Musical Fortune

I didn't have anything special to say today, so I pulled a rabbit out of my hat (translation: I copied a post from another blog) and came up with this. Enjoy.

1. Put Your iTunes/music player/cd player/radio on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write that song name down. (don't cheat and shuffle through)

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to... This is what my music says about me:

WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR PERSONALITY?
Shine Down - Godsmack
I supposed I have a happy, shiny disposition, spreading my light to all around me. See it? :o)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Argue - Matchbox 20
After the fight comes the makeup... Raawwrrrr!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Lonely No More - Rob Thomas
It's hard to be lonely when everyone wants my attention... Is it time for the kids to go back to school yet???

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Lady - Styx
To transform this Eliza Doolittle into something more refined... The rain in Spain....

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Underappreciated - Christina Aguilera
Oh man, totally. Nuff said.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Your Body is a Wonderland - John Mayer
Ummm.... really?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
1000 Kisses - Will and Jada Smith
Hmmmm, I don't think I've even had that many kisses from them in my entire life.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY?
Kiwi - Maroon 5
Well, either I really like fruit, or I can't stop thinking about sex. It's all in the interpretation of the song. :o)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
2 Late 4 Love - Tesla
Dude, I'm not making this up. That really is the song that came up. Freaky!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Last Beautiful Girl - Matchbox 20
She is beautiful, that's true. Love ya, Les!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Comin' Home - Lynyrd Skynyrd
I like my husband, and I like it when he's home.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Be Good to Yourself - Journey
That would be a better motto, but, whatever.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
El Beso Final - Christina Aguilera
When I'm old and gray, I'll still be smooching my love; even with my dying breath.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Follow You Home - Nickelback
Anytime, baby!!

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Alcohol - Barenaked Ladies
That's all my dad thinks about, whether it's about me or not. Go figure.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE AT YOUR WEDDING (ANNIVERSARY)?
Big Fat Money - Van Halen
That better be what my husband spends on the anniversary gift.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Alive and Kicking - Mr. Big
Wishful thinking on their part?

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Side of a Bullet - Nickelback
Guess I need to take up target practice?

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers - ZZ Top
Shhhhhh, don't tell.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Maybe I need to get more exciting friends??

So, that's me in a nutshell. Take it for what it's worth. Now go do this on your blog and leave me a comment so I can come and learn all about you through your iPod. :o)

Late Thanksgiving?!?

Retailers are complaining because "Thanksgiving was so late this year" so now there are fewer shopping days until Christmas.

What the heck??

Isn't Christmas ALWAYS on December 25? Last I heard, there are 365 in a year (taking into consideration that we gain ONE day for leap years), which means there are exactly 364 shopping days REGARDLESS of when Thanksgiving is.

It's not as if stores have waited until now to start the Christmas season anyway... they were setting up their displays several days before Halloween! Give us a break already.

The economy is rough right now. Deal with it. It won't matter how many days there are between holidays, nor how early you open your doors on the ungodly Black Friday... sales will be down. Deal with it, I say!

Sheesh!

Two down, one to go...

It happened last night while I was out of the house enjoying the company of my ward sisters. Our ten year old confronted Da Man straight-up and asked, "Daddy, are you Santa Claus?" Like a deer caught in the headlights, and with our 8 year old sitting nearby, he ignored her. Not one to be put off, she asked again, "Daddy, tell me the truth, is Santa Claus real?" Unable to ingore her a second time, he quietly and subtlely took her out of earshot of her little sister and asked her why she was asking.

Bee said that she and some friends had been talking and they had said Santa wasn't real and she wanted to know for sure. So, succumbing to the fact that it was unavoidable, he told her, "Yes." He went on to explain that Squeaker still believed and so it was important to help keep the dream alive for her sake. She agreed. She didn't seem disappointed; only satisfied that her suspicions could finally be put to rest.

The dynamic of Christmas is changing for us around here. Only one of our children will hurry off to bed on Christmas Eve, straining to listen for the sound of hoof prints on the roof, struggling to go to sleep for fear that our house will be passed by, only to arise the next morning to find that Santa had, in fact, made his magical visit. Only one will re-evaluate her behavior when reminded that only good girls and boys get presents, while naughty children get coal. Only one will make a Christmas list with visions of tiny elf hands constructing the item of her desire. Only one will carefully think out what sort of treat to leave, including some carrots for the reindeer, and giggle gleefully when only crumbs are left on the plate the next morning. Only one will see the thank you note left in a hurried, jolly scrawl and know that her treat choice was just what he'd wanted. Only one won't notice that the wrapping paper is the same kind that was on sale at Wal-Mart when we were there a few days ago to get a few groceries....

Only one. And, for how much longer?

The thought makes me a bit sad. They don't stay little nearly long enough, do they.

Flat on my rear

That's where I am... flat on my rear end; that's where this cold has put me. It is KICKING MY BUTT!

I started feeling a little "off" on Monday night, so I immediately got the Airborne fizzing in a glass and got the OJ out of the freezer. I thought to myself, "I've nipped this one in the bud, no sickie for me!"

That's when the gamboo gremlin decided to prove me wrong. Despite the overload of Vitamin C and lots of fluids, I'm crashing. Hard. I look like hell, and I feel even worse. I am the poster child for the Nyquil commercials... the one *before* the I slept like a baby segment. I'm sniffeling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head-ing and feverish. Can you picture it?

Did I mention that I have a dentist appointment in the morning for a routine cleaning, I have a bajillion errands that need to be ran, I MUST get some housekeeping done around here (because, yaknow, the maid had to call in sick), I have Activity Day girls coming at 4, Webelos will be here at 5, and I'm hosting a Pampered Chef party at 7.

So, I'm going to go drug myself into oblivion. Everything will be so much better in 20 minutes. :)

Facebook: The New Crack

Seriously. Not since I first discovered eBay has anything on the internet called me so persistently...

I signed up for Facebook about a year ago because someone invited me. I didn't really give it much thought, didn't use my "real" name, and only checked when I saw that my friend had added new photos of her little son.

Then, somehow another friend found me, so I added them as well. On a whim I went through their friend list and discovered they were friends with two people I hadn't had contact with for years. So, I changed my name, added my profile picture, and went looking for more friends.

That's when I discovered I was hooked.

Now, I log on to Facebook at least twice a day to see if I have any new friend requests (and find myself disappointed at those times when there are none). It's like Christmas when I get a new friend or a new message. I've joined a few groups, so it is necessary to log on to those as well to see if there are new posts/members. I have to check what each friend is currently doing, and occasionally comment, as well as play a game or two. It amazes me that I've been able to reconnect with friends I had over 20 years ago!

It's not uncommon for me to spend 30-60 minutes "just checking my Facebook." At least with Facebook I'm not logging off lighter in the wallet like I always do with eBay.

It's so easy to get sucked in... and I go willingly.

Happy Halloween

The spooky holiday has come and gone again. Strangely enough, it was sort of a ho-hum year. It used to be that we would plan well in advance and gather supplies to transform our living room into a bone chilling chamber, complete with fog and blacklight. Trick or treaters were invited to come inside (if they dared). It was the highilght of Autumn for me.

But, the holiday has slowly dwindled to practically nothing. The girls were scrambling for costumes as late as Wednesday for our neighborhood party. I told them that if Disney can re-release movies and everyone loves it, then certainly they can wear their costumes from a couple years ago as well -- besides, this is probably the last year they will be together to go trick or treating, so it was the last year I could dress them all alike anyway.

Presenting -- in honor of the re-release of Sleeping Beauty to DVD -- the three Fairies: Flora, Fauna and Merriweather!

These costumes were made by my pal, Lammy, who is a wonder with the sewing machine. I added a bit of artistic ability by making the hats, but all that involved was some spraypaint and cleverly tied tulle. Aren't they adorable??

When it came to carving pumkins, even that was done half-heartedly. There was a time when we'd all gather around the kitchen table, sketching ideas out on paper, laughing (and some gagging) as we scooped out the pumpkin guts, and enjoying the product of our creations emerge from the orange fruits. This year, the pumpkins were attacked and hollowed out in the afternoon and kids came in and haphazardly drew faces on their pumpkin and Da Man carved them out just before dusk to put them out. Sigh.

Halloween night, the two younger girls were out the door by 6, but Skins refused to go with them, and would NOT dress like them. She went instead as a vampire. It sort of doused the effect of the Three Fairies being only two, but at least I got my photo.

I fear that family togetherness is going to become more and more elusive as the teenage years encroach upon us. Everyone has more important places to be, and things that used to be looked forward to and enjoyed have become blasé. It's inevitable.

And, so it goes.

Biden 4 VP....

If we're lucky, this will be the new National Anthem...



Be sure to rock your vote next Tuesday...

We need activities like this

I don't know these people (amazing what you can find on YouTube) but this has to be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. You know one of these guys HAS to be their bishop.




I wonder why they don't do Road Shows anymore? I'm going to have to remember this one... I'm sure I could convince a few guys in our ward to do this... he he he

UEA Weekend

How we are spending the long weekend. Yay us.

Drat

Well, today there is good news and there is bad news.

The bad news is Skins didn't get elected to student council. Only 2 spots were available and she didn't get either one.

The good news is that she is very positive about it and says she will still stay involved in school activities. She also says that she will try again for 8th grade.

At least the experience didn't sour her from trying again. That's better than how her dear old mom reacted -- crawling into a hole and vowing off of school government the rest of her life. Sigh.

I can learn a lot from my children, can't I.

Who Wouldn't Vote?

This is Skins' campaign poster for her school's student council elections. Can you tell it's a sky, complete with white, puffy clouds? She was playing off her name and tying it into her slogan, "The Sky's the Limit"... whaddyathink?

She had to videotape her campaign speech, which will be played to all the seventh graders on Thursday. Elections are on Friday.

She told me that 16 people are in the running, but only 2 spots will get filled. Those aren't huge odds, but she's not letting that get her down. She's very optimisting especially after hearing some girls she didn't know comment on her poster hanging in the hall. They said, "This is totally the best poster up here!" That gave her a boost for sure!

Win or lose I'm so proud of her for even going this far... but I hope she does win. I think it will open up a lot of doors to her and give her a more positive experience in junior high. Seventh grade is the best place to do something like this since the cliques and popularity heirarchy really haven't been established yet. Best to get in on the ground floor.

I know that come Friday I'll be waiting anxiously with baited breath....

Lookie What I Did!!

I have been a busy little bee this last week. It is definitely harvest time!

I got 12+ jars of salsa, 10 quarts of grape juice, and 21 quarts of peaches (with half a tree still to go!).

I'm exhausted. Whew!

P.S. Skins sailed through the interview process for student council and will now be campaigning for votes. She's doing great. I'm so proud!

The Past Doesn't Have to Repeat Itself

Today is a happy day for me. Let me explain why.

When I was in jr. high school I had visions of being an SBO, or Studen Body Officer. I never wanted to be a cheerleader, work on the yearbook staff, or play any sports - nope, all I wanted was to be in student government.

The time came for elections and the first thing one had to do to run was get a petition and have 30 or so signatures. Once that was completed, the administration would interview each candidate and narrow the field down. It was so simple.

I eagerly went to the office and got my petition paper and hurried off to the cafeteria to start getting my signatures. And, that's when I overheard someone say: "I saw Angel in the office getting a petition. What is she thinking? Nobody is going to vote for her!"

I'd like to say that I ignored the comment, got my signatures, turned in my paperwork, wowed the administration and won my office. But, that's not what happened. Instead I ripped up my petition paper without one single signature and threw it away. I never tried out again.

And, to this day, that is the biggest regret of my life. Hands down.

BUT, I am so proud of Skins, who after just one month in junior high decided that she was going to try out for student government. I encouraged her and she followed through. Today she turned in her petition, loaded with signatures, to the school counselor and now awaits her interview slot. Even if she doesn't make it into student government, she'll never have to go through her life wondering "What if?"

I'm so proud of her. Win or lose, she took the first step... and that's more than her dear old mom dared to do. Vote for Skins!!!

Blech

TGIF - It supposedly means Thank Goodness it's Friday, right?

Well, not for me it's not. At least not today. Let's see... perhaps:

This Gut is Frustrating, or
Tummy Gluttonous: I'm Fat! or
Thighs Grotesque - Infuriating - Fat!

These things may or may not be true... but I just got home from 3 different stores trying on jeans. If you aren't a woman, you can't appreciate the impossible task this is. A guy can just walk up to the rack, look for his approximate size, and head to the checkout -- a trip taking approximately 2.7 minutes.

Not so for the female persuasion.

We approach each rack and scan for color. Next we grab the size we wish we were, the size we might be, the size we probably are, and each size surrounding these sizes (just to be sure) then head for the dressing room. We try on each pair (sometimes squeezing and stuffing ourselves into them), then examine our reflection in the dressing room mirror from every angle, step out of the dressing room to look in the multiple-angled mirror from every angle, then head back to the dressing room, check mirror again, take them off, and proceed with the next pair. By the time we get to the checkout it has been approximately 72 minutes since entering the store.

I found two pair that were a tad tight but I bought them anyway (spending a bit more than I intended). My rationale for that is that if I live off of tomatoes and water for the next 7 months they won't be tight on my anymore. As if.

I'll put them on for Da Man when he gets home from work and let him have the final say. If he likes them, then I'll be happy. If he hates them... well... at least I saved the receipt.

Thank heavens it's not swimsuit season anymore!!

FRUSTRATION!!!

I am coming to you tonight through dial-up. Yep, you heard me correctly D-I-A-L U-P. As in 48kb/sec. Yawn. It took 2 minutes just to load this page so I could draft this post. Kill me!!

For the last 3 years I've been with a local wireless provider whose speeds were rather nice at 2100kb/sec and a price I could live with. They've been fairly reliable for me and I've been pleased with their service.

The antenna for our area is on a home in my neighborhood - Maybe that's why my speeds are good. BUT, last year the couple who own the house where the antenna is located decided to divorce. That wouldn't be a big deal if either spouse was going to stay in the house... but alas, the house is now up for sale and nobody is living in it. If there is nobody living in the house, then there is nobody there to maintain the antenna, the tower, or the powerbill that gives the juice to said tower and antenna. We've had a few outages lately because of that problem, but my local ISP has been good about getting it back up and running within a few hours.

Until today.

We went down and I called to inform them of the problem. They said they were aware and had a technician on the way out here to get us back up and running. We could expect service within 30 minutes.

Four hours later I receive a call from the technician, who, after exchanging niceties over the phone, offers me these 5 little words: "We're taking down the tower." Silence. "Ummm, you're what???"

"We've decided that there have been too many issues with this particular tower, so rather than service it, we're going to take it down. We'll contact you with our DSL pricing options tomorrow."

So, that's it. No warning. No further explanation. No internet service.

I'm livid! Were it not for my "free" dial-up backup, I'd be completely without the internet for an indeterminate period of time.

Shouldn't there be some kind of restitution from this company? Isn't there some kind of law that says they have to give me a warning before disconnecting me? Give me some time to research other providers? I know I'm not the only one in this neighborhood that depends on my internet connection for work.

What the heck!! ::insert fuming emoticon here::

I'm so angry. And, now I'm going to hit "Publish Post" and wait another 45 minutes while it posts it to my blog...

Dial up sucks. Blech.

Missing: Time

I considered putting up LOST posters around town to see if anyone has found my time, because, clearly, I've lost it and I don't know where it has gone. If anyone knows where it is, please return it to me right away. You'll know it's mine because you'll see me with fewer wrinkles and younger-looking skin, much thinner, and I'll be toting around two toddlers and a pre-schooler.

Have you seen it??

I just don't understand how time got away from me. One moment it was there, and the next it was speeding away, not leaving me a chance to catch up. It was just yesterday that I was holding the hand of my preschooler so we could cross the street to go to the playground, but today I sent her off to junior high. I didn't even have a chance to blink!!

My baby started junior high today.

I think I need to say it again while pinching myself just to be sure. "My baby started junior high today." Yep, still true.

Junior high is such a different place from elementary school and there are so many new opportunities facing kids today. I only hope that Da Man and I have given Skins all the tools she needs to succeed, to say No, to make good choices, to make and keep good friends, and to survive all of the all-important teenage moments that we all had to go through.

My baby started junior high today.

If anyone has seen my time and can return it to me ASAP, I'd really appreciate it. I think I'd rather be taking my baby Skins to Kindergarten instead.

I Heart Tivo!

Tivo has been in my life for 8 months now... I don't know how I ever functioned without him. Before Tivo I'd have to either 1) have a blank tape ready for my almost-impossible-to-program VCR, or 2) miss my show.

But, now that Tive has come into my life, I never have to go without my shows again! Not to mention that my Tivo loves me so much, that he (yes, he) actually records shows FOR me, out of the kindness of his tiny little microchip heart.

AND, I don't have to tell him what time to start and stop... he just knows what shows I like and he makes sure to gather them for me. What a sweetie.

Oh, AND, it's all high definition. Bonus when I want to pause and get a better look at my Josh Holloway (Tivo understands my love for Josh and allows me that one indulgence).

Did I mention I heart Tivo?

However, lately I've been noticing a strange phenomenon occuring. Last Sunday at church the instructor said something and I missed it... I actually reached for my Tivo remote to rewind her. I PHYSICALLY reached down. Oy vey! And, tonight, our cats did something totally funny and my husband went to rewind so that we could all watch again.

Obsessed much?

Tivo has spoiled me. Next thing you know, I'm going to try to fast forward through dinners at my inlaws. If only it were that simple. Sigh.

Life in Fast Forward

The last couple week have been a whirlwind of activities... In no particular order we:

* Celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary
* Saw our youngest daughter being baptised (I saw, hubby participated)
* Attended Da Man's 20th high school reunion
* Hosted 2 parties at our house
* Sent the kids back to school (minus the jr. higher)
* Built onto our food storage
* Numerous day-to-day items not really worthy of mention

I'm hoping that the weeks to come will ease up a bit since I haven't even had a free day where I can go get my hair done... and BOY am I in need of a 'do!!

In the middle of all the rushing around I've been doing lately, I snuck into Wal-Mart to pick up the last book in the Twilight series "Breaking Dawn." So, add REALLY late nights onto my schedule because for some reason I just can't seem to stop reading. It's not even that the book is that good (it's not) but I just can't help myself. I'll give a better review once I've finished it....

Signed,
The Girl in a Whirl

Great Book

I just read a fantastic book.

I can't remember where I heard about it, or even when I put it on hold at the library, so when I went to pick up my holds, I was surprised to see this book sitting there. I have a stack of books I need to read and this was on the top so when I found myself unable to sleep Wednesday night, I picked it up and plunged right in. At 4:00 a.m. I'd gone through 2/3rds of the book and I wanted to keep going, but sleepiness was starting to win over and I had to stop.

Thursday was a holiday (Pioneer Day here in Utah) so I had to get up fairly early to get the kids ready for the children's parade and the neighborhood breakfast that followed. Man, was I bushed - like the walking dead. But, I made my appearance and then hurried home to get in some more reading. I just couldn't wait to finish the story.

The book is called The Art of Racing in the Rain by a man named Garth Stein. It's written from the perspective of Enzo, a dog. I had a dog growing up who I swear was a human in a dog's body, limited by his canine-ness in his ability to speak, but spoke volumes nonetheless. Enzo reminded me of him. Everyone should have a dog for their best friend at least once in life.

I loved this book so much that I've already purchased it to add to my collection (I had to give the library's copy back) and I will be reading it again and again. I recommend it to anyone who has loved a pet, or been loved by a pet, or who just wants a compelling book to read in the middle of the night.

One suggestion though... if you pick up the book, make sure you have a box of tissues nearby too. You'll need them.

Happy reading!

She's Off!

Skins is on her way to Girls Camp even as we speak. She was up bright and early this morning, ate breakfast and gathered her last-minute stuff, and was out the door by 7:00. I saw other moms dropping their daughters off at the pick-up point down the street, lingering while others arrived. But, not me, I just sent her lovingly out the door to walk over on her own.

Mom of the year? Not so much. But at least I made her change into socks that didn't have holes in them. Maybe I'm good for something.

For the past few days Skins has been a bit nervous about being away from home on her own. In the past she's always had her little sisters with her, but this time she's doing it solo. She walked out of the house with much trepidation this morning -- as a first-year Beehive she really doesn't know what to expect -- but I'm sure that she's going to have a great time. There are some great leaders up there with her, and they'll look after her.

Bee is sad that her sister is gone for three days. She's been looking through our scrapbooks with teary eyes ever since Skins left. She's going to miss her big sister. Awwwwww. Squeaker could care less at this point. She'll just be happy to have command of the remote control now that Skins isn't around to horde it.

Three days and counting...