Fun With The Letter S

Today's Ten on Tuesday is a fun one; the letter S. Here, in no particular order, are my favorite things that start with S:

1. Seasons. I love the four seasons: spring, fall, winter and football. I'm anxiously waiting for the weather to get the memo that it's fall now....

2. Samples. Samples are so much fun. Whether it's medication samples from my doctor or lunch samples at Costco, they're always such a treat.

3. Sopapillas. So delicious and perfect, with a drizzle of honey. Okay, I want one now.

4. Slippers. My feet are quite thankful for slippers.

5. Sport bras. If you ever have to go to the gym without one, you'll realize just how thankful for them you are. They serve their purpose well.

6. Space Mountain. Yep. It's still my favorite ride.

7. Shipoopi. A super-fun word from a great musical. Love it.

8. Starbucks. I'll admit it, I'm a Starbucks junkie. My local baristas know me; it's a beautiful thing.

9. Sex. Sex is truly amazing. It really is the best thing ever. You know you all thought of it; Crayl even listed it as well. It may be a little awkward for my sisters-in-law to read this, but I think they can handle it. :-) AC and I do know how to have a good time! (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

10. Star Wars. There are not words to describe the glory of Star Wars. I am a huge Star Wars geek and I am proud that I have passed that on to my children. I'm a good mom like that.


To see what everyone is is thankful for, check out Beyond Black & White.

1978 - A Very Busy Year

While looking through pictures for today's Flashback Friday, I was amazed at how many pictures there actually were. After several weeks of not being thrilled with my choices, I was quite pleased. I hope you don't mind, I'm posting several today.

Here we see three year old Michelle, sitting on the floor at Grandma's house, watching "The Wizard of Oz"for the first time. As the story goes, I never really got scared, but for most of the movie I sat like this; quite unsure of the whole thing.

This picture was taken a mere three days after I watched Wizard of Oz; my first big injury. Additionally, this is my first clear memory. I absolutely, 100% remember this day.

I was wearing my Wonder Woman Underoos, standing on the couch in our living room. My mom called me to breakfast and I jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen. Unfortunately, I took the corner a bit too wide and hit the corner where the two walls meet. Thee year old heads generally don't win against walls. You can still see the scar on my forehead.

I spent the summer surveying my kingdom. (With my neighbor, Kellie.)

Ah, Misty. This was our brief attempt at a black lab. I say brief because we only had her for a few months. According to my mom, she was just out of control; she made the Tasmanian Devil look calm, cool and collected. My parents were dog people, they'd always had dogs, so I don't think it was a problem on their part. I think Misty was just not the dog for us. I don't actually know what happened to her;I hope she found a good home.


The fall of 1978 found us at a family picnic down at the beach. I loved marshmellows, so I decided to try a pink one. (Remember the pastel colored ones?)


Apparently, I didn't like it much.


I had so much fun looking through pictures this week, I hope you enjoyed them too! Next Friday we'll meet the man I planned to marry, I'll go to the zoo, attend a wedding, and do some serious letter writing! Hope you'll join me!

Ready for the Letter R

It's Ten on Tuesday time; time for a list of my favorite things that begin with the letter R. Here you go, in no particular order:

1. Roundabouts. I got to experience these for the first time this year when I was in Europe. So much driving fun!

2. Red Vines. Not the little packs from the grocery store; I'm talking about the big tub from Costco when you first open it and they're perfectly fresh!

3. Rome. AC and I spent five days in Rome this past June, and it was absolutely amazing. The most romantic vacation ever; I will never forget it.

4. Rain. I love rain. I hope to live in the Pacific Northwest before my life is over.

5. Red Robin. The best steak fries and ranch dressing around.

6. Rent. The musical. Now, while I don't agree with their lifestyle choices at all (I do not advocate being gay or being a bum who doesn't pay rent), I love the music. The soundtrack is always in my cd player; I listen to it regularly. There are four musicals that I would love to be in; this is one of them.

7. Reindeer Games. It's my favorite line Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The thought of reindeer actually playing games always conjures up funny images in my head.

8. Roses. I love roses; they're beautiful to look at, but I especially love to smell them. In Europe we went to a town called Marburg, and up near the castle they had the most beautiful rose garden I've ever seen. There were hundreds of rose bushes all in bloom; I stood there with my eyes closed and the smell was breathtaking.

9. Rome. I know that I used this one already, but I was talking about city before. Now I'm talking about the HBO series, Rome. I thought about combining the two, but really I couldn't; they are both so good that they deserve their own entry. Rome (the show) was fabulous. It only aired for two seasons; I'm terribly sad that they cancelled it. AC and I loved it. I don't really recommend it to people, I don't think that most of you would like it. It's not for the faint of heart; it's quite racy, pretty gritty a lot of the time. But we thoroughly enjoyed every episode! Long live the 13th!!!

10. Robeks. My new favorite smoothie place. It's a little more pricey than Jamba, but it tastes better, it's healthier, and they're doing fund raisers for Little League for us. I love Robeks.


Check out my friend, Crayl, at Beyond Black & White to see what everyone else is thankful for!

1977

Greetings, Flashback Friday friends!

Today we have traveled back in time to Easter Sunday, in March of 1977. Yours truly is two years old, and we find ourselves where were spent every Easter, at Aunt Margie and Uncle Cyril's house.


I would like to direct your attention to a few things in this picture.

As we begin, check out my grandparents. How fine they look, in their matching western-ish outfits! They must have gotten over this phase reasonably quickly, as I don't have any real recollection of them dressing like this. And what's with Granddad's collar? It's huge!!!! The only thing I see there that stood the test of time were the accessories. Grandma had that necklace for the rest of her life; in fact I think we still have it with her things. As for Granddad, whenever he would dress up, he would wear a bolo; that never changed.

Let's move on to my mom. While the picture is certainly dated (note the flair of her pants, the glasses, the hairstyle), I think she looks fabulous! She's so skinny; look at her waist! I don't care for her color choices, but I'm willing to overlook them. She gets a free pass this week.

How about my dad? You know what amazes me here? Put some grey in his hair and mustache, add a pair of glasses and he really doesn't look any different! Seriously. Think about it, VGCC gals, if he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and Dockers, can't you totally picture him sitting there at the piano???

As for me, nothing spectacular this week. I would just like to point out two things. First, I am wearing socks with lace around the edges. These were my dress-up socks; I still liked that style, even as late as kindergarten. Secondly, please note the most rockin' slippers of all time: my Cookie Monster slippers. Those things hung on for another year or two, because I clearly remember them. I was quite sad when my feet finally got too big to shove into them.

I almost cropped the picture so that we would all be in the center and the foliage would be cut out. However, I realized that if I'd have done that, you'd have missed the seeing the sweet, knitted plant holder. I know. It's amazing. You're welcome.

Next week is a big week. We have some serious cuteness, a major injury and my first pet. You certainly won't want to miss it! See you next Friday!

Clearing Things Up

As some of you are aware, I am not what you'd call a "Pillar of Health". At any given time, my medicine cabinet rivals even the best of pharmacies. I am happy to say, however, that there are only three medications that I currently have to take on a daily basis.

The other day, I was reading the insert information on said medications after I picked them up at the pharmacy. It occurred to me that for two of them, I take them for secondary reasons, not the primary, most common reasons listed. I wonder what my pharmacist, who has known me for years, thinks of me.

Based on my three daily medications, I would like to clarify....

What I am: A happily married woman who does not want more children, who has trouble sleeping, and has frequent cold sore outbreaks.

What I am not: A woman of questionable character, who is depressed and has a STD.

A Quick Visit With Q

This week's Ten on Tuesday letter is Q. At first I thought this one would be difficult, but once I got going, I really didn't have a problem with it at all!

In no particular order, things I am thankful for that begin with the letter Q:

1. Quarterbacks. They are quite necessary to the game, and you all know how much I love the game! Additionally, some of them are quite yummy to look at! You know, #18, #4, #12...

2. Q-Tips. The insides of my ears are clean because of them.

3. Quimby, Ramona. Some of you may think this is cheating, but the Scattergories rule book clearly states that I can use this name for both the letter R and the letter Q. Are you really going to argue with Milton Bradley? Seriously, the Ramona books were my favorites!

4. Quesadillas. So delicious.

5. Quick Stop. You know, the convenience store next to RST Video. What a great place to hang out!

6. Quadriceps. While they certainly make things like walking easier, I'm specifically thinking of Thursdays, which are my lower body days at the gym. What little amount of strength I have is located in my legs, so it makes leg day super fun because I'm actually good at it!

7. Quarters. My favorite of the coins.

8. Qwerty. One of the best parts of Veggietales is at the end when Bob says, "We're over here by Qwerty to talk about what we've learned today" and then the cute little song starts playing. You know, the one that annoys the heck out of him!

9. Queendom. A fabulous word spoken by my very favorite character.

10. Quentin Tarantino. I don't love all of his work, but Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs are two of my all time favorite movies, so I have to give the man props.


To see what everyone else is thankful for, head on over to Beyond Black & White!

1976

Today's Flashback Friday takes us back to August of 1976; I was 18 months old.

I adore this picture, I really do.

I was blessed to have an absolutely amazing grandma. She was awesome! In this picture, she's letting me help her with her canning. It looks like it was green bean day.

While I don't (obviously) remember this exact day, I do remember many more like it. My grandma was an outstanding cook and no matter how little I was or what kind of a mess I made, she'd always pull up that chair and let me "help" at the kitchen sink. Sometimes I really helped; I'd rinse things, or as I got older, peel things. Sometimes I clearly remember just playing with the potato peels, carrot peels and egg shells. I'd "cook" while she was cooking.

As I got older, she really did teach me how to cook. Quite a few of the recipes that I use today aren't written down recipes, but learned recipes from my time spent with her.

I miss her terribly. I'm so thankful for pictures like these.

What Do You Call A Blog About P?

Greetings, one and all! It's time for this week's Ten on Tuesday; my favorite things that begin with the letter P.

1. Pizza. There are few things better than a perfect slice of pizza. Okay, I'm hungry now.

2. Parties. They're great! Who doesn't like parties?

3. Pedicures. What better way to relax and get ready for the weekend than a Friday afternoon pedicure?

4. People Magazine. AC's folks got me a subscription for my birthday this year and it's so much fun. I look forward to the mail every Thursday.

5. Prepositions. Think about it...if we didn't have prepositions, we'd never know where things are!

6. Passamaquaddy. Great name for a great town in a great movie!

7. Peyton Manning. I know there's something a bit goofy about him, but I do love #18. Observe the lengths that I went to with a blue t-shirt and masking tape, just so that I'd have a "jersey" to wear while I watched the '07 Super Bowl:


(Maybe someone should just buy me a jersey. Hint, hint.)

8. Pasta. We eat pasta quite a bit around here. It's cheap, yummy and quick; the perfect after-a baseball-game meal.

9. Pomegranate Martinis. My friend introduced me to them; they're quite delicious.

10. Pianos. I simply can't imagine my life without them.



To see what other fabulous P things that people like, head over to Beyond Black & White!

1975

Today's Flashback Friday takes us back to the year that I was born, 1975.

As I was going through old pictures last weekend, it occurred to me that I was not the cutest of kids. I wasn't too ugly or anything, I just didn't really get cute until after I'd had a birthday or two. Therefore, it was hard for me to find a picture that I felt comfortable enough with to post.

Obviously, this is my mom and me; I was a few days shy of nine months old. I chose this one for several reasons.

First, I really do like my outfit. I'm not a girlie girl, never have been. If I had a daughter, I would never dress her in super girlie stuff. This outfit works because it manages to be cute without having a bunch of frills. I like the slight poof of the sleeves with the elastic around the edges, the little green bow that matches the pants, and the blue top. Blue is, after all, my favorite color.

Next, I always crack up at the backgrounds that they used to have at Sears. You didn't really think that we were sitting in a park by a lake, did you?

Finally, while I like the picture of my mom in general, I love her hand in this picture. Her fingers look very long and graceful to me.

Thanks for stopping by...see you next Friday!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Yippee! I am so excited!! One of my most favorite seasons is finally here!!!

No, it's not Christmastime, as the title might suggest. Nor is it Fall, although each and every morning I pray that Fall will arrive and that the fog and clouds will not burn off!

The glorious season of which I speak...Football Season!

Each year, I eagerly anticipate this week! Basketball season is the worst; I can't stand it. I even look forward to baseball during basketball season! Then, all though the long summer months of baseball, I keep pressing on, knowing that soon, it'll be kick-off time.

I take it quite seriously...

I'm a loyal season ticket holder to our lame local college team. We've been attending games since before I was a teenager and you know what? One of these seasons is going to be a winning season.

Each year, I include a football with the fall and harvest decorations that sit outside my front door.

I have an electric jack-o-lantern for Halloween that's a football. It's terribly cute.

I have football ornaments for the tree.

Each year I have to choose to be a good Aunt, because certain birthday parties always coincide with play-off games.

I never attend Super Bowl parties because there is always too much party-ing going on and not enough watching of the game.

So finally, after all these months of waiting, I am rewarded! NCAA play began last weekend, NFL begins tonight. Don't bother emailing or texting me between 4pm and 8pm this evening...I'll be parked on the couch watching the 'Skins take on the reigning Super Bowl champions. And I'll be loving every minute of it!

Using His Head

This is my son, Matthew.

Instead of going to the gym with me at 0-dark-thirty like he usually does, he spent the morning laying around in his jammies, reading.

He did this not because he's tired, nor was he being lazy. He stayed home today because last night at baseball practice, he received a concussion.

Yes, folks, a concussion.

Here's what happened. Matthew was playing first (base), and he was watching a batted ball (you know, the play that was actually happening) in center field. The short stop thought that right then would be a good time to unload a spare ball that he'd been holding in his glove. Of course it was the kid on the team with the strongest arm...he threw a bullet to Matt, who never saw it coming.

It hit him right between the eyebrows and took him off his feet. He doesn't think he blacked out, but there are a few seconds that he might have. He was quite loopy so we went in and had him checked out, just to be sure.

We're very lucky. It missed his eyes. It would surely have broken his nose if it would have hit there. Any lower than it was, we'd have been looking at sinus and nasal cavities. The mouth would have been real bad. God was good. It hit him in the safest part of his head possible.

He actually looks great today...a little swelling, but nothing much. Just a bad headache! We're very fortunate.

His favorite part? When the doc last night told him that he couldn't go to bed until 10:30pm because she wanted me to keep an eye on him.

MY favorite part? The goofy look on his face when his Aunt Beth asked him if he felt concussed.

Just What The Doctor Ordered

Today was that day; the day that we all look forward to each year. Today was my annual physical. Mind you, while it's never what I'd call a pleasant experience, I have one of the best doctors in the world so it's never really that bad. One of our scheduled discussion items was my blood work.

Let me back up...

Last year, I had some labs that came back less than ideal. A few of the numbers were downright spooky. Basically, my arteries were thinking of closing up and quitting and I was approaching numbers that were bringing me nearer to Sugarbetes. (That's diabetes for those who didn't watch SNL on Saturday night....)

After receiving said lab results, I was told to "eat better and exercise and we'll recheck in 6 months". Honestly, I didn't do anything; I made no changes whatsoever. I don't really have a good reason, either. I just chose not to make any changes.

Six months ago, I went in for another set of labs and to no one's surprise, they came back worse. My doc was not happy with me at all. She told me that if I didn't make some drastic changes, I was going to have to start medication for these issues and cut out all fat and sugar. (Seriously, who can do that?) I quietly listened to the lecture, promised to do better (or at least to do something), and agreed that I'd have my labs drawn at the end of August so that they would be ready for today's appointment.

Did I make what I'd call drastic changes? No. But I made some little ones. I ate better over the summer and started exercising occasionally. I started taking baby steps.

Several weeks ago though, I hit a road bump. I thought about giving up; I was very frustrated. Thankfully, a wise friend chewed me out and got me back on track. So I kept with it, I did what I could and I had my blood drawn about ten days ago.

You know what I found out today? My labs are GREAT! She said I'm the "poster child for what eating in moderation and exercising can do". She hugged me! Woo hoo!

I'm very thankful, this has been a very stressful time for me. I'm eating better, I want to continue that. I'm exercising daily and loving it (more on that progress to come in another blog). All in all, it was a great physical.

You wanna know how I celebrated my newly diagnosed health? I went to the mall and ate a Cinnabon for lunch, of course!

Yep. That's me. The Poster Child.

Ode To The Letter O

Today's Ten on Tuesday list is comprised of my favorite O items. I am thankful for each one of them, in their own little way.

1. Origins. All of my cosmetics (except for my mascara) and facial products come from Origins. And a few soaps. And lotions. Oh, and my perfume. I only wear their Ginger Essence. I love Origins.

2. Office Supplies. While we were at Staples a few weeks back, AC looked at me and said, "You're an office supply geek!" I am, and I'm proud of it.

3. Ocho. As in, "ESPN 8,The Ocho" from Dodgeball. I laugh out loud every time Gary Cole signs off.

4. Onions. Cooked onions, specifically. I don't like them raw, but if you sauté them or batter and fry them, I'll eat them until I'm literally sick. Seriously, I can't push away from the onions!

5. Oust. I live with two pre-teen boys and one full-grown man. Oust is a life saver.

6. Oreos. I prefer the original Oreo's, with a large glass of super-cold, non-fat milk.

7. Onesies. I adore onesies.

8. Oysters. I am fascinated with their pearl-making ability. God is awesome!

9. Out-Of-Towners. Not the goofy 1999 remake with Steve Martin; I'm talking about the 1970 original, starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. It's one of my all time favorites.

10. (The) Original Pancake House. Hands down, my all time breakfast favorite. We eat there at 7am every December 24th. It's the perfect beginning to our Christmas!


To see what everyone else is thankful for, check out Beyond Black and White.