Just Because You Need To Know

Well, it's unusual but I have lots to write about! But you don't have the time or patience to read it all so I'll pick and choose.

Since we had procrastinated in joining FPU, we didn't have a kit. At church everyone was asked to pay $90 to pay for the kit - you need the kit for the lessons. I mentioned to the guy leading the sessions that we would like to come and he told me (very nicely) that our kit would have to be ordered special and we would have to pay the shipping. That would raise the price to $100. Yikes!

I came home and went on Ebay to see if I could find a kit there. Sunday afternoon. There were 3 worth bidding on - one was about $72, one was $50, and another for $30. I wanted the kit yesterday! the $30 had be erased in - no. The $50 was still in wrapper but the auction ended today (Wednesday.) The $72 one had never been opened. It was offered by Dave Ramsey's Ebay Store and auction closed in 55 minutes! I bid on it and I got it! I've already received email confirmation that it's been shipped and should be here as early as today! $86.37 with shipping.

Dave Ramsey loves a bargain. I feel like I got one!

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BooMama has asked for reading suggestions and she got over 100! I made a list of 11 - only 3 I had heard of before. If you're looking for something to read, you might check out the comments to find a new title. Or just pick up The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. LOVE IT!

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Jim is doing a little home improvement. I'm working on posting some pictures but I'm not ready to show the final product. Let me just say - the walls have been painted yellow! Yellow makes me happy.

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I wanted to write about this video on YouTube. I have linked yall to the shorter version so you don't have to hear all the cuss words out of these girls mouths. (No home training!) She has 1 hour until her wedding and she does what? Fact: when we're in crisis we shouldn't make drastic hair decisions. Fact.

Financial Peace Now!

Yep, we started Financial Peace University last night at church. Have you already given up on your New Year's resolution? This is the only one I made - Get control over our money! I told Jim that '07 was our year! He has spent the last 11 years trying to do it alone and, surprise, it hasn't happened. So, I'm actually committing to doing my part to "make my money work for me."

A little history: I had been single and taking care of myself for about 10 years before we got married. I hadn't done a good job but I was the one doing it. I hated it! Money always stressed me out - I knew all I needed was more. When we married, I told Jim that he would have to be the one to do all the money stuff and I didn't want anything to do with it. It worked okay for us when I was earning 29K a year and we had no children. When I quit working and had Kenny, it started to be somewhat inefficient. Is anyone surprised by that?!

I clung to the belief that I could continue to be a non-participant in our finances. It hasn't been working well.

If only to make me talk out loud about money, I have pushed us into Financial Peace University. Jim was willing to go and he's looking forward to the videos about future planning. I, on the other hand, am taking "baby steps." So far, Dave Ramsey keeps quoting Sarah. I'm pretty sure I've heard these mantras before from her.

My favorites so far:

"Baby steps" - This is really big for me - it seems so overwhelming. Last night we talked about wills, for goodness sakes! Baby steps, baby steps....

"Make your money work for you" - That's right, dadgum it! I can tell my money what to do!!!

"A budget isn't a straight jacket" - You mean I have some flexibility! There can be movement in a budget?! Yes.

"Cash flow plan" - Not the evil - budget. It's about where my cash goes - cash flow plan. See, isn't that better?

Spark Your Brain

Ya know, it's that time of year when I start thinking of creating. The cold weather makes me feel home bound and I'm getting antsy wanting to be working on a project. These are some pj's I made for Abbie after Christmas. I changed the pattern a little to make it easier on me (I love when I can do that!) and it was the first time to work on this slippery fabric.

Didn't they turn out cute? I'm pretty sure this is a model pose - I've tried to tell her she isn't tall enough to model. I'm trying to convince her to grow up and be a doctor/nurse/teacher (these are all things she has previously expressed an interest in) but she wants some glory job. Yall, she's about to be off Raven so she'll quit talking about being a fashion designer!

Let me encourage yall to do something creative to spark your brain out of the winter doldrums! I'm thinking about Easter....

Abilene Oddities

In continuation of some of the weird stuff in Abilene, I give you "Winter Holiday" This person just put up Thanksgiving, Christmas and a snowman all at the same time. I had to snap a shot!

Way to cover all your bases!

Yall Friendly

It has come to my attention that this may not be a family-friendly blog. What!!?? Me, not family-friendly??!! I love the family. I'm usually friendly to those families that I meet. Well, maybe not the hordes that all come to Wal-Mart at the same time, but who is?

The truth is I'm not trying to be read by everyone in your family. This is an adult blog. There I said it. If you're reading this you should be grown-up, things like bills, grumpy kids, perimenopause, good-looking 40 year olds, and my hair color shouldn't be interesting to anyone under 18.

So, sorry if your workplace won't let you access my blog. Go home and log in. Although, there didn't seem to be a problem for the guy who worked for General Motors on a Saturday. He found me with some creepy search that lead to Abbie without pan**es. Then there was the guy at some bank in Manhattan that got here with a "men in pant**hose" search.

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I saw a funny video and laughed out loud! Go over and check it out.....

One more thing - ok, two more:

Hillary's "in it to win it."- yeah, not if I have anything to write about it!

Go Colts! I love Payton Manning and that was some exciting football! If the Super Bowl is anything like that game against New England, it will be worth watching! Even I got into it!

Sunday Six

I've decided to start playing a blog game - Sunday Six. I found this though Nicole (I'm giving her all the credit) and I thought it might be fun. The writer will post the questions and my children will provide the answers.

Kenny's first....
1. How many colors are there? 16 No, 21. (He had been counting on his fingers)

2. Can you name some colors? white, red, chartreuse, pink , yellow, purple, blue, violet, orange that's it that's enough

3. What is your favorite colors? Red

4. Where do we get colors? water and sunlight

5. Who made all the colors in the world? God

6. Name something colorful. Rainbow

Now it's Abbie's turn....

1. How many colors are there? Alot

2. Can you name some colors? purple, green, yellow, red, even dark red, pink, oh, and orange black

3. What is your favorite colors? All the colors of the rainbow

4. Where do we get colors? We get colors from everywhere from the supermarket from balloons at the supermarket. We get colors to paint with colors of crayons even mirrors and different colors of wigs

5. Who made all the colors in the world? Jesus and God

6. Name something colorful. The rainbow

Oh, No She Di-in't

Just one more sign that the country is going to hell in a handbasket!

Variations On A Theme

• Sit in your chair.
• Keep your bottom in your chair.
• We are sitting in our chairs now.
• Where are you supposed to be?
• Look at ______, he/she is sitting in his/her chair.
• I need everyone sitting in their chair.
• _____, it's time to sit in our chairs.
• Where is your bottom supposed to be?
• I like the way ________ is sitting in his/her chair.
• This is our Bible Time. We sit in our chairs.
• We stay in our chairs until everyone is done eating.
• You stay in your chair until Mrs. Denise says for you to get up.
• On our bottoms, on our bottoms, on our bottm in our chairs. We are right now on our bottoms, on our bottoms, in our chairs. (Sung to the tune of Oh, My Darling Clementine)

It's Only A Game!

One of the nicest things that I've started since moving to Abilene is Bunco. It's a fun game played with (hopefully) fun women. I have a great group that means monthly at one of our houses, eats and laughs the night away. It's always one of my favorite nights. Bunco is the kind of game that allows everyone to chat and learn about each other. There's no skill or strategy involved - just fun.

We frequently have a theme and Monday night's theme was Co-Ed.

What??!! Hubbys (and 1 fiance) at Bunco? You say that will be fun? Judy said it. Judy did it. Fun? Some. Interesting? Totally.

Intellectually, I knew that men were more competitive than women but Monday night I got to live it! My first round was played with Vann (last names have been omitted to protect the not so innocent.) His lovely wife warned that he was a competive guy but whoa!! He learned "Baby Bunco"(any 3 of a kind and worth 5 points) and yelled it alot. Either to identify it or calling it forth - whichever worked. He was on the edge of his seat most of the night. He did keep a smile on his face. I was unsure if he was happy or it was his bloodlust smile.

I had the opportunity to play with Matt several times. He was scary. I was afraid he would come unglued if the wrong dice showed up. You throw the dice -the wrong dice frequently shows up. Matt looked like he needed a stiff drink by the end of the evening. All these talking women, trying to lose! (There's a prize for low score.) Woe, was Matt.

It seemed to be louder than usual. Lots of high fives and yelling. I'm thinking - wow, there must be a ton of Buncos (3 of a kind of the # that being rolled and worth 23 points) because there was so much shouting. No, apparently not. Not that many more than usual. Just more shouting. I wanted to tell the guys that the Ferrari they were passing around wasn't the real thing and Judy didn't have one parked outside for the winner.

Towards the end of the evening one of the ladies mentioned that she hadn't heard me all night. I usually enjoy singing and being somewhat rowdy on these nights. Well, who could be heard? When was I supposed to get a word in edgewise? And Phil was doing all the singing - You Can Ring My Bell (there's a bell that rung at the beginning and ending of each round.) He even introduced me to a new song! I didn't think it possible. (Typically, I've forgotten it. Sorry, Phil.)

So, men at Bunco. Good thing - once a year or once a millenium whichever comes first.

Maybe I Should Just Publish a "24" Blog?

I'm dashing off a quick one!

School starts 2 hours late this morning - not yesterday when I needed that extra sleep! Yall know I had to stay up and watch all 4 hours of 24. Jim and I were just gonna watch the first 2 hours that my sweet MIL had taped, BUT once we started we couldn't stop. Yeah, that worked out to about 2 AM.

OMGosh! Jack Bauer as a broken man. Jack on his knees, crying! More Middle Eastern men out to kill us all! And, where's Kim? In L.A.? That's all I can write until I'm sure I wouldn't spoil it for everyone. Let's just say - Keifer deserved EVERY acting award available and I can't wait until next Monday night!

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Sweetest thing ever - I came out 0f the bathroom a little while ago and the kids were playing in the snow. (There is some snow this time.) Jim was out there taping them. Our family works so much better when Daddy goes to work in the morning and comes home at night. We are all just happier. They were all smiles out there - I was smiles in here.

It's Cold and I'm At Home

I decided it was time to sit down and give out some interesting info......

OMGosh! How many of you here in Abilene tried to watch 24 last night? Were you watching the local station? Did you cuss or throw something at the TV when the local Fox station went out??!! Yeah, me too.

Seriously, I've been trying to call the local station or send them an email because I would really like to see the first 2 hours of Jack's 6th adventure. I can't get though and they don't have anywhere on their website to contact them. It feels like a conspiracy to not listen to their public. Maybe I should contact an advertiser? Hmmm? I would have liked to have seen it before I watch the second 2 hours that come on tonight. I'm not sure I can wait. The only good thing to come out of the evening - Jim didn't have to compete Jack Bauer for my attention. My MIL did tape it (she has satellite) so I can watch it - just not now!

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Well, we've been in the house now for 3 days. We didn't try to go to church yesterday. Southern Hills was one of the few churches that met yesterday and I feel guilty about not going. I was brought up going to church! We went no matter what. We went "every time the doors were open." How many horrible "gospel meetings" did I sit though growing up? For 5 nights? What were they thinking?

I will say how happy my kids were when we sat around the kitchen table and "had church." They loved sharing a Bible story (Kenny did his Bible Bowl and Abbie told her favorite) and they both chose a song to sing. Then we all held hands and prayed. They were so sweet and happy - grinning the whole time. I plan to keep it as a sweet memory.

Oh. You're wondering.....

Kenny - Read: Aquila and Priscilla Sang: Days of Elijah

Abbie - Told: Mary and Martha Sang: Hosanna and Blue Skies and Rainbows

"I'm Gonna Need a Hacksaw"

Some of you know that I'm addicted to this show. Some of you are addicted to this show. Some of you need help getting started - join our addiction!

What show? What show keeps you awake at night wondering who's the next to die? What show will lead to conversation for at least 2 dinners about why the terrorists are so bad and why don't we just bomb them already? What show features not one, but two, African-American presidents? (a little spoiler - hehe) What show features the only TRUE American? Willing to do anything for his country? Maybe even die?

24. That's right. 24. On Fox.

It starts again on Sunday night with a 2-hour premiere. Oh, you'll be at church? You holy people need to tape (or DVR) this. Oh, you have children? You good parents need to tape (or DVR) this, too. This show isn't for children. There's alot of violence (language? I can't remember) and our kids have never seen it.

Jim and I have watched it from the beginning and we've always loved it! I've always said it's like a book that you can't put down and yet, it only lasts 1 hour. If you're afraid you can't start it because so much has gone on - don't worry. All you need to know is that the Chinese have wrongly imprisoned Jack Bauer (our hero) and anyone at any minute could die.

I saw this on a blog and it made me laugh out loud so I'm posting it, too.

Basic Truths About Jack Bauer

Killing Jack Bauer doesn’t make him dead. It just makes him angry.

If Jack Bauer was in a room with Hitler, Stalin, and Nina Meyers, and he had a gun with 2 bullets, he’d shoot Nina twice.

If you wake up in the morning, it’s because Jack Bauer spared your life.

Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.

If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken, but Jack Bauer says its beef. Then you better believe it’s beef.

Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the keys.

1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.

Let’s get one thing straight: the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.

Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.

Jack Bauer played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won.

When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists. Jack Bauer hates lemonade. Jack Bauer once won a game of Connect 4 in 3 moves.

Osama bin Laden’s recent proposal for truce is a direct result of him finding out that Jack Bauer is, in fact, still alive.

Jack Bauer is the leading cause of death in Middle Eastern men.

Jack Bauer doesn’t miss. If he didn’t hit you it’s because he was shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.

When Jack Bauer was a child, he made his mother finish his vegetables.

Jack Bauer killed 93 people in just 4 days time. Wait, that is a real fact.

Simon Says should be renamed to Jack Bauer Says because if Jack Bauer says something then you better do it.

Jack Bauer won the Tour de France on a unicycle to prove to Lance Armstrong it wasn’t a big deal. He thinks yellow wristbands are gay.

When Jack Bauer pees into the wind, the wind changes direction.

Jack Bauer’s favorite color is severe terror alert red. His second favorite color is violet, but just because it sounds like violent.

When Google can’t find something, it asks Jack Bauer for help.

You can lead a horse to water. Jack Bauer can make him drink.

Jack Bauer can get McDonald’s breakfast after 10:30.

When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Jack Bauer.

In 96 hours, Jack Bauer has killed 93 people and saved the world 4 times. What the heck have you done with your life?

Jack Bauer killed so many terrorists that at one point, the #5 CIA Most Wanted fugitive was an 18-year-old teenager in Malaysia who downloaded the movie Dodgeball.

In kindergarten, Jack Bauer killed a terrorist for Show and Tell.

What color is Jack Bauer’s blood? Trick question. Jack Bauer does not bleed.

Guns don’t kill people, Jack Bauer kills people.

If Jack and MacGyver were locked in a room together, Jack would make a bomb out of MacGyver and get out.

People with amnesia still remember Jack Bauer.

Jack Bauer literally died for his country, and lived to tell about it.

Jack Bauer has been to Mars. That’s why there’s no life on Mars.

Superman’s only weakness is Kryptonite. Jack Bauer laughs at Superman for having a weakness.

When Batman is in trouble, he turns on the Jack Bauer signal.

It took Jack Bauer two minutes to beat a confession out of OJ.

Jack Bauer was conceived by torturing the other sperm until they gave up the location of the egg.

Jack Bauer’s family threw him a surprise birthday party when he was a child. Once.

Tagged, Again

Well, I survived the first day back - Woohoo! The kids seemed to be happy to be back and in our routine, too. Tia and I enjoyed the day with our little bots and the eternal words "Stay in your chair."

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I've been tagged by Anna and I'm always going to do what I'm told - so I'm participating!

1) Do you like the looks & content of your blog?

It's okay. I've been able to change the font and I like that. Changing the look is one of my main reasons for switching to WordPress and I'm still learning to do that over there. And, yes, I like my content. If I didn't, why would I write?

2) Does your family know about your blog?

Yes, but they don't all read. My brother reads some and my mom reads regularly. I think she's just looking for pictures of the kids. Same thing goes for my mother-in-law - just wants pictures of the kids. One of Jim's sisters reads all the time and she thinks I'm funny! That is my reason for writing!

3) Can you tell your friends about your blog?

Yes. I don't write anything that anyone can't read. I have been surprised by someone that reads me and I didn't know it. I mentioned her (without her name) and found out she reads it. Oops. At least it wasn't insulting....

4) Do you just read the blogs of those who comment on your blog?

No way! I read lots of people who don't read me - at least, I don't think so. The reciprocation is nice but not necessary.

5) Does your blog positively affect your mind?

Yes. My mind is getting old and blogging jump-starts it. I have to have a topic, compose a decent sentence, create structure and make sense. I've also learned alot about computers (more all the time) and learning keeps our minds young!

6) What does the number of visitors to your blog mean?

Okay, a little transparentcy here. You love me, you really love me! I can't help it. I try to ignore it but I get worried if there seems to be a slack-off. Sad, isn't it?

7) Do you imagine what other bloggers look like?

I like a picture but I'm okay either way.

8) Do you think blogging has any real benefit?

I've been thinking about this one lately. My blogging community is another support group for me. It's like a big, old-fashioned coffee-klatch - that's why I love it when you talk back to me. We can discuss problems and find solutions with our "virtual" friends.

9) Do you think that the blogosphere is a stand alone community seperated from the real world?

Alright, I'll put some thought into this question! No. Blogs effect the media and the media effects blogs. I discuss blogs with friends usually people who also blog. I send links to people who don't blog. The answer is No.

10) Do some political blogs scare you? Do you avoid them?

I only read one and that's just because he teaches at HU. I don't have the time to read something that would just aggrevatie me.

11) Do you think criticism of your blog is useful?

No. Thanks, no. Don't read if you don't like. Unless you're my friend who has the uncanny ability to see to the heart of people, you can critize. (She knows who she is.)

12) Have you ever thought about what would happen to your blog if you died?

No. Sarah, come over and put it on a disk for Jim then delete it, okay?

13) Which blogger had the greatest impression on you?

Toughie. My close friends, of course. Someone I don't know would probably be Planet Nomad. She makes me realize how good I got it. I love Antique Mommy's writing - she should publish a book.

14) Which blogger do you think is the most similiar to you?

I'm thinking............and I got nothing. I have to say I don't know. Who do you think?

15) Name a song you want to listen to.

Just one!!?? One Night Only by Jennifer Hudson on the DreamGirls soundtrack.

Blogger makes me crazy! It lost the first thing I wrote so I've taken all morning writing this! Don't we all need this t-shirt?

Monday, Monday

Today is the 9th anniversary of Kenny's coming home from the hospital. If you read this, you had a sense of how long ago that was.

There are 22 hours until school starts again, Praise the Lord!

Ordinary Princess Life

Roxanne has given us all a challenge to write and I was needing a topic! She has quoted a study that 36% of women wouldn't marry their same spouse all over again and in response she would like us to write about our Ordinary Princess lives. It's that story that should have been all mushy and romantic but real life doesn't get many of those (Am I on target, Roxanne?) Here's one of mine.......

We were on our once-in-a-lifetime-honeymoon. It was incredible! Jim planned the entire time and it was perfect. Except for one night.

We were in the Canadian Rockies and we were driving to Jasper to catch the Rockie Mountaineer Train to ride it back to Vancouver (over 2 days.) Our travel agent had arranged for us to stay just outside of Jasper at a natural hot springs. "People had been going there since the 1920's for the hot spring." - travel agent.

Well, it was about 20 miles "outside" of Jasper and we got there so late we didn't get to see anything! We had to drive about 7 miles down this twisty road and at one point had to stop to allow a porcupine to lumber off the road! The hotel was owned by some Indian family and they were worried about us - because it was late. Our room was more like a cabin. If I had been expecting camping, I would have felt better. The light in the bathroom was a chain over the mirror. The shower was one you buy at Home Depot and put in your lake house or hunting lodge or cabin in the woods. No TV. No phone. No food. One lamp. The windows opened up to the woods without any screens. Jim was told that the deer would come up to the window - yuck.

We had to catch the train back in Jasper at 8:00 - having had breakfast. It was so far out that we had get up extra early - 6:00. On our honeymoon. My dear hubby went to the office to inquire about a wake-up call and was given the teen daughter's clock radio. It received no station - just static. I sat still on the bed, freaked, until he came back.

We left early. Jim told me it was about $25 US - the cheapest place we stayed the entire time we were on our honeymoon.

In answer to the poll, I would state without hesitation that marrying Jim is the one thing I would do over without thinking. We are the most well-suited couple you know. We would have been friends if the Lord hadn't wanted us to be married.

Link over to Roxanne and join in with your Ordinary Princess story!

3 Questions For the Ages

Do you have a child that's just like you and does that child drive you crazy?

I do and he does.

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Did you know that AISD doesn't start back until the 9th?

I didn't and it does.

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Do you think that it's a law that at least one piece of Christmas isn't put away?

I do and it's hanging in my kitchen.

Edited to add: I found 2 more Christmas things! One in the bathroom and one next to the front door.

Movie Time

Tuesday night was a big night around town - it was Judy's Birthday! I was lucky enough to be invited for a little movie viewing and coffee drinking - fun had by all who were there! We saw the movie The Holiday and it was very cute. I've been wanting to see this chick flick all though the holidays and it was worth it. Just a quick critique:

Jude Law - Hunk! One lady especially liked his horn-rimmed glasses. He is pretty hot. Nuff said.

Kate Winslett - Great Actress! She could make any chacter interesting and funny this time out. The scene with her crying was so hysteristical!

Jack Black - Funny Second Banana. Jack Black as a love interest was interesting casting (like Kate Winslett couldn't do better??!!) but I always liked me a funny guy so I could believe it.

Cameron Diaz - I'm not sure you could call this acting. She's just a skinny girl who goes though her scenes attempting to be Lucille Ball. I think she was supposed to be endearing like Jack Black - I just wanted to punch her.

One of our friends said it was her favorite new movie - she hadn't seen Dreamgirls yet. I'm currently listening to the soundtrack and, surprising Eddie Murphy's singing isn't awful. I can't recomend this movie enough - it didn't seem like a chick flick to me but it's a musical. Lots of Motown.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to Judy! You inspire me to be a better wife and mom!