Just Finished

After doing some shopping and running around, I did get time to finish my LO. I am tired and it is going to be a short post but I did want to get it up tonight. Well, it really isn't tonight. It is morning, but who is really keeping time??

Did talk to Terry and she arrive back home safe and sound and renewed from her retreat. That is good news.

Nancy got her new desk and got everything up and running plus a lot of other work done. That is good news.

So it was a good and prosperous weekend...and that is always good news!!!

OK. Going to post...the off to bed. I am so tired!

Credits

Like it? I do. I am satisfied. Time to do another!

Night!!

Moving Along

I had a hard time finding paper for this LO. I finally found something this morning that I like.

Have not been home. Had to run and look for sandals for Jim and I. Looked all day yesterday and could not find any we liked. Wouldn't have paid what they wanted for them even if we had found some we liked. (I hate to give up my giraffe flops but they are even making me sick; they look so bad.)

Did find flops for both of us. And they were on sale which made them more likable yet! Cheap is the operative word!

Here is the LO at this point. Lots to do yet. But the point was to see it in stages. Going to post it then off to work on it some more.

Have a good evening and enjoy!

Step One!

OK. I have started on the LO. I got the pics ready to use. I might want to edit them a bit, not sure; need to look at them when I am not so tired. But I learned a new thing today. That is what I need to do...learn the techniques! I learned how to blur out the background in a photo so it is not distracting from what you want seen as the focal point. So that is what I did. Since I am doing something about the faces of Braisen, I wanted that to be the focal point.

Here is what I ended up with. One I think could be better, but I am satisfied for just learning!

So That is where I am now. Probably won't do any more tonight. I am dog tired. Still not over that old cold yet and I get tired fast.

Can't wait to get going on this. I love doing this!

Back tomorrow!

Good Morning!!

Well, here it is, Thursday already! Yesterday was a fantastic day. It was Jim's birthday. We "celebrated" by getting our "hairs" cut as he says! We needed it so badly but waited till then because Jim got a free cut for his birthday. I think we both feel about 10 pound slighter!!But lucky him. When his hair gets long it goes into big waves and curls. Mine just hangs. Go figure!!!

But, we then went to Carrabbas for a great evening dinner to really celebrate. We had their great chicken Marsala. Umm. So good! Jim had garlic mashed and minestrone soup, I had spicy sausage and lentil soup and tagliarini piccipachiu which is an awesome linguine, garlic and basil pasta. Then what he really goes for is the dessert called Dessert Rosa. It is an extremely moist white cake with pineapple, strawberries and bananas in between the layers and frosted in really great frosting; it may be whipped cream! Oh how he loves it. I don't. Don't like bananas, and always too full to eat dessert anyway! But it was fun. We had a great time!

I started this this morning but it is now 3 in the afternoon and I am just getting time to finish it. Terrible when you have to work.

Anyway, here is what I am going to do. I am going to be posting my LO as I work on it. It takes me a long time, but I don't let it bother me anymore. I have so much fun doing them I don't care if it takes one day or a week, as long as I am having a great time!

So for now, this is all I have:





All I have is the blank 12" x 12" page and these pics.

I may find one or two more to add. I have some idea what I am
going to do but I am open to whatever.

I love how Braisen talks with his face so I think I am leaning in that direction. Why waste words when you can talk with just a look?

This is going to be a fun page. I can't wait to get started.

First I am off to correct the photos just a bit. They are a little dark. Let's see what happens. You
know as much as me at this point.

Will post in a while!

Finally!!!

I worked for this one.

I have had some pictures of a restaurant that we go to that I wanted to save for memories. I have worked and worked trying to get this into a LO I felt I liked even a little bit. I finally finished and and am glad to be able to put this one in the can!! I like it, but not a favorite. Love the colors but not the LO. In reality, I think it is the pics, but they are the only ones I had and tried today for better ones but because it is so small you really can't get any really good ones. Oh well. It is done and I am ready to take some pics and move on.

I have been on the computer all day, working on the LO and chatting on Designer Digitals chat. It is their quarterly sale weekend and they have an all day chat with freebies every hour. Being the tight wad I am I was not about to see those freebies go by!! I think I got all but the 8:00 a.m. one and will get the 11:00 p.m.in a few minutes!! But I can say I am tired and my legs feel swollen. Too much sitting today for sure.

Had a scare today when Nancy had to take Braisen to the ER. He hurt his shoulder playing last night and she thought maybe he had broken it. Thank you Lord it was just what they call I think she said nursemaid shoulder...or something like that. The tendon gets hooked on the bone. One good movement by the doctor and he was better! Kids.

Today has been busy but really didn't do much. I think the same is on for tomorrow. I really don't feel like doing anything yet...still battling this darn cold. Much better, in fact I would say about over it except for the cough. But still so weak. But...a few days should take care of that!

Well, I am about ready to sign off and hit a nice soft chair. This wooden chair certainly has gotten harder through the day!!!

Oh, BTW. A sad day today. One of the best actresses passed away. Bea Arthur. I thought she was such a good actress. I will miss her. I still watch the Golden Girls everyday!!! Wish I could find reruns of her show Maude. I liked it, too. Did you know she also was on All in the Family? I believe she was Archie's sister...some relation like that.

OK. Before I go I will load my LO. Then I am off. Will talk to you all tomorrow.

Much Much Better!

Oh yes indeedy! I feel much better today. Now I have the kind of cold that is just irritating! I am the kind that won't be totally happy till I am totally well. At least I know myself!!

Got all my work caught up after being off work Monday and Tuesday. It wasn't too bad except for today. I finally found ways to get all the guys out of here so I could have some time to myself and get some work done. For some reason today they thought my desk was the proverbial water fountain. They all gathered round to talk about everything. I guess they missed me. Hate to be an awakening to them...I didn't miss them. What a shame, but I have to tell the truth!!! LOL Well, maybe I missed them a teeny bit!

Jim had a bigger route to run today and they ran him all around so I have time to do a little posting. Glad for the bigger route...while the past few weeks were pretty lean we still thank God we both had work.

I have a LO started at home and hope to finish it tonight. I have so much to do in scrapping. I need to organize...if for no other reason than Terry said I will never be organized. Slave driver! I want to do tutorials to learn some things so I don't keep looking like my LO's are from an ad for "Beginners Digi Scrapping" magazine! And I want to scrap scrap. I want to make my AKA card for Designers Digitals but need to wait for my haircut so I look like me. So I guess what I need to do is get busy.

Oh. An AKA stands for Also Known As, and is a like a little LO that lets people know your real name. That way they can put a face and real name with an online name. They are really nice.

I just talked to Jim and he said the thermometers were all pushing 100 today. He loves it. I hate it. Can't say I hate it...I just don't want to work in it!

Well, time to wrap it up here. He is on his way and I can get out of here. It has not been real fun these three days but glad I was well enough to work. Better than sitting home moaning about how bad you feel to the dog and cat!!

Bye for now.

Cold: Phase II

While I still feel like...what shall I say...I guess in print I should just use bad...I think I have entered into Cold: Phase II

Everyone says, "Oh! You're sounding better!!" Well maybe from where they are at but from inside out...I still sound terrible!! LOL

But I am having times of feeling like I want to live so I guess I am on the mend. Thank you Lord!

Tried to scrap yesterday but ditched it about ten last night when it still wasn't going together. So I think I will do some tutorials and see what I can learn. That always gets me going again!!

I am really tired and about time to take meds so I just wanted to jot a line and say Hey!

Just played catch-up at work today. Still not caught up all the way but they didn't leave me too bad a mess. I guess all the complaining helps. It's the constant relentless pressure that works on them. I never give up. Always telling them they better not leave a mess for me whenever I am not there. It's working!!!!

OK. I do have to run. Pill time. Have a great night.

Ugh! I'm Sick!

I am sick. Have a terrible head and chest cold. Not much I can do but let it run it's course.

I was home from work today, and from how I am feeling now it is where I will be tomorrow, too. I know they hate it at work but I have to take care of myself. Because of my MG things hit me harder and take longer to get over, but that is where it is!!

Did sit and scrap today. Thought it didn't take too much energy to move my mouse. It felt good to scrap. Haven't done any thing for weeks due to no mojo and then daughter Nancy and son-in-law Torrey built me a new computer so we had to reload everything.

They did the lion share setting it up (thank you, thank you!!!) but what I had to do took me a long time because I am inept!!! But alas I got it done and it is really wonderful. Thanks you two!!!

As I had said at my last post, I am going to keep these shorter. And considering that I feel crappy this is a good time to start.

Here is my new LO.

Credits

Tap tap tap...is this thing working????

Whoa! It has been a long time since I have posted. Sorry about that. It just seemed like a burden for a while and if it wasn't fun, I wasn't about to do it!!

So time has passed and here I am! I think the reason the blog bogged me down for a while was that I was making it too long...not to mention finding a thought for the day. So now I decided to be short and sweet and if I have a thought that is special I will pass it on. If not...go find one on the Internet!!!

I am going to start making this my scrapbook LO depository! I have been sending them off to my DD and Terry and that has about been it other than Designer Digitals gallery.

So I need to tell them to check here!!! That way there will a surprise for them once in a while!

And by the way, I don't want to cause any apoplexy or anything but I did THREE LO's this week. Now if you don't know, that is a big record for me! I hope to keep it up.

I am taking a class now which I am so behind in because I am naturally slow and there is so much fun stuff in it to learn and then there is a photo class all ready for me. So I need to get with it.

Well I guess since I promised myself to post more and write less, I am going to close. Before I do, I am uploading the LO I finished last night. I really love the colors on this. I really migrate to intense colors. Love them!

Talk with you later!

Thought for the Day

"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."

---Bill Watterson---

It was a nice weekend.

Even though nothing special was on the agenda. I spent all day Saturday on and off the All Day Chat at Designer Digitals. It was their quarterly sale and with the All Day Chat they were giving away freebies all day. I am not one for missing out on free goodies!!!

So we just potted around all day doing whatever struck us...and of course I saved a lot of money on all my free stuff.

Sunday, laundry for Jim and we didn't get out of the house till after noon! Dog did get her Egg McMuffin, though! Then it was hard to find a place to eat. I think we ended up at a Ruby Tuesdays...must have been tremendously wonderful...can't remember where it was!!!

And both Saturday and Sunday I organized, organized organized!!! I am making a slight dent but it sure doesn't look like it. I am definitely going to throw a party when I get all this scrap stuff where it belongs. I am at least keeping up on any new things I buy so I don't get more disorganized!! I guess I should call it un-organized, since it really isn't disorganization...just isn't put where I can easily access it!!

So other than that we had a really laid back weekend which is what weekends are for!! I did finish a LO! Careful now. I know it has been a long time since I posted one. But remember...I am trying to learn new techniques and it takes time to teach old people!!

This one, Terry taught me how to cut an object out of a picture. Now I have to say the process was easy but, being as anal as I am, I did do it several times before I was happy with it.

So now I am off and running. Ready to learn something new...or at least get some of the newly learned things from my class in my head for easy access!!!

That is it in a nutshell for today. Have a great day!

My thoughts for today.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"If it's the ultimate game, how come they're playing it again next year?"

---Dallas Cowboys quarterback Duane Thomas on Super Bowl VI---

It's All Said and Done

Well, it is all said and done. Super Bowl XLIII is finally over.

First of all, I was really rooting for the Steelers. Have always backed them to some degree because that is our son Russ' favorite team. So after Elway retired and Dungy retired it was sort of all the way with the Steelers. But no more.

After Harrison's great 109 yard return for that touchdown I was so happy. But then what does he do? When a Cardinal man was down at the end of a play, on his knees bent over sort of facing the ground, Harrison punched him in the back took both hands and pushed him down more to the ground and then took both hands and flipped the poor guy back onto his back.

Now, they did pick up a huge penalty for it but it is still not the way to play a game. That is just unsportsman-like conduct and he knew better. That broke my ties with the Steelers. Sorry one guy did it, but in checking it out, it seems that kind of behaviour is not uncommon for them. So now I need a new team to follow!!

How unfortunate for the Cardinals to come into the Super Bowl with the worst record...as bad as the Bucs, I think...but the worst to get to the Super Bowl, play as good as they did and still lose. They are still winners in many people's books!

I also heard that the Pittsburgh schools are on a three hour delay this morning so the kids could get some sleep. Pleeeseee!!! First of all, kids these days are up later than this everyday. The game was over at 10:30 Pittsburgh time. Anymore, that is not late for any age kid it seems. We eat out very late and go to the store late, also, and you see toddlers to teens still out! I don't think there is such a thing called bedtime anymore!!! So that move puzzles me!!! (And all over a football game???)

So while I am venting I might as well cover it all. On Public Radio yesterday it was, I believe, it did a magazine type blurb on the Super Bowl and the money it is supposed to bring into an area.

Jim heard it so I am speaking second hand here, but he usually remembers this stuff to the tee.

Paraphrased, there have been studies done to see if it really does bring money into the area economy. They checked the records the year before, the year of the game, and the year after...and believe it or not...there was absolutely no economic change what so ever.

It seems that while the hotels are full of people, they usually are then anyway because it is tourist season. And as far as the restaurants, the tourists are here but the locals stay home till they are gone. It went on but that was the gist of it.

I am tired of Super Bowl Super Bowl Super Bowl. It has been shoved at us from all directions for one long time. From what is going on to who will be here to how good it is for the economy. We have put up with it...and in a way...it has been fun. But alas...it is all said and done!!! At least next year it will be a little farther away...Miami if I am correct.

So, onward we go. Only for many of us...we won't even remember this game over any other!!!

My thought for the day.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season. One word and one word only: Super Bowl."

---former Oilers coach Bill Peterson---

It's a good

day today. It has been cold...sunny...but cold. Other than that it has been a very nice day.

There is good news on the home front, too. Well, Nancy has not lost any more fish today. That makes it a good day for sure!!

And I am happy to announce that our son Russ...or Rusty as I still slip and call him once in a while because that is why I named him Russell...is home from his few days stay in the hospital. His surgery is healing nicely and they are pleased. There is new tissue starting already. Praise the Lord. Thank you all for your prayers and continued prayer through his recovery.

Boy it smells good in here. Jim didn't want to go out in the cold tonight so he is cooking stroganoff for supper. Ummm...the onions and garlic smell fantastic!!!

I am looking forward to the Super Bowl tomorrow, but I am just a tad tired of all the specials about it on TV. Since it is here in Tampa it is an extra big deal and they feel they HAVE to cover all of the events that are going on. I know I am supposed to be so thrilled about all the money it beings to the area but until I see some in my pocket...excuse my "uncaringness". But still......GO STEELERS!!!!!!

I did finish a LO today. It is of Emma, my boss' daughter. He keeps me supplied with pictures. I think he likes me to do LO's of her but it would not be his way of doing things just to ask me to do it. I am supposed to know him and pick up on what he wants. After all, isn't that what a secretary is supposed to do?

I need to get on with organizing my files. If I don't keep on organizing, I may never get done. And if I don't do at least a little everyday, I will be getting in deeper. But in reality, it is sort of fun!!!

So I am off to go kibitz about cooking the stroganoff. Have to put my two cents in. Wouldn't want Jim to think he could do it on his own!!!

Have a great night and a wonderful Sunday!!

My thought for today.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Want to improve your relationship? See love as a verb rather than a feeling"

---Stephen R Covey---

I'm Done

with all my work and I am bored. I am biting at the bit to work on my digi class LO but...there is journaling that I have done on it in a circle. My computer here at work doesn't have that font so it won't let me put another one in. Well, I suppose it would if I were smart like some...but it is in a journaling circle path and I don't know how to accomplish it! And I am supposed to group the layers on this thingy and I am afraid if I group it I won't know how to ungroup it to get back the font I want. Oh well, I will just start on some other LO but I am on a "want to finish" basis with that one.

Nothing much going on here right now as you can tell by my absence. Our oldest son did end up in the hospital with that nasty staph MERSA. Nasty nasty stuff. They did emergency surgery on him and took out a part of his foot between his little toe and next to the last toe. It went down between them into his foot and was the size of a Sharpie marker. OUCH!!!

He is still in the hospital but hoping to come home late today. We all hope so but want him there as long as necessary. The cultures did come back that it had not gotten into the bone for which we are very thankful.

Nancy is still having a time with her fish. Poor dear. She takes such good care of them and they just drop on her! She does, however, try to raise probably the hardest fish there is...the Oranda. They are the ones with the crest like mass on their heads. And they are not cheap fish!!!

Just waiting till it is 2:30 or 3 so I can go make me a pressed cup of Starbucks. If you have never had a pressed cup of coffee, you need to at your earliest convenience. The only way I can explain it is that it tastes like coffee smells. Ummmm, so wonderful. But I try to hold off till at least 2:30. Bad bad boss's wife got me hooked on coffee at 3:00. She always used to drop by and bring me a cup at 3 when they lived in town. She got the habit from an aunt! But it is a real nice break in the day.

So goes it in my life today. And low and behold, someone just brought me some work to do. So I will close for now.

Hope everyone has a wonderful evening!

My thought for the day.

Enjoy!

Thought for the Day

"To me, there are three things we should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is to laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."

---Jim Valvano, Basketball Coach, North Carolina State University, 1980-1990
NCAA Championship, 1983

I thought but now I know

that I am addicted to scrapping. You know, we all "say" we are, but I guess I always sorta thought we said it in a joking way really.

Well, today, I know we really aren't joking. Last night when we got home from work, I always walk over and turn on Jim's computer, go to my purse, retrieve my hard drive and go turn on my laptop. Jim takes care of bringing things in from the car and tending to the dog and cat.

We always sit down and Jim looks at the news on the Internet and I scan through the blogs again. Then after he gets changed we will turn off the computers and go get some dinner.

Well, for some reason last night, I guess because we were really later getting home from work, than usual, I did not put my hard drives in because I knew we would be leaving right away to go eat. I thought, I will just check the blogs and we will go, I will put the drives in when I get home.

And I did just that. When we came home I dropped off my purse and grabbed the hard drives. Walked to my lap and put them in. It was pitch dark in the house; Jim had not come in yet. I thought to myself, why am I having such a hard time finding the USB ports tonight? It is freaking dark in here! Well, it was DARK in there because I usually already have the drive in when we get back and I go turn on the TV and the lights as my computer is booting. Tonight, that was not the case.

Jim comes in the house and starts laughing. I said, "What is so funny?" He says, "It is dark in here." "Yeh. I had a hard time finding my USB ports. Why is it so dark?" He is still laughing. I look at him and say, "What is so funny????"

"You", he says! "What?" "You get home and all you can think of is getting the lap up and running! You are sitting in the dark! Computer, computer...gotta get my computer going." Still laughing. "You are addicted!!!" Now we were both laughing!! LOL He had said the other night that my lap and I are one! LOL I said, "Well...so...are...you!!! You to the Internet, me to my scrapping!" He said, "Yep." I said, "I was wondering why I couldn't find my ports...it's because I didn't turn on any lights!"

That started the evening out with us both standing over our computers having a great laugh over the paths our lives have taken. How long has it been since you have just stood with someone and laughed? Laughter is such a great thing.

Many years ago now, we both had said how we didn't see any need for a computer. We had lived without them all out lives and just couldn't see the need.

We sure don't feel that way now. Once you go there, there is no turning back. Especially for us, what shall I call us..."free at last" people. Meaning we are no longer bound to commitments of family...other than each other. When we get home from work or on the weekends, out time is pretty well our own. And while you do miss some of those family commitments in a strange sort of way sometimes, it really is a great feeling to be able to spend an entire evening, in fact every evening just about, doing exactly what both of you want to do! Most nights for us it is staring at the computer with the TV running ever so softly in the background.

It is our time together. We chat all night about everything. From what we see on the Internet to what is going on in our lives while we are not together. It it fun for us. A laughing and sharing time. A bonding time. A time we look forward to each night!

Last night not only gave us a good laugh but it also made us stop for just a few minutes and see how our lives have really changed. Because change is usually slow, sometimes you don't even notice things are not like they used to be. It was a good night!!

My thought for the day.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Stress: The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it"

---Unknown---

I Need to Wake Up!

What a day today! The beginning of the year is always a hustle. Account year end work due, files to change, IRS documents to print...I can put up with that. Stupidity and rudeness, I can't.

I am working away today getting done what I myself need to get accomplished and in walks one of the estimators and says hey Barb look at this. So I look. Well low and behold there he points to a list of 45 bidders on a job he is quoting.

Yuk! While I don't relish doing that many, it is my job and so I do it. It was after 1:00 at that point and he says they have to go out by 5:00. Right. I said, can't happen. He says has to. I said there is no way that can get done. Not to mention I have some taxes that HAVE to be done today!

I begrudgingly take the book and start to call to make sure they are all bidding. Mind you, he gets this book with this list every month so he knew he was bidding it way ahead of this. And to make matters worse, he says he doesn't have the bid ready yet he waiting to get a price from a rep. *sigh* The boss said well don't you just scan it into the computer and then type their stuff on each one? Sure. After you call them, check that each one is in the computer so you can fax, type the proposal and also add all the missing ones into the database. Just that, that's all!!

Well, as it came out, he didn't do the proposal; he said we will have to do it in the morning. BTW I told him it wasn't due till 2 tomorrow and he said yeh but some want it today. Please. Give me a break. Oh well, so it goes.

Then, my container that holds everything, you know the ones, scratch paper, paper clips, stamps etc. falls in back of my desk where I can't reach it! My printer took a hissy fit like it does from time to time and wouldn't print an envelope. Only took me 30 minutes to print one envelope. I did my company backup and low and behold...the CD pops out like it is supposed to do...only there was a dreaded *blunk* noise with it. You know...the one that means something went wrong. Sure enough. BACKUP FAILED!!

So I was in tears on the phone with Jim. He is calming me down. I could have gone into what Oprah calls an ugly cry. I had just had it!!!

What really made me mad was that everyone was snickering. They just didn't get that I have things I have to do, too, and that when someone looks at something and sees that is far beyond normal, they could think ahead enough to give me an extra day to work on it. Or how about alerting me to the fact it is coming so I can arrange my day so time has been allowed for it! The snickers made me angry.

But...I need to wake up. I should not let how people with this kind of brain function get me upset because they are so unaware of helping each other.

So all in all, it has been a good day. I have learned a good lesson. Don't stress myself because of some else's lack of caring. They sure aren't stressing over it. They are having a good laugh!!

Well, I had started this blog yesterday evening and had put it on hold. Things are looking better today. My head has cleared and it's a fresh slate. Life is good again, at least for the moment.

So that is my thought...or gripe! for today.

Enjoy!

Thought for the Day

"A resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other"

---Unknown---

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

---Oprah Winfrey---

The Big Day

Christmas has come and gone. Hope everyone had a wonderful day. We did. We went to Nancy's and spent some time and ate a great meal she cooked of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green beans and heaven knows what else. It was all so good!!! The meal was pretty quiet as we all had our mouths full all the time!!!

Today has been a little strange. Thanks to my daughter, again, I was able to get new software for scrapping up and running. It seems like no matter what I put in I have some sort of trouble. She has often asked me why I am so pessimistic when I install software. Well, look at my track record. Every time, something goes wrong. And to me...who knows nothing about computers as far as how they work, a problem means my goose is cooked. If it wasn't for her I would have nothing installed!!! And I so hate to call her. She is so sweet about it but I feel like such pain of a dork!!! But anyway, thanks Nancy!

I did this very simple LO and it took........all...........day. This software is just different from the one I had that I had a bit of a learning curve. I am catching on....slowly!

So it has been a very laid back day with some scrapping. A nice day.

I am off work till Tuesday so I certainly hope I get some scrapping done.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I have already gotten my presents, so I will save that to share later! Suspense!!!

Here is my LO. Hope you enjoy it!

Credits

My thought for today.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop"

---Ovid (43BC-17AD)---

Veggies are Good for You!!

Veggies are good for you and that is what we are doing this Christmas time off! Eating our veggies by just vegging out...doing nothing but nothing. And I have to tell you it fells really good. And it is good for you. You should always eat your veggies!

Jim has surfed and played games on the computer all day and I have scrapped. What could be nicer? But I tell you...we are both tired. I think it is like your body has to work really hard at taking it this easy! LOL

We had an exceptionally nice Christmas. Talked with all the family and went to DD's to grab a nice dinner. It was peaceful and beautiful. Will be doing some layouts to share. Got some very nice pictures and I am also planning...planning!...on doing twelve days of Christmas layouts.

Hope I can carry it off. I am hoping since Terry could do one a day for the month of December I should be able to squeak out twelve!! However...she is a speed daemon and I am a lagger!! So we will hope at this point I can do it. (I am being told all the time to stop organizing and start scraping or I will never speed up! That's right and I have realized I will never have my scrapping things all organized because I keep getting more!!) I think the hard part of the twelve days layouts might be taking the pictures each day. What do I do for twelve days that is worth scrapping? You all may see a strange part of my life!!!

Here is what I have been working on today. It is of Jim's sister and brother-in-law. They loved this scooter...took it everywhere and loved when people would stop and talk to them about it. When people would "thumb" a ride at the amusement parks, Ron would have them jump on and give them a ride. He was always out for a good time!! LOL This was taken at their mobile home park when they were in the St. Patrick's Day parade! It was then the Leprechaun Trolley.

Everyone have a great night and a marvelous Sunday.

My thought for the day.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God."

---George F McDougall---

What A Letdown!!!

It seems the state of the economy has even affected our yearly Christmastime ritual.

We were sitting doing our usual after-work recoup when Jim said...let's go "malling" for a while. For us, "malling" means let's go to the mall and watch the people. Talk about a cheap date...that's one for you.

So off we trek to the mall. Seeing the parking lot we were sure we were in for a real treat of watching the crazy folk go for finish line of "got all the shopping done". There were even four police cars in the lot and had people stopped in cars asking them questions. Not the place for us. Isn't it odd that in your youth you would have stuck around to see what is going on. Old age...get out of there!!! So we rounded the corner to the other side of the mall.

Jim was about to park in no man's land where there are no lights when I wiped that idea from his mind. I am not about to go through the parking lot in a wheel chair to the car where there are no lights!!! Two old people going to a car with one in a wheel chair. Sounds like an ideal set up to be mugged! So we did find a spot brightly lit two spots from the door. Thank you handicap disabled sign!!! LOL

So the lot was full and we get in the mall and while there were a lot of people...no one was rushing around! Not many even had a package in hand. If they did it was only one...many from Victoria's Secret!!! Wonder what that's all about!! LOL

Most were just walking around like us as if that is what they are supposed to be doing at this point in the Christmas rush....go to the mall!!!

Really a disappointment! No mall entertainment for us this year!! Oh well....

We did watch the ice skaters for a while. Always do enjoy this. It was fun to watch families pose on the ice as if they had fallen to have another person take the great pic!!! No doubt a mother that scraps!!! LOLThis mall is in Clearwater and is two story as you can see. The ice rink is always a big attraction to the tourists and amusement to the locals!!! BTW those are strings of lights hanging down from the ceiling. Very pretty in person!!!

While the night was disappointing as to people watching, we did have a nice dinner. We went to a Jewish deli and ate. LOL We go to Jewish deli and what do we eat? Lasagna!!! And it was the most delicious lasagna I have ever eaten other than mine, of course!!!

Well the reason I suggested we eat there was so Jim could get his matzo ball soup. He LOVES that! Me...I opted for good ole chicken noodle...the kind grandmas make!

It was almost like we were supposed to be there. We were at a table and a man our age came and sat at the booth diagonal from us. He struck up a conversation...service being terrible etc...and low and behold, he knew right where we lived. From the area. In fact he built one of the mobile home parks right by us. He chatted for a long time and we had a really good time discussing all sorts of things...but...mainly great restaurants in the area.

Yet what seemed important to me is that his wife was very sick in the hospital. He seemed so sad and lonely...like he just needed someone to chat with for a while. It was almost like he didn't want us to leave. So I feel our trip "malling" this year was a little disappointing in the fact we didn't see many crazy people, but I feel God had something else for us to do this year. It was a good night.

We had a good time and even got home in time for me to get on Designer Digitals chat and for Jim to rack up the points on his games on the computer. Sure wish he would win that Mac Book!!! LOL

That is it for today. It is just about officially Christmas eve.

I will close, wishing you all a wonderful Christmas tomorrow.

My thought for today.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Mankind is a great, an immense family...This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas."

---Pope John XXIII---

It's Coming!!!

Time is flying by and I know everyone is busy putting the finishing touches on the preparation for the big day. Family is due in for many, wrapping needs finished, food prepared. For some...shopping needs to be done. Hurry and get it all done so you can sit back and enjoy this happy time celebrating the birth of our Saviour.

I finished a LO this weekend. It is of my boss' little girl. I think it is a precious picture. It makes me feel the wonder of Christmas. I think we all love to see the excitement of Christmas in the eyes of the children.

There are so many facets of Christmas that we all love so much. We know the reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, but wrapped around that are so many other things.

I know that we all seem, from time to time, to complain about the different things that go on around the holiday...that we are forgetting what it is all about. But as I look at it, all of what we do is all part of what Christ really wants for us...done with the right heart!

I believe...He wants us to gather family around. He wants us to bake, cook and eat..to break bread together...and celebrate His birth. He wants us to give to each other...a part of ourselves...to those we love. God gave His gift to us and Christ gives His gifts to us. We need to give, also. When we give to others, we are giving to Him.

We just need to remember why we are doing what we are doing and celebrate with thanksgiving the greatest gift of all that has been given to all of mankind.

Celebrate the season. Have a wonderful time. Celebrate the old...and make new...traditions.

But let us do it, remembering the reason for the season.

Wishing every one of you the merriest Christmas ever.

Enjoy.

My thought for the day.

Thought for the Day

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus."

---Francis Pharcellus Church---

Woo Wee! It Is Getting Close!

Woo Wee! It is getting close to that special time and I am getting excited!! Well as excited as can be with no little ones around. It is always more fun at Christmas when there are little ones around and you see their excitement.

I just have to show you what Buck brought to me yesterday.

This is the sweetest little giraffe! He and his wife won it and know I collect giraffes and he brought it in to me. It will be my bud here at work. At least I will have someone to talk to that I will see eye to eye with. Well not eye to eye...well...you know what I mean.

It has been a real quiet day here at work and I have finished all that needs to be accomplished so I thought I would update my blog.

I do have something to show you all. I have completed another LO! Yea! I do believe I am getting just a little quicker. But when I do these at work (take it easy, take it easy...I do have my lunch hour you know...and before...and after work while I wait on Jim to pick me up!! LOL) they take way way longer because I have to hunt for every little thing I want to use. I don't have my organizational software here.

Well here goes. This is of Santa and me last Christmas at the restaurant by my DD's where we all gathered.

Credits: Betsy Tuma, Plain Digital Wrapper, For Unto Us/cwills papers 5 & 18, ribbon & bow; LHanks frame, light stars. Delicious Scraps/Charming Christmas, poinsettia. Sentimental Style, Ice Crystals alpha

Planning on doing some Christmas running tonight. Not much to finish up, but a little. Not much time left to get it done. We like to keep the week before Christmas free of hustle bustle so we can enjoy it.

One of our fun things to do is to go sit at the mall a day or two before Christmas and watch all the crazy people running around frantically. Try it. I am sure you will have a hoot!

Have a great night.

My thought for today.

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

"Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles."

---Unknown---

I'm Feelin' The Sprit

Well, I am beginning to feel the spirit! I get this way each year. As Christmas day approaches I get more and more like a little kid. I start giggling and being silly. But Jim loves it and just looks at me and laughs. I think that is one of the things he likes about me is that I still have that little girl amazement about things even at what shall we say...the beginning of ...shhh...old age! LOL

Do you know what this is?

This is a Jingle Bell Rock. I think some of you are old enough to remember the song..."Jingle Bell Rock". Well, this is a jingle bell rock. When you touch two little silver spots on the top it plays AND sings a portion of the son "Jingle Bell Rock", all the time rocking back and forth to the music! So cute! I love it!! Jim got it for me years ago and I always bring it to work so I can play it for others. Really it is to amuse me but I hate to say that too loudly!

My son in New Jersey can not believe I let people know I have this thing as he calls it. Needless to say his sense of humor and mine are not on the same plane!!! LOL

Got some shopping done last night for DGS and will probably do more tonight for DGD. Other DGS's favorite color is green. I think everyone loves green. Green money that is! That is the easiest to do, too! Have to go to the airport post office tonight and mail a gift. Hope I am not too late...but...I will do the best I can!

Got the tree finished the other night. I think it looks pretty good for as old as it is. It must be every bit of 38 years old. Older than that I think but not sure. It was a really expensive tree when we got it. $80!!! LOL But that many years ago people just couldn't believe we paid that much for a tree. But we were always away through the holidays and didn't want to worry about a fire and we had animals that were there also. Even though it is looking a little bedraggled we hate to get rid of it. It has become so much a part of our Christmas.

BTW. Speaking of my New Jersey son...if by chance he ever shows up on your doorstep to help with your tree...gently decline! What a pain. I thought I was anal. I can't be. I gave it all to him. You see...if you hang on ornament on the left side of the tree...you must hang a corresponding ornament on the right...and so on and so on!! *sigh*

Well, I need to get on with the day but before I do I have to share one more precious thing with you all. This is a picture of part of the manager that my mother made for me. She did ceramics and was very good at it. I love this so much. I know what love and time went into this...so it is a very special part of our Christmas.

So that is where I am so far. But the spirit is on a roll and the old body is gearing in! Hope you all can begin to let go and experience the joy of the holiday!

My thought for today.

Enjoy

Thought for the Day

"I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

---Christopher Reeve---

My Hero

It has been a busy weekend! Getting things ready for Christmas while having a bit of time to play, too.

Ready to do the icicles on the tree but still have some running to finish today. We have run the entire day and accomplished only a little. I can explain more later...but remember...it's that "secrety" Christmas season!!! No hints here!!!!

I have finished another LO. I finished it last night but was waiting final approval before I posted it. I like it. For some reason I had a time with this just getting the right look I wanted. I am so picky...I know...but these are important to me and they have to be perfect in my eye!

This LO is of my friend Joanna's son, in honor of him finishing 3rd in the Special Olympics Bowling. And believe it or not...he did this without his glasses!!!!! He has worn them since he was about nine I think she told me and they forgot to make sure he had them with him that day! I think he would have had 1st place if they had done what they should have done. But either way...WAY TO GO BOB!!! We are so so proud of you!

My thought for the day.

Enjoy!

Thought for the Day

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

---Norman Vincent Peale---