiss while Joseph examines his wounded hand. The young John the Baptist brings in water to wash the wound, prefiguring his later baptism of Christ. An assistant of Joseph's, representing potential future Apostles watches these events. In the background various objects are used to further point up the theological significance of the subject. A ladder, referring to Jacob's ladder is visible leaning against the back wall; a dove standing for the Holy spirit rests on it. Other carpentry implements refer to the holy trinity. Millais probably used Albrecht Dürer's print Melancholia I as a source for this imagery, along with quatrocento works. The sheep in the fold in the background represent the future Christian flock

Across *my* Universe

So, I've heard about this movie for a few months,Across the Universe and I thought it seemed really awesome, kinda Moulin-Rouge-esque.
I bought the soundtrack from Overstock.com (thru ebates!) and it is so great! All Beatles music, re-done and re-thought by some really interesting voices. I got the deluxe edition, and here is the synopsis of the movie and soundtrack info. WooHoo!
A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n' roll, moving from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude and Lucy, along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with Dr. Robert and Mr. Kite as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy--against all odds--to find their own way back to each other.

Track Listing:
DISC 1:
Girl - Jim Sturgess
Hold Me Tight - Evan Rachel Wood
All My Loving - Jim Sturgess
I Want To Hold Your Hand - T.V. Carpio
With A Little Help From My Friends - Jim Sturgess/Joe Anderson
It Won`t Be Long - Evan Rachel Wood
I`ve Just Seen A Face - Jim Sturgess
Let It Be - Carol Woods/Timothy T. Mitchum
Come Together - Joe Cocker
If I Fell - Evan Rachel Wood
Dear Prudence - Evan Rachel Wood/Dana Fuchs
Flying - Secret Machines
Blue Jay Way - Secret Machines
DISC 2:
I Am The Walrus - Bono/Secret Machines
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite - Eddie Izzard
Because - Evan Rachel Wood/Dana Fuchs
Something - Jim Sturgess
Oh! Darling - Dana Fuchs/Martin Luther McCoy
Strawberry Fields Forever - Jim Sturgess/Joe Anderson
Revolution - Jim Sturgess
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Martin Luther McCoy
Across The Universe - Jim Sturgess
Helter Skelter - Dana Fuchs
Happiness Is A Warm Gun - Salma Hayek/Joe Anderson
Black Bird - Evan Rachel Wood
Hey Jude - Dana Fuchs
Don`t Let Me Down - Dana Fuchs
All You Need Is Love - Dana Fuchs/Jim Sturgess
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Bono



********************
In our universe right now we have applied for the loan for the house and are eagerly waiting confirmation on acceptance or denial :-( or :-(
Going to be saving money these next two weeks and paying bills in time for our vacation to Disney World.
Other than that, everything is going OK.

New things. Same ulcers.

Today we need extra prayers and guidance. We have found the most adorable house, and will be making monumental decisions today after work. I hope everything works out so we can have something nice.

Squared - Away, the E-bate Way

Well, Friday is 3 weeks until our vacation! I have gotten all the bills in order and things payed off (or down enough! haha) I ordered my Nephew's Birthday presents today, fearing how awful it would be if we overspent in Orlando and I had to not give what I wanted!
I bought through Overstock.com, but I went to E-Bates first, signed in (my first purchase thru them!) And viola! I earned 10 bucks just from purchasing what I was gonna get any old way!
I love free money! WooHoo.
Go to Ebates Now! This is their pre-written invitation!

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Meow!

Wow, almost a week without posting.. that is how hectic my life had become! Today is a slow day and I am looking forward to going home and doing a few small things... but that is it!
This weekend my Sister and I went "Yard-Salin'". We had a good time and I found a lot of things. Matthew stayed home and made a wonderful meal for us to keep for Sunday Lunch/Dinner.
Sunday Michael came up, my Mom, and my Sister and we chowed down on the great meal and played "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?" board game. Matthew beat us all at it and it was nice to play a game with so many people!
We had an "open house", meaning all the felines were allowed to roam indoors and outdoors. Most of the cats were happy about the open door policy and not having to beg to get back in or back out.
Of course, Wader, the three-legged fatty stayed on the porch and enjoyed her only outside day we have granted her. When it got late though, she was nowhere. Michael and Matthew looked everywhere!
Monday at work I was miserable thinking something had happened to her, but when we got home last night I stood on the porch and "meow-ed" and she talked right back to me! Matthew had to go rescue her, stuck under the house in the insulation and not able to get loose. My Hero!
This week though not a lot is on my plate as far as work and everything. It will be nice to get back to the RCIA class tomorrow night.
Gearing up for the vacation will be our next hurdle.. making lists, deciding what stays, what goes, etc. Fun. :-)

Fascinated with Eyelash Mites

Demodex
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Demodex is a genus of tiny parasitic mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. About 65 species of Demodex mites are known; they are among the smallest of arthropods. Two species living on humans have been identified: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both frequently referred to as eyelash mites. Demodex canis lives on the domestic dog. Infestation with Demodex mites is common and usually does not cause any symptoms; occasionally some skin diseases can be caused by the mites.

Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are the only Demodex mites that have been found on humans. D. folliculorum was first described in 1842 by Simon; D. brevis was identified as separate in 1963 by Akbulatova. D. folliculorum is found in hair follicles, while D. brevis lives in sebaceous glands connected to hair follicles. Both species are primarily found in the face, near the nose, the eyelashes and eyebrows, but also occur elsewhere on the body.
The adult mites are only between 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm long, with D. brevis slighly shorter than D. folliculorum.[1] They have a semi-transparent elongated body that consists of two fused segments. Eight short segmented legs are attached to the first body segment. The body is covered with scales for anchoring itself in the hair follicle, and the mite has pin-like mouth-parts for eating skin-cells, hormones and oils (sebum) which accumulate in the hair follicles. The mite's digestive system is so efficient and results in so little waste that there is no excretory orifice. The mites can leave the hair follicles and slowly walk around on the skin, at a speed of about 8–16 cm/hour, especially at night; they try to avoid light.
Female Demodex folliculorum are somewhat shorter and rounder than males. The total lifespan of a Demodex mite is several weeks. Both male and female Demodex mites have a genital opening, and fertilization is internal.Mating takes place in the follicle opening, and eggs are laid inside the hair follicles or sebaceous glands. The six-legged larvae hatch after 3-4 days, and it takes about seven days for the larvae to develop into adults. The dead mites decompose inside the hair follicles or sebaceous glands.
Older people are much more likely to carry the mites; estimates range as high as an 96-98% infestation rate in aged people. The lower rate of children may be due to the fact that children produce much less sebum. It is quite easy to look for one's own demodex mites, by carefully removing an eyelash or eyebrow hair and placing it under a microscope.
The mites are transferred between hosts through contact of hair, eyebrows and of the sebaceous glands on the nose. Different species of animals host different species of demodex; and demodex is not contagious between different species.
In the vast majority of cases, the mites go unobserved, without any adverse symptoms, but in certain cases (usually related to a suppressed immune system, caused by stress or illness) mite populations can dramatically increase, resulting in a condition known as demodicosis, characterised by itching, inflammation and other skin disorders. Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) can also be caused by Demodex mites.

All Saint's Day

Today is All Saint's Day.
WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Father, You have given the saints in Heaven eternal happiness and they now live in the fullness of Your glory. Because of their holy love for You, they also care about me and my family, my friends, my church, and my neighbors. Thank You for the gift of their friendship and the witness of their holy lives. I ask our patron saints and every saint who has become especially dear to me to intercede for us. I ask them to help us journey safely on the narrow path that leads to Heaven. O Lord, give us their protection. Grant us their assistance in overcoming temptation and gaining the fullness of life with You. Amen.

Tupper-hua

After work yesterday I went by the goodwill I cleaned out over a week ago and Ta-Da! More Tupperware! I was so happy marching out with my trash bag full of goodies! Happy Halloween to me!!!

Still Kickin'

This week has been insane! Work has been all-encompassing, and Matthew has been sick, and I have just been pulled in too many directions!
After a full day's work on Sat. (having to get a fill-in at the Thrift Store :-( ) I tried to get Matthew out and do a little shopping, etc. But he thought he had gotten better when he hadn't, and we ended up making a quick trip for nothing and coming back home with fresh medicine in tow.
Sunday I woke up and met my Sis and we went flea-marketing. I bought two pictures and a frame (in the shape of a cat.. cute!!).
We drove around just looking for any available Sun. morning yard sales to peruse, but nothing looked very promising. We came home and took a nap!
It is about 3:15 now and I have to get going soon if we are going to make it to Mass and then to drop Matthew off at his sleep study appt.
Oh, and in 14 days the body count stands at:
1 dead blackbird
1 dead bluish grey bird
1 dead bluish-grey bird with BONUS baby mole!
.. and all presented to us in grand fashion on the welcome mat :-)
Gotta love Cats in the wilderness!!!

Responses

Dear Mrs. Smith,

Thank you for contacting my office regarding S. 2075 the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act. I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

Like you, I am pro-life and believe in the sanctity of human life. As you know, this bill will require that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound, have the option to view the ultrasound and have a physician share the results prior to performing the procedure. I am a co-sponsor of this legislation and believe, if enacted, it will help reduce the number of abortions in our country.

Currently, this legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Should this legislation come before the full Senate I will certainly take your concerns into consideration.


Sincerely,

Bob Corker
United States Senator

YaY

I am so thankful to find out that the files I had on my computer at work, which fried yesterday during a power outage, will be saved! WooHoo. Talk about great news!
Matthew is home ill today, I bought him all kinds of medicine last night at WalMart, but he has THE CRUD.
I also bought my Mother the Carrie Underwood CD. For myself I bought the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss duet CD. It is OK, but I am going to get rid of it because it wasn't exactly up my alley. Oh well.
For an early Halloween I bought my Nephew some candy and the Gremlins DVD. I think he will get a kick out of it.
Everything else is going swimmingly and mundane.

Tupper Happy

I have amassed quite a Tupperware collection. Through the greatness (and curse) that is eBay, I have been able to buy so many items! Put together with the huge bags full of Tupperware I bought last Friday at the Thrift stores.. I am quite content.
I will slack off the eBay starting today, because I really found greater joy in searching through shelves of junk at the Thrift places. I am a junkie.
I was telling my co-worker yesterday how when we are in Orlando I plan on going by the Tupperware International Headquarters, getting to see the Tupperware Tower. She just stared at me. LOL
Well I am excited!

Adoption

So, making a major step towards adoption, I called the TN Dept. of Children's Services yesterday to order our info. packet. They only mail on Fridays, so we will receive it next week sometime. I am so excited!

I learned from the lady I was giving all of our info. to that in TN to adopt from foster care, you have to put in 6 months as a foster parent (not necessarily with the child you adopt). I am OK with that.

We will also be beginning a parenting class required by the state, getting a total of 30 hours in before we can proceed. That will be fun.

My Sister tells me that the FMLA law says if you are adopting you get the same amount of leave, called "bonding time" that you would if you were to take a maternity leave. I will have to see how my company handles that, too.
Wish us luck!

Catholic Bishops to Vote on Putting Pro-Life Values Over Partisanship

LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops are slated to vote next month on a 37-page document outlining how Catholics should be involved in political issues. The document says that Catholics should put their pro-life values ahead of devotion to a particular political party.
The vote will take place during the bishops' annual meeting in mid November and the new document they will consider calls on Catholics to look beyond "powerful interests, partisan attacks, sound bites and media hype."

Instead, according to a Catholic News Service report, they should be focused on "the dignity of every human being and the protection of the weak and vulnerable."

"As Catholics, we should be guided more by our moral convictions than by our attachment to a political party or interest group," the draft document reads.

"When necessary, our participation should help transform the party to which we belong; we should not let the party transform us in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental moral truths," it adds.

While other political issues are mentioned as important ones for Catholics, the document says that abortion and other pro-life issues are paramount.

"There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor," it reads, according to CNS.

"The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity," they say. "The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is ... not just one issue among many."

The document does not directly address the question of whether pro-abortion politicians should get communion.

But it does say that Catholics should not vote for pro-abortion candidates unless the candidate who is pro-life on abortion and bioethics issues violates Catholic teachings in other very serious ways.

Seven committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops crafted the new document and two-thirds of the bishops must support it for it to be ratified.

They will also consider a shortened version that would be placed in church bulletins, CNS reports.

These kinds of documents have been approved before every presidential election for the last 30 years but this is the first time the bishops will sign off on it.

Last Weekend Snapshots

Wednesday Away

My Wednesday was eventful and nice. After work I met Michael and we met Matthew and we all ate at O'Charley's. Matthew picked because he had to go on to his sleep study. After dinner, we all went to Hobby Lobby and I bought a candle for my mother that smells like a bag of Red-Hot candies, which are her favorite.
Since Matthew was spending the night at the hospital I , of course, went to my Mom's house. I did go home long enough to show my Sister and Nephew our new furniture, feed the cats, and open a box from eBay.. more Tupperware.. who would have guessed???
I spent the rest of the evening with my Dad, Mom, Sister and Nephew and had a great time.
I talked to Matthew this morning around 6 a.m. and they were keeping him for the more intensive "nap-testing" which means they monitor how fast he falls asleep during the day. He will ace it. All Matthew needs to ever do is just close his eyes.. he can sleep at any time of the day!

Oh Well, maybe I will put the pics I've been meaning to upload on tonight, you will have to wait!

Idioms

" Man Alive!!"
"Man Alive!" as an expletive to express shock or amazement seems to have originated in the 1800s, along with terms like "Land sakes!" These phrases and others were developed because Queen Victoria was notorious for her disapproval of cursing or taking God's name in vain. It became more proper to say "Man Alive!" than "Oh my God!" It was also traced back to a naval expression when there were survivors after a shipwreck, etc.

Who else likes Idioms??
Well, in my house growing up we used "Man Alive!!" a lot!

Here is a great Idiom resource site.. fun!

EBates

I found this site, from Far Beyond Pearls
I am already shopping, and got a $10 Target gift Card for signing up! WooHoo
Put Pinochle1980@aol.com in the referral box whan you sign up and I will be a very happy shopper!!

GO EARN MONEY NOW!!!!! YaY

Wow, a cool site

I found this site, which lets you pick things and it matches you with vacations. Of course, it is a ROYAL CARIBBEAN site, so expect it to try and match you with a cruise. By the way at the end my luggage is a Leather Rucksack.. Ha


Your friend Samantha recently came to me looking for help. Vacation help. So I did some fun-a-lysis, and you can see what I came up with below. Now it's your turn to figure out who you are and where you are headed. Come check out my vacation fun-a-lyzer at hungrysuitcase.com.

Sincerely,
Sammy Suitcase

This is a message from Samantha:
HIYA

Samantha's results:

Vacation Score:
Adventure: 25%
Culture: 55%
Relaxation: 19%

Vacation Personality: Cultural Explorer

You get out there and see history first hand. You know, trekking through the forest, scaling ruins, and taking snapshots. Meeting the people and seeing the places others only read about. You're a Cultural Explorer. And you will absolutely love Europe, especially with my friends at Royal Caribbean. So what are you waiting for? It's time to sow your cultural oats!

Perfect Vacation Destination: EUROPE

I think I know what you're looking for, friend. You want to stand in awe before the works of Michelangelo in Italy. You want to witness the remains of ancient civilizations in Greece and Turkey, tour Palace Square in St. Petersburg, and explore Paris. From the fjords of Norway to the waterways of Venice experience the richness and beauty of Europe in a totally new way with Royal Caribbean.
Check out Sammy's fun-a-lyzer at hungrysuitcase.com

My Mom, the sly one.

So, below you read about my Mother and I at the Flea Market early Saturday morning. Well, I get to her house last night to see my Sister and Nephew back from Florida and that sneaky woman had went BACK to the Flea Market Saturday Morning and got a picture I would have bought!
While I was busy heading to work at the Thrift Store for charitable intentions, my Mom went back up the the Flea Market to see her friend who was set up. She spotted a picture in a booth (who admittedly wasn't set up when we had done the circuit) and bought a very large 30''x24'' Kimble print which has probably a 4 inch wooden frame, dark wood that would have matched up nicely to my Dining room furniture. 8 bucks!!
I was happy she had gotten it for such a bargain, but I was upset at myself for the amount of "coveting" I was feeling.
But, just like the quilt she found.. I will eventually get it. HaHaHa

Poor Birdie

Saturday morning I woke up real early and my Mom and I headed down to the Flea Market. We walked around for about an hour. I found some Tupperware pieces and containers and was thrilled! Then we found a lady with a few quilts, and I bought a twin size for 5 bucks!! My Mom got a full size beautiful triangle star quilt for only 7!! I really wanted both, but I told Mom that I will be happy knowing I will get the one she snagged on the event of her death... HAHAHAHAHA. Somehow she didn't find it as amusing as I did. Anyway, they are really nice quilts. Mine is old and some parts are threadbare, but I love it more for that.

So, we left there around 8:30 a.m. and I had to get home and get changed into better clothes to leave for the Ladies of Charity Store. When I got home though, my cute little innocent kitties I had let out earlier had brought me a blackbird and it was lying on the welcome mat. Nermal, I believe is the main culprit, since she was pretty much laying on top of it and only moved when I got close enough to inspect her trophy. I got pictures of that, too. Gross!!

I worked at the Thrift Store from 10-2 p.m. and also found a few Tupperware pieces.. WooHoo!! It is amazing how I am receiving all of these little pleasures from God. He knows I am secretly an 80 year old woman on the hunt for quilts and Tupperware!! Ha!
After working at the Thrift Store (filling in for someone on short notice) I went to my regularly scheduled event for Saturday which was to go and help Matthew's parents' friend move. I wasn't at all useful, not that I had planned to be. I really hope that one day my back will be as normal as possible, or at the very least be able to one day hoist up my future children and carry them around because not being able to carry around your kids would S-T-I-N-K.

Well, Matthew got a complete workout and I had a great time hanging out and spending time with his Mom and family of friends. We were awesomely blessed by receiving a dining room buffet (this thing is huge!) and a china cabinet (also the neatest thing ever!) that matches up the dining room table we had already been given. It was such a nice and generous thing and they look so wonderful in our dining room!! WooHoo!!
I also was given the opportunity to snag a nice computer desk and decided to go ahead, because it would
1) force me to clean up the computer room, and
2) be a lot easier to operate in a smaller, more organized area.

The computer desk we did have was huge and steel, one my Father had gotten from his work. It was a job getting it out of our house, but all things are manageable.. even if some are doubtful! So, now I have a new computer desk and desk chair (and a clean computer room to boot)! Double WooHoo.

We ate lunch with Matthew's parents in our newly re-united dining room and Matthew got his beloved Chicago-style pizza from Vinny and Joe's. I wasn't too thrilled, but then I am a spaghetti/marinara sauce minimalist.

After his folks left Matthew camped out on the sofa and got through some DVR-ed shows I didn't care to see, and I spent time hooking back up the computer and all the JUNK that goes with it, cleaning as I went. I am putting FLAT SCREEN MONITOR on my wish list after the vacation funds have been replenished, because my HUGE monitor I got from DELL in 1999 weighs an absolute TON. I was able to lift it to place it down on the floor, but when it came time to lift from the floor I had to enlist Matthew, who just whined and said, " I wasn't the one who wanted this desk", like that absolved him of any and all participation in the mess. Sheesh! So, begrudgingly he moved the monitor for me and went back to couchland.

Around 9 we headed up to Mom and Dad's and waited on my Sister and Nephew to arrive home from their vacation to Disney World! Matthew baked them a cake and we got to see all of their pictures, which were totally awesome. Well, that was our exciting weekend! I will of course post the pictures when I get around to it... HaHa.

This is quite important

The "survival of the world" is at stake if Muslims and Christians do not make peace with each other, leaders of the Muslim world will warn the Pope and other Christian leaders today.

My iTunes is Playing...

I Hope, I Think, I Know by OASIS

Theyre trying hard to put me in my place,
And that is why Ive gotta keep running,
The future is mine and its no disgrace
Cos in the end the past means nothing.

You tell me Im free then you tie me down,
And from my chains I think its a pity,
What did it cost you to wear my crown,
You dont like me why dont you admit it.

I feel a little down today,
And I aint got much to say,
But your gonna miss me when Im not there
You know I dont care,
You know I dont care,

As we beg and steal and borrow,
Life is hit and miss,
And this, I hope, I think, I know,

If I ever hear the names, you call,
And if I stumble catch me when I fall,
Cos baby after all,
Youll never forget my name,
Youll never forget my name.

Your trying hard to put me in my place,
And that is why Ive gotta keep running,
The future is mine and its your disgrace,
Cos in the end your laugh means nothing.

To feel a little down today,
But you aint got much to say,
Whos gonna miss you when your not there,
You know we dont care.

Cos as we beg and steal and borrow,
Life is hit and miss,
And this, I hope, I think, I know,

If I ever hear the names, you call,
and if I stumble catch me when I fall,
Cos baby after all,
Youll never forget my name,
Youll never forget my name.

As we beg and steal and borrow,
Life is hit and miss,
And this, I hope, I think, I know,

If I ever hear the names, you call,
And if I stumble catch me when I fall,
Cos baby after all,
Youll never forget my name,
Youll never forget my name.
Youll never forget my name.

Wader and Prayer Chain Pictures!!

Gotta See This Movie!

I got this in an e-mail from Kristie, the 40 Days for Life Vigil coordinator:

Well....here is some news many of you have been waiting for....and news the rest of you, I promise, will be thrilled to get! Bella the movie IS COMING TO KNOXVILLE!!!! It will be opening on Friday, October 26 nationwide - and Knoxville is included!! I have made a phone call to confirm this fact. The Pinnacle at Turkey Creek as well at the Riviera on Gay Street (both Regal - God bless them!) will be showing Bella. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 12. This is just another example of God's hand in our Pro-Life work. Many of you were there when Bella came for a screening on September 12 - along with the leading actor, Eduardo Verastegui. That was an amazing experience - he is such a man of God. It would take me so much time to write about that day....but I will let you experience it on your own. Just be sure to check out the website at www.bellathemovie.com and buy your tickets as soon as you can - you won't want to miss it. Be sure to check out Eduardo's story as well!

I went to the Wikipedia article and the IMDB article, and this movie seems like a great reason for me to make a trip back up to Knoxville!!! I can not wait! If I time it right we can do the vigil again and then see the movie later in the day!!
On the Official Movie Site for Bella it is heavily promoting group ticket sales, so I guess this is another "Passion"-esque religion flick. YaY.
It had won so many awards and will be winning many Oscars.. I will bet money on it. Everyone I read says that in the screenings the film actually received standing ovations. YaY.

Here is another article on it.

Sorry, here's dinner.

Last night I forgot to put the pictures on here.. woops!
Well, after work I went to the Bi-Lo and decided to shop for one meal, and cook Matthew and I dinner.
This is pretty sensational because normally I leave the cooking to Matthew. In 5 and a half years I have prepared probably 3 meals. Yes, I am counting canned soups and hot dogs!
So, we get home and Matthew goes out and spends time with my Dad in the yard. I made some minestrone soup (from the little tube pouch mix), baked chicken fingers (with Mrs. Dash Tomato & Garlic), made rice pilaf with mexicorn, and crescent rolls. Sounded great in Bi-Lo. In actuality it was too much food.
And although I have a great fear of those refrigerated canned bread thingies, I was determined to have crescent rolls! I slowly unwrapped the cardboard label.. hoping I wasn't holding one of the seams that would bust open, because that would gross me out. I know.. irrational fear of popping canisters, eh?
So, It *POPs* open and I jump and let loose and it falls to the floor. Luckily it didn't make a mess. Then I get to looking at this gooey dough mess and try to follow the "separate triangles and roll" directions. Ultimately I had just chunked up a few gooey masses and hoped they would turn out OK.
Matthew hated the soup, and thought the chicken needed a dipping sauce, and thought the rolls were a bit too doughy. But he enjoyed the rice! Ugh!
I quit!
:-P

Salve Regina: Lego Church

Salve Regina: Lego Church



How Cool is that?!?!?!?!

Ouch!

So, Sunday went great at the Respect Life Sunday Prayer Chain downtown. It was just an hour, but we lined the street and had a great hour of independent prayer. We were even joined by a protestant church from downtown who prayed with us and their pastor led the closing prayer after we gathered back in front of the Catholic Charities building on McCallie Avenue.
Matthew and I came home and ate some KFC (yum) and I noticed that the v-neck top I had been wearing had left me with a nasty burn on my lower neck and chest area. Matthew got me some aloe gel, but I was toast. I had a hard time getting comfortable enough to sleep Sunday night, and called in to work Monday.
I was covered in tiny surface blisters that were just awful. I am so surprised that only one hour of sun made such a burn! I am so fair skinned anyhow, it makes it look 10 times worse in contrast to my white skin. Ugh.
I have photos I will post tonight (of the event, maybe the burn).
But I am back at work today and feeling great.
I caught up on my Netflix movies, The Last Sin Eater, and A Good Baby. Both rural Appalachia movies, and oddly enough both had Henry Thomas in them. Weird!


I absolutely L_O_V_E_D The Last Sin Eater, directed by Michael Landon Jr. it was the best movie I have seen all year, it had me boo-hooing in the very best way!I spent thirty minutes explaining the whole thing to Matthew last night, it is one of those films you want to tell people about and talk about. It is also a novel, but I read that the timeline of the two are so different you should just do either the film or the book, but not both. I am going to buy it.

A Good Baby was a sad movie about poverty and love, but I would still recommend it. I did think the story was very engaging. They sure cast excellently.

Box Turtles

Ick, this week has been one hectic trip! I am so thankful it is the WEEKEND! WooHoo!!!
Well, Friday night Matthew, Michael, and I went to Amigo's in Dayton and ate dinner, then came home and watched "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?". LOL. We are just so wild in our 20's!
This morning I woke up early and my sister and I went to the Flea Market and walked around.. buying nothing, but that was OK with us.
My nephew and I went to the Wal-Mart to pick up some cat food and supplies for my Mom, who was making a meal (the best!) for everyone. On the road home we encountered a turtle in the road. Being the rednecks we most certainly are, we turned around and rescued it and brought it home. :-) It was a big one, and it wouldn't come out of it's shell for us, not even with my Nephew tempting him with excess celery from Mom's meal. So we then ran up to my house to feed the cats (and let Matthew know that the sun had been up for a rather long time, and most civilized people were awake.. plus the food was ready!). And on the way back up the driveway I spotted another turtle in the yard!
We stopped and picked it up, a smaller box turtle, and took both of the turtles to the bathtub and had a cute little "turtle sanctuary" going on. It was funny.
After the meal (so exquisite!) we came home and Matthew watched TV and I took a nap.
Michael came up and we (FINALLY) finished seeing his pictures from the 2 month trip to Europe. whew! That was a LOT of pictures and videos! Two whole evening's worth!
My Sister and Nephew are leaving for Disney late tonight :-( I am so upset that we are waiting until December now!! Oh Well, I know they will have a great vacation (if that is possible without going with Matthew and I!)
Such a great Saturday!
P.S. No turtles were harmed, just "tagged" (painted shells) and released.

Spiritual Adoption

I am spiritually adopting a baby. Here you can track his/her growth. Join me in praying for all of the little miracles.

ABC ?! I haven't watched ABC in years!

Okay, so in a fluke I have taped a few ABC shows that premiered this week.
Normally I shun all sitcoms that are new and haven't stood the test of time or aren't highly buzzed about.
I DVR-ed Cavemen, Carpoolers, and Pushing Daisies(Well, it's scheduled for tonight).
Cavemen was eh, OK. The writing was intensely intelligent and I liked it well enough to give it another chance next week. I mean, for a 30 minute sitcom, I don't have a huge expectation. (Can you believe they STILL make 30 minute shows?)
Carpoolers was AWESOME, like watching a funny movie. Napoleon Dynamite meets Office Space. At the end of it's 30 minutes I made sure I had a season pass. I love it so so so so much!!!
Tonight we have RCIA, so no TV watching tonight.

Politicos

So, I took down my Fred Thompson banner on the right hand side. I just can't get behind him anymore. I "googled" Ron Paul as Matthew saw on a poster and WHOA! Where did this guy come from? Why is it I had never heard of him?!?!
I read his positions on wikipedia, and I am totally voting for this man. Plus, hes an OB/Gyn, how cool is that?!?!?!?!
His site is HERE, and I am all about it!