Happy Halloween!!!!

Here is Danielle in her "gothic china girl" costume. Isn't she cute!!!

Yikes.....

Ok, I thought this damned thing would just stay in Coeurd'alene. What is "this thing" you ask?? Well, it is a staph infection (MRSA) that some people have said is resistant to antibiotics. Well, an elementary school in CDA (which happens to be the one my nephew goes to...) announced last week that it had a student with this infection. Well, early this week it announced it had another student and a teacher come down with it. Some parents were keeping their kids at home, but the school totally disinfected itself (however you do that) over the weekend. Anyway, the news has been making a really bit deal over it, and supposedly some people actually die from this infection...(mostly people with weakened immune systems). So, last night as I was watching the news report about this for about the 30th time in 4 days, they announced that the Post falls Middle School and the Post Falls high school had come up with 3 cases, total. So, it is here. It is getting closer and closer to Danielle's school and I am mildly concerned. I mean, I don't know what my thoughts will be if, or when it hits that close to home. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Supposedly, this infection is very common, and can be treated with non-penicillin antibiotics. You just need to catch it and deal with it. So, I am currently searching over Danielle's body nightly, and she is like....."Oh MOM, your making a big deal out of NOTHING...", but I just feel like I am a little out of my comfort zone, here. I mean, it's NOT the chicken pox, it's this weird infection I can't even pronounce, for christ's sake.
So, now that I am done venting, you can check out this link if you need more info on it, because lord knows, I have been checking it out constantly for the last few days, and I am sure I will continue.....

www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735

My Vegas list

We are headed to Vegas tomorrow morning. Yeah!!! We need a break!! I am feeling like a ball of nerves for some reason, I almost feel like I took a double dose of sleeping pills last night on accident, because I was "shaking" until about 1:00am this morning and I barely slept. Oh gosh, I already know Vegas is NOT the place you can get caught up on sleep.....

Sitter For Danielle....check (thanks mom)
Dog- Sitter for Nieki....check (thanks again, mom)
Our assorted collection of prescriptions.....check
Haircut................check
Hair color............check
Sun burn....oops too many minutes in the tanning booth........check
Hearty appetite..(for nice spendy restaurant).....check
Huge pimple on face (why me??) ...........check
Gossip Magazines for plane........check
Gambling money......note to self....go to bank....withdraw lots of $ :-)
Cute outfits..........check
make-up............EXTRA CHECK
Huge A** suitcase.........check
Tidy house.........check
Camera......with charged battery.......not quite checked...
Tickets...............Joe will be soley responsible for those.....
Nice Hotel...........check (check out the pics of the Venetian, where we are staying)

Ok, I am already tired and all I am doing is making a list. Maybe we should just scrap the whole trip......NOT. Wish us luck. Think Big Money, NO Whammies!!!!

Question of the day....

Do I actually think I can eat this whole Tupperware bowl full of Halloween candy before the kids come tomorrow night??
You can bet your a** I'm gonna try!

Putting it all out there.........

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 30% Conservative, 70% Liberal Social Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Wow, I shocked myself. I mean, I KNOW I have been and will always lean toward the liberal side of the fence. I grew up this way. My parents taught me this way, my beliefs led me this way, my education has not led me to stray from this way, but I didn't realize I would score so much towards that side. I mean, I know who I am, and I know what my beliefs are, but I tend to listen and I am open to both sides as well. I actually agree with alot of conservative ideas. I am not 100% to either side, and I feel that if someone tells you they are 100% to one side or the other, they may be kidding themselves. They may be followers. They may be easily swayed. That is my opinion, for all that it's worth. My views do differ depending on what the situation is, what the state of this country is, what the big picture is, and so on and so on. And NO, I do not believe I am a fence sitter. I have a core of beliefs that I will always stand by, every day of the week. I will even join the conservative side on issues that I believe need to stay on that side. I will LISTEN to other's opinions, I will RESPECT their opinions, and I will ALWAYS try to put myself in their shoes, as I REALIZE that there is no perfect answer for anything. Perfect needs to go to the wayside. Perfect is a dream. Perfect is just not going to happen. So, take this test, it is quite interesting, and of course it is not a "perfect" quiz, I am sure it is not 100% or even close to that accurate, the questions and answers are just for fun, people, so don't get serious about it, take it if ya want, don't take it if ya don't want, and fill me in with your score and opinion if you wish. Have fun......

Happy 40th Birthday, honey!!!!!

Yep, Joe is turning 40 today. Sorry, honey. The secret is out. I hope you had a great day hunting. See you tonight!!!!
Love ya!!!! (P.S. I am not even CLOSE to being 40...) :-)

Oh Crap.....

Ok, I apologize for this error that I obviously made. What error? You ask....
Well, I had some spare time today while Danielle was at grandmas, and I sat down so I could watch HGTV, because it it one of my favorite channels. Well, the show that was on was called..."25 biggest decorating mistakes." Well, I actually thought it would be fun to watch, because I have definitely seen some decorating mistakes before. (at other people's houses.....) What I DIDN'T realize, was that I am making tons of these "mistakes". Right here, in my house, that I love. Good grief. So, I apologize for telling anyone that I was "ok" at decorating, and I really apologize, to my friends I actually GAVE decorating advice to. Gosh, how embarrassing.
So, ya want to hear some of these mistakes....well, here they are......(at least the ones I am guilty of...)

Toilet rugs. Oops, I didn't know that was such a no, no. I do wash them VERY often, does that make it better???

Too many photos. Gosh, I love my family. I thought that having tons of pictures out showed how much I love them. Does it make it better if most are black and white??

Uncomfortable Dining room chairs. Well, I didn't sit in them for an hour before I bought them. They LOOK nice, and they SHOULD be comfy, but unfortunately...they aren't that comfy. But I like my dining set, so shouldn't that count??

Following fads. Well, I thought that was the way I was keeping up with the Jones'. Gosh, what else am I supposed to do??

Too many colors or patterns. Well, I can't make up my mind. And actually, I thought that this was just a style of it's own. You know, mixing and matching stuff.....

Improper lighting. Ok, I know about this one already. We have a ceiling fan that is not centered over the dining table. First, the ceiling fan shouldn't be our dining room light of choice, and second, it should be centered with the table. I currently have a beautiful light fixture in the garage patiently waiting for Joe to put it up.

Pushed back furniture. Well gosh, my house isn't huge, people. Some of the furniture HAS to be pushed back to the wall. We need a couch, ya know.....

Fear of color. Ok, I am trying to get better. My walls are all mostly neutral. I did go out on a limb and paint one wall a yellowish, goldish, brownish, and I really like it, and I might just paint my whole living/dining like that.....

Knickknack Overload. I don't even want to go here....

Fake Flowers. Ok, this one is the worst. Would it be any better if you knew I washed them?? I got up after this show and actually counted how many different fake flower arrangements/wreaths/garlands/etc, sitting around my house and I counted 33. Yep, 33. And I hate to admit that was just upstairs. So does this mean I can never step foot into Michaels again???

So, the show is over, and I am way overwhelmed, and I think it might just be better to start fresh. "Honey......can we just move to a new house????"

Irritating people.....

Today I was standing at the information desk at Sacred Heart, and I was hoping to find out what room my grandpa was in...(he is home now and fine...)and as I was standing there, the receptionist was on the phone. I just assumed she was talking to a patient or a call-in for information.....WRONG. I couldn't help but hear her conversation as I was standing like 2 feet in front of her, and she was going on like...."Oh, Yeah, I know, and you'll never believe what happened to Suzie when she did that.....Oh, and I bet you haven't heard about Robby and that dog of his....Oh, and what do you think about the hole they made in the backyard...." And on and on. Obviously she was not doing her "job" like she should have been. So, she motioned to me that she would be with me in a moment, and I am sure I was looking way irritated, and she finally finished up and I felt like saying...."Gosh, I am SO sorry that I actually need you to do your JOB for a couple of seconds, but I would really like to know what room number a patient is in...." Christ. People irritate me anymore. Oh, and then on my way home on the highway I noticed that there was an SUV in the right lane and it was kind of weaving and swerving and stuff, so I went to pass it and I looked over to see what the problem was, and you guessed it, she was actually eating soup. With a SPOON. I have no idea which hand she was using to drive with..

Earning her keep.....

Here is Danielle in her daily routine. After she gets out of school, it's time to get to work, sewing in our sweat-shop.
OK, I am just kidding, but she LOVES her little sewing machine......at least, I THINK she does.....lol..

Our Masterpiece!!!!

On Sunday night Danielle and I decided to carve our pumpkin. She helped me get all the seeds and "yucky" stuff out of the pumpkin, and she helped me seperate the seeds so we could bake them for Joe and she picked out the stencil for me to use. Well, the first stencil she picked was like the most intricate carving I have ever seen, and although I was flattered by the pumpkin carving confidence she had in me, I opted for an easier route. So, we came up with the sculls head. It is totally right up danielle's alley. Because you know girls, sculls are the "in" thing right now. Joe is not quite convinced. Anyway, here's how it turned out.

Change.....

You know, I love fall. I really do. But with the turning of the leaves lately, I have been reminded of all the twists and turns our lives have taken over the years. It's really crazy if you think about it. When I lived in Mullan, all I wanted to do was get out of there. Then when I went to Boise, all I really wanted to do was go "home". Where was home? I think I am finally understanding where "home" was to me. It wasn't necessarily Mullan. It was the place where my memories became real. It was the place my family was. It was the place we all gathered on Thanksgiving, on Christmas, and other special occasions, or even just because. It was were I learned the meaning of family, and the meaning of "togetherness". It makes me sad that all of that had to change. When my parents decided to move from Mullan, I was the only one who was not happy with the change. Even though I didn't live there in that house anymore. Even though I didn't even live in that town anymore. Even though it was really up to THEM to make the choice to stay or go. But as my parents left that house, I stayed here in my house, as I new I would fall apart to have to "leave" that place where my memories began. And every time I drive by that house, every single night in my dreams, I get pulled back to all those years ago, when we were together as a family. Together opening presents with my grandma before she died, together with my grandpa, before he aged, together with my uncle, listening to him laugh, together with my parents, who were actually "together", not apart. I do know that we can't go back. I do know that this is just how life is. I do know that for the most part I am really blessed. But I just miss being "that" family. I miss the way we were. I miss what I grew up being a part of. And because I was a part of that, I have always wanted to show Danielle how it can be, how it should be, and how it was, when we were together. So, I am hoping this holiday season, that when I call or email our friends and families invitations to come together, instead of being too busy, instead of being alone, instead of passing up the chance to get together, they will say "yes". They will come along with us, and celebrate this beautiful season. This season of change.

When I Went to New Mexico....by Danielle

Here is a report Danielle wrote for school about our trip...(Joe and I thought it was really cute...)

I was in the plane going to Seattle, it was a very short plane ride, it was only about 30 minutes. When we got there the next stop was Las Vegas, Nevada! I was on the plane to Las Vegas, it was taking a long time. When we were flying over Las Vegas it was dark so we could see all the lights. When we got closer I could see the Stratosphere. The stratosphere is a very tall tower that is so big it has a roller coaster at the top! Then we saw the pyramid hotel. When we were taking off I saw the Eiffel Tower.

Next stop was Albuquerque, New Mexico. When we got there it was late so we just checked into our hotel. I can't remember the first day so I will skip to the second day. The second day was the balloon festival. There was a cow, Darth Vader, and some pretty patterns. And alot more. Now I remember what we did on the first day we went to a park that has Indian drawings on the rocks. We also went to Old Town. And we also went to the gondola.

On the second day we headed to Santa Fe. On our way there we stopped in a few places. When we got there we checked into the hotel. I'm not going to say them in order because I don't remember some things. I went to a museum, I went to the pueblos, the mall and the flea market. The whole time I was hoping we would go to this church. By the way we were only going to take my grandma. I don't know which city I like more than the other. My mom was taking alot of pictures. I like alot of them. I hope I can go there again.

The end.
By,
Dani

What Now??

What am I supposed to do now that "Bret Michaels: Rock of Love" is over. Will someone please tell me?? Gosh, I am probably gonna have with drawls from watching scanky white girls make fools of themselves all because of a burnt out "rock star".
Don't get me wrong.....I "LOVED" him back in the day...15 years ago it would have been ME getting the tatoo of his name on my neck......JUST KIDDING, people!!!!lol...

Calling all local cat owners.....

I would just like to thank whoever it is thats been letting their cat roam free in our neighborhood. It seems that the ugly little bast*** likes our back yard better than his own.
Neiko was outside enjoying the nice fall weather yesterday, and as he came inside I could tell there was something different about his demeanor, he was acting very proud of the way he looked for some reason. So, as I looked closer, I noticed that he had found something very smelly to roll in and that it was all over his back and neck. Upon closer examination, I realized it was cat CRAP, and I hurriedly grabbed him and let him know how tee-d off I was. So, he put his measly tail between his legs and ran back outside. Little did he know that the crisp fall day would soon be getting a little crisper, as I hosed him down with the cold water from the hose outside. So, after we finished up outside, into the bath he went, and he warmed up and I calmed down, but I really don't want to tell you what I could do if I get my hands on that cat. It won't be good. (So sorry to my many cat loving friends....)

WE need to wake up.....

Check out this video: I Need To Wake Up



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Question of the day....

How come when Danielle gets really tired she actually gets freakishly active?? Can someone please figure out what that chemical is that causes her to do that and put it in a bottle and sell it for like, oh I don't know, people like ME??

Nicknames...

My friend Lynsey has such great ideas for posts. She posted about how many nicknames she has for her adorable son, Brendan. So, it gave me an idea....
Here are our dog's nicknames...

Neiki
Neik
Buh-buh
Neikster
Pooh
puppy (how origional)
I know there is more, I can't think...

Oh, here are Danielle's nicknames

D
Miss D.
Dani
Danster
D bone
Daniella
Danielli (my mom calls her this)

Random pics near Santa Fe....

Pecos Historical Park

Here are some ruins from the Pecos tribe near Santa Fe. This national park is an awesome one, and we really learned a lot about the native people there.

99 Balloons...

Wow. There were much more than that. We found out after we made our vacation plans to New Mexico that the annual Balloon Festival was going to be during our trip. It turned out to be an awesome plus. Really cool. I would definitely recommend that if you were going to Albuquerque, you go while this festival is going on. It was really neat to see in person, and the pictures really don't do it justice.

Ouch!!!!!!

That is what Danielle said right after this shot was taken. It was my bright idea to have her pose in front of a huge cactus in Albuquerque. I was trying to get the perfect shot of us tourists in a "New Mexican" ambiance.....so, I was like..."get a little bit closer.... a little closer.... a little closer......" You get the picture. Oops. Bad idea, I just realized it a little bit too late. So, off we went to find a store that sold tweezers. Tops off the hillbilly family vacation, doesn't it.

Shiny Happy People....

Yep, that's what we were today as we landed in Spokane. Ok, Spokane is not HOME, but it sure is closer than sage brush and rolling deserts....Not that we didn't have a blast in New Mexico, but we were super excited to get back home to our Neiki...(There's no place like home, there's no place like home...)

I AM aging gracefully....aren't I?

Ok, today I went to miss D's school and volunteered. I just feel like a privileged, stay at home mom like me,lol, should definitely be involved in the "going's on" at the local grade school. So, everything was going A-ok, till the little girl that was reading to me said..."Are you a mom or a grandma?". I happily replied.."I'm a mom." She happily replies back..."Oh, cause you look like a grandma." So, I was not sure what to say....so I just said, "Do I at least look like a NICE grandma?". "Yes." she said. Ok, so I will let her off the hook then...

Just wondering.....

Do aggressive, a** hole drivers sleep really good at night after making a complete idiot out of themselves during their daily commute? Does using profane language and stupid hand gestures make them feel holy-er than thou.....Does all that make them feel like a million bucks when they lay their huge head down on their stinky a** pillow at night???? Just wondering....