Decisions, Decisions.....

Alright, in less than an hour, two of my favorite tv happenings are on. One of them being "Friday Night Lights", and the second being the Gonzaga game. How dare they schedule a gonzaga game during my favorite show. Jesus, I need to find out what is happening with Lila and Jason for crying out loud. Is she gonna marry him???? The suspense is killing me. But I also want to know how my Zags are doing. Oh my gosh, I think I am just gonna have to flip back and forth. This will indeed drive Joe absolutely CRAZY. Hey, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, right????

My Boy.........

Here's my puppy Neiko. I guess I shouldn't call him a puppy anymore, he is almost two years old. But, it just seems right, because he is so small and all. He is a little less than seven pounds. Perfect, if you ask me. Isn't it funny how dogs just love it when you come home. I mean, you could have just went outside to get the mail, and when you come back in the house a few minutes later, they are soooo excited, like you were gone for hours. It seems he knows when I am having a bad day, because on those days he is extra cuddly. He's my boy. I found this cute quote, and I thought of Neiko when I saw it, so here it is.....

Happiness is a warm puppy. ~Charles M. Schulz

On to STATE!!!!!!!

The amazing...."Shower-O-Matic"

Non-working model category

(Patent Pending :-))

After all the hard work and time Danielle put into her invention, she got through the first round at her elementary school and then we went to the regional competition today. And........she placed second in her grade level. That means she qualified for the State Convention. So, off to Boise we will happily go, and we will be all smiles the whole way. Well, in between all the "are we there yet?" 's, and the "I have to go to the bathroom." But we are sooooo proud of her. Great job Danielle!!!! We knew you could do it!!!!!

If you all are wondering what this amazing invention does, well......it is kind of like a human car wash, but its in your shower at home. It sprays shampoo, conditioner, and soap out of the shower head in between the water. (You must program it in.) It saves you time and energy during your busy morning routine.

Over the River and Through the Woods....

It's off to work we go....?????? Actually, we are up at our "second" home, but I think for Joe, it is starting to feel more like a second job. And believe me, his first job takes up TONS of his time already. Anyway, he is currently outside in the below 30 degree weather hooking up a new pump that will replace our old broken one. I believe it cracked because we had no power due to falling trees and the pump just got too damn cold. So, there you have it. The story of our life lately. Problems, problems, problems. Oh, and to top it off, Joe has already been up here and back home today once. (Ooops, I forgot Danielle's basketball shirt here last weekend and she had a game at 9:00am bright and early this morning, and to top it off, it was picture day.) So, I will be soooooo glad when we get this water, power, TV and tree problem figured out. Oh, and lets not forget "Go Zags".

My favorite song of the week.........

Is.........

Gretchen Wilson....
"Come to Bed"

She sang it on some country award show a couple of months ago and they have finally started to play it on the radio. Check it out!!!

Welcome to Pocatello

Here we are, in good 'ole Pocatello, Idaho. I don't think I have been here since High School. I believe we came down here for Boys State in Basketball, or maybe football. I believe I rode down on the bus with the band. Mullan High School Pep Band, that is.

Anyway, here I am again. Joe and I drove down today so he could hire someone to fill the position here for his company. It took us about 7 hours to get here. Not too bad. But, I was expecting a little more out of this town, the home of Idaho State University. I'm not too impressed. So, when Joe jokingly asked if I would consider moving down here my only reaction was "Hell, no!!!" But, nothing against those who already do, I'm sure you know more about this place than I do, and I mean no disrespect. But, it's just not my cup of tea. Thankfully, we will be headed back to our neck of the woods first thing tomorrow morning.

A joke for today........

Certified Tax-Aide Counselor

Yep, that's gonna be my title. (well, if I passed the test I took today..) For the last 2 weeks I have been taking tax classes with the AARP to become a tax-aide volunteer. Yep, I think it is past time for me to pitch in and do some service for my community. You know, it has turned out to be harder than I thought it was, this tax stuff. You really gotta know what you are doing. Oh, and since most of my clients will be over the age of 60, I better be good with the older generation of Americans, also. I guess I am gonna be put to the test soon. Yikes!!!! I need to just remember to speak up!!!!!! I've already been told that like 20 times in 2 weeks. So, I plan to yell out the questions to my first client. Let's just hope they don't have their hearing aid on high volume....???!!!

Well, today I took my test ( Thank god for open book tests!!!) and hopefully I passed it with flying colors. One guy that has been in my class for two weeks, just got up today and announced that he is quitting. He doesn't think he'll ever "get it". I wish he knew that I have wondered that same question. But, I am still putting along. Cautiously. I just need to keep a bunch of things straight, like.......who's married to who, who gets to claim who, can you deduct this, can you deduct that, and on and on.......

No, hopefully I will learn alot and this will turn into a great experience for me. So far it has been very rewarding. I really didn't know it would take up quite this much of my time, but, it keeps me out of the shopping centers, I guess. So, it's a win, win. :-)

Encyclopedia's........who needs 'em

Elavator Fun

Whistle the first seven notes of "It's a Small World" incessantly.

Sell Girl Scout cookies.

Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside ask: "Got enough air in there?"

Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator.

When at your floor, strain to yank the doors open, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.

Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.

Stare, grinning, at another passenger for a while, and then announce: "I've got new socks on!"

Meow occasionally.

Bet the other passengers you can fit a quarter in your nose.

Frown and mutter "Gotta go...Gotta go..." then sigh and say "Oops!"

Show other passengers a wound and ask if it looks infected.

Sing "Mary had a little lamb" while continually pushing buttons.

Holler "Chutes away!" whenever the elevator descends.

Walk on with a cooler that says "Human Head" on the side.

Stare at a passenger and announce "You're one of THEM!" and move to the far corner of the elevator.

Burp, and then say "Mmmm... tasty!"

Leave a box between the doors.

Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.

Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers "through" it.

Start a sing-along.

When the elevator is silent, look around and ask "Is that your beeper?"

Say "Ding!" at each floor.

Lean against the button panel.

Say "I wonder what all these do" and push the red buttons.

Listen to the elevator walls with a stethoscope.
Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and inform the other passengers that this is your "personal space."

Bring a chair along.

Take a bite of a sandwich and ask another passenger: "Wanna see wha in muh mouf?"

Announce in a demonic voice: "I must find a more suitable host body."

Carry a blanket and clutch it protectively.

Stare at your thumb and say "I think it's getting larger."

If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler "Bad touch!
(from www.lotsofjokes.com)

Quote for today......

Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today.

-Mary Manin Morrissey

Night at the Museum

We just got back from the movie " Night at the Museum" starring Ben Stiller. It was so good. It was funny, it had a happy ending, it made me feel all warm and cozy inside, yeah!!!!! Finally I can say something good about a movie. It's about time, I'd say!!!! Oh, and to top the night off, when we walked out of the theatre it was snowing. Huge flakes. Gotta love it!!! (oh, and that means it has warmed up enough to snow, too. Good news. ) Anyway, if you get the chance, and your in the mood for a real uplifting movie, go see this one.

Happy birthday..........a little late.....

Danielle (and me and her dad and her puppy) would like to shout out a happy birthday wish to Great Grandma Marilyn. If we knew how old she was we could put it in here. Something tells me that its better we don't. :-)

My favorite new song of the week.....

I'm gonna try to do this every week. Yes, it is probably really boring to you all, but I hear so many good songs and I just want to announce them to the world sometimes, they are THAT good. So, this week its gonna be.......
Drum roll please........

Pink~ "U + Ur Hand"

Oh my gosh, it's a great song!!!! You all HAVE to hear it.

The Concert

My mom and I went to the "Hinder" concert on Sunday night. If you don't know who that is, they sing " Lips of an Angel". Does it ring a bell now???? It should, they play it like every other song on the radio these days. Anyway, the concert was really good. Although, I have never been to a concert that I didn't like, so maybe I'm just weird. But speaking of weird, after my m0m had a few beers during the concert, she decided it would be a good idea to join in with the young kids and "head-bang". Do you guys know what that is??????? (You know, moving your neck up and down really fast...) Anyway, I kept telling her that her neck was gonna hurt the next day. I also tried to tell her she was gonna get a head-ache. I really was just trying to get her to stop because it was mildly embarrassing. Ok, if you can't understand where I am coming from here, then just picture YOUR mother at a concert "head-banging". Do you follow me now???? I thought so. So, I have decided that there should be a law determining how old you have to be in order to "Head-bang". It probably should be under 20. Just my opinion, though. For what its worth. Oh, and I'd like to add that I think in the future, I might pass on going to any concert with my mom unless it's country or light rock. Just kidding, mom. I still love ya!!! How did the Chiropractor appointment go???

The Big Thaw

When are we gonna get "the big thaw"???? I have been dealing with MAJOR cold temps here in North Idaho, people. It is getting a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE winter. I do. But I like snow, too. Well, its too damn cold to snow. It's too damn cold to do just about anything. It has been below 0 degrees a couple of days. It has not been over like 20 degrees for weeks now. It is supposed to stay the same for atleast another week. Give me a break, weather-man. Tell me some good news.
Oh, and to top the weather situation off, our property in Prichard had another tree fall across the power line (from the neighbors property, again, I might add). So, no electricity. And, no electricity means frozen pipes. Yep, frozen pipes. So, the electric got turned back on today by "very nice and understanding Avista guy", and we turned on the heat and are hoping for the "warming of the pipes". So, we will go back to home-depot and buy our second toilet in 2 weeks, because every time the power goes out, one of the toilet's freezes and breaks. So, we will head back over there when everything warms up and pray that no pipes broke. So, Please, Mother Nature, give us that BIG THAW, like now!!!!!!!

Seperate Ways, by Rick Trevino

Some of you may know that my parents divorced after around 31 years of marriage. They were high-school sweethearts. They were supposed to be together forever. They were never supposed to do what they did. But they did.

People change I guess, people think different things as time goes by, people sometimes grow apart, but my parents weren't supposed to. But they did.

You know, I am a 31 year old adult, and I can still tell you, that it breaks my heart EVERY day, when I think about my parents going their separate ways. I know some people that have experienced their parents split up, and they know just how I feel. The other ones that haven't experienced this, don't. They might want to, but they don't. I understand why they don't, because I used to be one of them, on the outside. Instead, now I'm here, on the inside of this "break-up". The divorce has been final for years, but it is still very close to my heart, as it also is to my parents. It will always be.

So, I heard this song on the radio today, and it made me cry. This isn't so odd in itself, because I cry often when I hear songs that touch me. But this one really hit home, because I have BEEN there. I have felt all of those feelings. This song does not follow the exact story of what happened to our family during this "ending of their relationship", but the last verse in this song explains tons about what I still feel......, it goes..."..... the last thing they ever did together, will haunt me forever and ever". You might understand it better if you read all the lyrics, so here they are......

"He was never much for shopping. But you’d always see him with her at the store.
She was never much for football, She’d sit there and pretend she wasn’t bored.
You saw one you saw the other. Like a two lane Texas highway straight and true.
But just over that horizon the road that they were riding split in two.

(Chorus)
Separate ways, his and hers, A love that went from great to good
to bad to worse.
Separate lives, what a waste.
The last thing they ever did together was go their separate ways.

It really scares me baby. How easily that good love slipped away.
Let’s remember that forever, is something that we should work at everyday.
And after all those years together, it killed me when I saw their love go bad.
So let’s hold on to each other and don’t end up like my mother and my dad.

(Chorus)
Separate ways his and hers. A love that went from great to good to bad to worse.
Separate lives what a waste.
The last thing they ever did together was go their separate ways.

Yeah the last thing they ever did together, Will haunt me forever and ever,
Let’s promise one another that we’ll never go our separate ways."

So, there it is, and I don't want any of you to think I love either of them any less for what has happened. I think I might even love them more now. I know what loosing something is like now. I haven't lost either one of them separately, but I have lost "them". They will never be a "them" again. But, they both still mean the world to me and I still hold those memories of "them" really close to my heart, but far enough away that I don't dwell on it too much. I just hope I can keep those memories alive in my daughters heart, because she was pretty young when they were together, and she thinks the way it is now, is the way it has always been. But it wasnt..............

Quote for today.....

Once when I was lost..... I saw a policeman and asked him to help me find my parents. I said to him ..... "do you think we'll ever find them?" He said ... "I don't know kid .... there are so many places they can hide."
(Rodney Dangerfield)

And the award goes to...........

Ok, I guess I will not be asked to be a professional movie reviewer anytime soon. Darn it anyway!!!!
In regards to my previous blog about the movie Babel ("Yuck-O", if you didn't read it....), I guess my measly opinion is all that it is....measly. But, still, it is the opinion I have. Even after the big win last night for best Motion Picture, Drama in the Golden Globes. What were they thinking. I am talking about the Hollywood Foreign Press, here. How could their opinion be sooooooooo far from mine????? Does that mean mine doesn't mean crap??? Ok, fine, but I still stand by my crappy opinion. The show was el-yucko!!!! Yes, that's my final answer.

Price check on register 7

Why is it that almost every time I head to check out at a store, I have an issue with a price on an item. Ok, I should re-phrase that, THEY have an issue with a price on an item. Sometimes it even happens with more than one item!!!

So, here's what happened today......

I head to the store I usually shop at. I shop around for items like, birthday presents, school supplies, etc. So, I get up to the register and I set all of my items on the shelf. Well, here's where we encounter a problem: some of the items are on clearance. So, she starts ringing them up and the first two items come up with the marked down clearance price. (Hooray!!!) But, the third one comes up at regular price. So I stop and point it out to the "not so friendly" checker/manager- want-to-be lady. She says, "oh, well, this is from electronics and I can't do anything about the price mix-up."

OK, first of all, it wasn't from electronics, it was from toys. Second of all, she threw the item in the "go back" basket and I was like...."Hey, I want to buy that." She could have cared less. So I said "I will just finish paying for all these other items and then go to customer service and figure it out. " She looks at me with a look like she thinks I am gonna take the item and walk out of the store without paying for it. So, she doesn't give me the toy. So I tell her again that I want it. Then she says " I will walk it back to electronics myself, when I go on break." So, I was irritated and didn't feel like waiting for her break to roll around, and so I said " I'll take it back to ELECTRONICS." So, hesitantly, she gave the toy back to me. So, I left and made a B-line to customer service because I knew that electronics could not help me with my TOY. The whole time I was walking there I felt like she had video surveillance on me or something. I thought the cops were gonna rush up to me any minute. They probably had the cuffs ready.....

Anyway, I safely made it to customer service and I told the friendly customer service associate what happened and he gladly reduced my clearance item with no questions asked. (The tag on the item DID state the clearance price, so there was NO problem with the item at all) There should not have been an issue in the first place.

So, I walk out of the store and drive home, and when I get home I look at my receipt and I see that the reciept total seems higher than it should be. After looking at it closer,I find that another one of the items didn't come up as the marked-down clearance price either. And the difference is like $8.00. So, when I get done venting with you all, I am gonna have to go back to the store, put on my smiley face, and straighten that out also. Fun, Fun.

Wow, time goes by SO FAST!!!

Isn't this just adorable!!! Here's my daughter, at the age of 3 or 4, at her first dance recital. I found this picture while I was scrap-booking, and I thought I should post it because I posted her most recenct recital picture a few posts ago, and the difference was, well, shocking. Wow, my baby is growing up. Ok, I'm gonna log off and go cry now. ....

How Do You Like Me Now!!!!

Wow, it looks sooooo much better, don't ya think!!!! I finally changed my layout after like, more than a year. It's about time!!!! Enjoy!!

Here's a Quote I Found

Jon Bon Jovi and I have a lot in common. Jon plays the guitar; I like to play the guitar. Jon wears a leather jacket; I like to wear a leather jacket. Jon Bon Jovi was one of the 50 most beautiful people in People magazine; I like to read People magazine. -- John Kerry

I thought that was cute. I actually like them both. But am still not sure they have much in common.......

Who Knew????

Who knew that you had to be licensed in order to correctly pop and bag popcorn for elementary students!!!!!

Ok, you don't. But, by the reaction of the PTO Prez and official popcorn popper last week, as she walked up on little old ME popping away, I think she would have been happier if I would have shown her my official popcorn popping badge. Anyway, she was not pleasantly surprised to see me at the controls of the red and yellow machine. Oh well, I was not there to make HER happy. I was there to make the KIDS happy. So There.

I'm Not Ready to Make Nice!!!!

I FINALLY got to see it!!!!! Yep, I'm talking about "Shut Up and Sing", the documentary about the Dixie Chicks and their controversial statement during a concert in london about 3 years ago. Anyway, I have been waiting for it to play around here, and it never did. I had been waiting for it to come out on video, not yet. So, I was flipping through the newspaper and looking at what was going on this weekend locally, and I saw it. The documentary was being shown in Sandpoint, for 3 nights.
So, my husband and I drove up there yesterday evening in a huge blizzard. There were winter storm warnings on the news and wind warnings, but I was going. I could have cared less that we were going to have to travel the most dangerous stretch of road in the whole state of Idaho to get there. I was going. That much I knew.
Well, the theatre it was playing in was as cool as the movie was. It was an old theatre that still "looked" old and had tons of character. It didn't sound like it is used often. It sounded like there would be about 2 more movies playing there till around April. (they must just use this place for "special occasions.., like this show")... :-).
Anyway, it was the perfect place to view this movie. We were surrounded by a bunch of mostly 50 something's that were not afraid to laugh, clap or shout with approval when they saw something they liked. Or didn't like....(for example........Some video of the President of our wonderful country, stating "Mission Accomplished" a couple of years ago....). It was awesome. I did not hear one single person disapprove of the Dixie Chicks and this film. So, anyway, we had a great time. And we talked about the show almost all the way home. Oh, and we had to drive like......35 to 40 mph. Yes, the highway was that bad. But the movie wasn't, and that's all that mattered to me.

Update: The Heaven I'm Headed to

Check out this email I got today.......

I was testing the children in my Sunday school class

to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.

I asked them,

"If I sold my house and my car,

had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church,

Would that get me into Heaven?"

"NO!" the children answered."

If I cleaned the church every day,

mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy,

would that get me into Heaven?"

Again, the answer was, "NO!"

By now I was starting to smile.

Hey, this was fun!

"Well, then, if I was kind to animals

and gave candy to all the children,

and loved my husband,

would that get me into Heaven?" I asked them again.

Again, they all answered, "NO!"

I was just bursting with pride for them.

"Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"

A five-year-old boy shouted out,

"YOU GOTTA BE DEAD."

I thought this was super cute. A friend forwarded it to me, and I wanted to post it because of the previous post I did about heaven and who gets to go.

The death of a Tamagachi

How many of you have heard of a Tamagachi. No, it's not some chinese new year or something. It's a dumb computerized toy for kids. I guess the purpose of it is to be kind of like a pet but it's a computerized pet that you need to take care of like you would a real pet. Well, since my daughter likes pets, and we haven't had any luck keeping fish alive, santa decided to give her this tamagachi thing. So, you watch it hatch on the screen and then it has to be fed, and given medicine, and go to the bathroom, and given attention, all that good stuff. Doesn't seem to hard, does it???? Well, news flash, its harder than you think. The thing has already died. Twice. Thank god we can make it come back to life. You have to start all over and let it hatch again, rename it, etc. Well, each day I have been "mothering" this dumb thing more than my daughter has. Just to try to keep it alive so it doesn't die again and break her little heart, again. Well, as I am typing, it is dead. And now I will quit typing and revive the dumb thing and try to take care of it a little better. For my daughter. What us parents won't do for our kids.

The nightmare of the Bratz Baby

A story of nightmarish proportions happened here last night.
I'm talking about my daughter and her "Bratz" Baby. After way too many waking hours of playing, ....... at about 11:56pm last night, just before we were gonna ring in the new year with friends, a problem occured. Yes, its true, my daughter couldn't find her bratz baby. So, she proceeded to look hysterically, throwing everything out of her toybox. When she came in the living room she whined to me...."MOOOOOOOOOMMMM, I can't find my Bratz Baby.!!!!!!!" Ok, I said. I guess I didn't think it was that big of a deal. So, she then stated...." But then I won't be able to dress herrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!" Ok, who cares. It's 11:56 at night for gods sake. I could care less at that point if she could find her bratz baby or not. Is this really THAT big of a deal??? I think her answer was yes. This was almost melt-down material.
SO, then, she turned around and went into the bathroom where I could see her brushing her hair, really hard, and it had to be REALLY uncomfortable. But, that's how she was letting out steam, I guess. So anyway, I know one thing for sure, next year she is soooooo gonna be in bed earlier.

Quote of the day.....

To this world, you may be only one person......
but to one person, you ARE the world.
-Unknown

This quote was taped to my refridgerator for years. I even had it taped to the wall at my work. I found it one day browsing online, and it just really hit home to me. So I was so suprised, when I heard this new song by Brad Paisley on the radio about a year ago, and it basically took this quote, and relayed it to a song. I couldn't believe that it was about THIS quote, the one I had read on my refridgerator daily, and tried to live by. Weird, huh....

The Heaven I'm Headed To, By Dierks Bentley

Here's a song I heard recently, and it really says alot about how I feel about the subject of heaven and I was so glad that Dierks Bentley added it to his latest album. I know alot of people and all of them seem to have different opinions about christianity and who does or does not get to go to heaven. But he seems to sum up my opinions on it in this song. If you get the chance, listen to it.

Artist: Bentley Dierks

Lyrics for Song: The Heaven I'm Headed To

Lyrics for Album: Long Trip Alone

I hear people talk of heaven

And how it's only for the precious few

But in the book that I've been readin'

Sounds to me like there's a lot of room

So I bet some folks are gonna be surprised

About who makes it to the other side 'cause in the

(Chorus:)

Heaven I'm headed to

There's a place for preachers, thieves and prostitutes

Saints and soldiers, beggers, kings and renegades

For any soul that ever found amazing grace

Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include

In the heaven I'm headed to

It's not my place to say

Just who does or doesn't get to go

I'm only one among the many

Stumblin' down that narrow road

There's so many things in this life to love

And I believe there's hope for each of us 'cause

(Repeat Chorus)

And the only thing I know

We all get the chance to go

Saints and soldiers, beggers, kings and renegades

Any soul that ever found amazing grace

Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include

In the heave I'm headed to

Happy New Year!!!!!

Well, we barely rang in the new year. We had some friends over and they brought their kids over so Danielle and the kids had lots of fun. I could tell they were SUPER tired once 12:00 rolled around. But, they did it!!!! We got to watch some fireworks that were being set off in another neighborhood, and then it was off to bed. It was a good day. Thanks, Buer family for the good conversation and company!!!! (Oh, and lets not forget the good wine, too.) :-)

The picture of Danielle is from christmas morning and that is the look she had on her face when she first got on her "present". Gotta love it!!!!!

River Property Update

Here are some pictures of the damage that was done to our property. Not good. The travel trailer is obviously totaled out. The other trailer was just very lucky it had a second roof over it. The trees went through the 1st roof and then stopped. We will be very busy trying to clean up this mess this spring. Joe went up with my dad and a friend to remove some of the trees that were on our main roof. He ended up falling off the roof in the process........he's ok though. I knew there was a reason I did not want to be there while they were on that darned roof.!!!!!!!