Grab It Graphics - Black and White

I fell in love with black and white graphics again thanks to my friend Kathy. She had me make her a little black and white one with a quote and I just loved doing it. These are black and white with just a spot of color in each one. I went with flower pictures that I found on the internet. Some I colorized and some already had a beautiful color to it.

Yeah!!

My nephew got a job! It's just through a temp place but if he does the work at the company they'll hire him on full time. It's a start at least. Hopefully it'll work out for him. :)

Sunday, Sunday

It was a really nice weekend. We just stayed home mostly and did odds and ends and nothing much at all. Got caught up with laundry, watched some TV, played games on the Wii and ate some really good grilled chicken and ribs. I made a trip to the grocery store yesterday but got to stay in my pj's all day today. I can't remember the last time that happened.

We picked up the truck from my Dad for my nephew to use so I'll be getting to stay at home again which is really good what with the kids getting out of school on Tuesday. I could just see me hauling nephew around looking for jobs and having two whiny kids along for the ride. Add to that our temps are already in the low 90's and it would not be a fun time for any one of us.

Except for going to my MIL's house for the 4th of July for about 4 days we don't have any vacation or day trips planned for the summer. I'm going to take the kids to the library once a week but that's about it. Hopefully we might be able to afford a couple of trips to Summer Fun Water Park but I'm not sure since its $14 to get in. Time will tell on that. If we can at least afford nephew and the kids he said he would take them. He had a good time last week when we went for Nick's band class. They rented the park after it closed and it was a good time for sure.

Crap!

A certain company needs to hire a better human resource manager. You'd think their time would be important not to mention my nephew's time. All they had to do was read his application and they would have known from the get go he was unhireable. @@ If they didn't trust what he wrote down why not run a background check before calling to set up an appointment for an interview especially when you then tell said candidate for the job that he is unhireable based on his background check. @@ It's stupid the way they handled my nephew's interview today. They had to have looked at his application more than once since they not only called and left a message on our home phone but then called a few hours later on my cell phone to talk to him. @@ My eyes are going to roll right out of their sockets today. I get why they couldn't hire him. I just wish they would have done some checking up first before their time, his time and not too mention my time was all wasted. @@

Yeah!!

My nephew has a job interview lined up for tomorrow at 12:30. It's a really, really good job too. I hope he gets it. He's very excited about it all.

Star Trek

Loved, loved, loved the movie!!!!!!!!! I fell in love with Spock all over again. I never wanted Kirk. He was all over too many women during the series. This movie catches the spirit of the original series and adds some new nuances to it as well. That said I've had this stupid song going through my head ever since we got out of the movie. Enjoy people!

"Star Trekkin'"
by The Firm (Lister/John O'Connor) Bark (UK) single #TREK 1, 5/87 (4:14) on Disc Two Track 2, Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection Rhino compilation #R2 70743, 1991. Reference material from liner notes by Dr. Demento (Barry Hansen), lyrics transcribed by Robert Muratore.

Star Trekkin' across the universe,On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin' across the universe,Only going forward 'cause we can't find reverse.

Lt. Uhura, report.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim.

Analysis, Mr. Spock.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim.

Star Trekkin' across the universe,On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin' across the universe,Only going forward, still can't find reverse.

Medical update, Dr. McCoy.
It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
it's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead.

It's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim.

Starship Captain, James T. Kirk:
Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, men.

It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
it's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead.

Well, it's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's Klingons on the starboard bow, scrape 'em off, Jim.

Star Trekkin' across the universe,On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin' across the universe,Only going forward, and things are getting worse!

Engineer, Mr. Scott:
Ye cannot change the laws of physics, laws of physics, laws of physics;
ye cannot change the laws of physics, laws of physics, Jim.

Ah! We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill;
we come in peace, shoot to kill; Scotty, beam me up!

It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead, Jim;
it's worse than that, he's dead, Jim, dead, Jim, dead.

Well, it's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, not as we know it;
it's life, Jim, but not as we know it, not as we know it, Captain.

There's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow;
there's Klingons on the starboard bow, better calm down!

Ye cannot change the script Jim.Och, #!*& Jimmy.
It's worse than that, it's physics, Jim.
Bridge to engine room, warp factor 9.
Och, if I give it any more she'll blow, Cap'n!

Star Trekkin' across the universe,On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin' across the universe,Only going forward 'cause we can't find reverse.

Star Trekkin' across the universe,On the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
Star Trekkin' across the universe,Only going forward, still can't find reverse.

First Line Friday

Thanks Kathy. :) You can find Kathy at http://bagsbooksandbonjovi.blogspot.com/.

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

I'm really excited to read a series of books by Diane Chamberlain. My friend Lori, who can be found here

http://lori-thequeensnewthrone.blogspot.com/ found her books and highly recommended them. I started reading her work and she's a very talented author. Anyway the series of books are Keeper of the Light, Kiss River and Her Mother's Shadow. I love when books span generations and I'm very into family sagas right now.

The book I've chosen from this series is Kiss River. I can't start it yet because I'm waiting to receive Keeper of the Light. I was able to find it at www.paperbackswap.com. I was desperate to read it but since its out of print that wasn't possible. My library didn't even have a copy. Well anyway, here's the first line from Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain.

The air conditioning in her aging car was giving out, blowing warm, breat-sealng air into Gina's face.

LOL, she's in the south it sounds like. Very hot and muggy and sounds like she's got a long trip ahead of her.

Happy

Whew!! I won't be sweating the bills this week. The paycheck was decent. Now on to the next thing to sweat and worry about. My nephew getting a job. It's just a matter of time and hopefully something will turn up for him sooner than later. I just hope he can stay in good spirits and not get too depressed along the way.

Good Days Ahead

hopefully. Well they'll be good days no matter what. Chris's partner went back to work last Thursday and they're going to be out until this Thursday or Friday so hopefully we only have one more bad paycheck left. I'm just hoping we'll be able to save enough to go and see MIL for the 4th of July like we always do. That's her holiday with us. She gets Christmas and 4th of July and my parents get Thanksgiving and Easter. My Mom is always mouthing about how she'd like Christmas once in a while but its not like we can switch it around every year. My MIL is just a year younger than my Mom and on her own. MIL is 66 and I don't like the idea of her driving here by herself at all. Besides my Mom has my brother and sisters there every year and a new grandson this year too. My BIL and his wife always either go to her parents house or to FIL's house and leave MIL without anyone to celebrate the holidays with. We don't see FIL so we don't have to split 3 ways anymore. We only get to go and see MIL those 2 times a year and see my parents at least twice a month as a family if not more often especially when school is out. I see my parents usually twice a week because of taking Chris back and forth to work. Anyway, I've rambled enough. Thanks for reading.

First Line Friday

Thanks Kathy. :) You can find Kathy at http://bagsbooksandbonjovi.blogspot.com/.

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

Today's book from my TBR pile is Southern Gold by James Alan Vitti. It's a story about people looking for Civil War gold hidden by Southerners. Reminds me of the story line of the movie Sahara. Maybe this novel is where they got the idea for the movie?

Gavin Duke sank back into the plush VIP seat, licing his chops for the show that was about to begin.

Well, okay then. It makes it sound like he's waiting for a girly show to begin. I'm not sure what era this book is set in but its still an intriguing read hopefully. LOL, I'll find out soon enough.

Warning! Vent Ahead!

Thar she blows!!!!!!!!!

Just blah! I'm getting to the hopeless stage. It'll go away. I'm just worrying too much about everything. Stupid partner called Chris on Friday having the nerve to complain about how small his paycheck was. @@ He better be glad it wasn't me that answered that phone call. Then when I dropped Chris off at work yesterday stupid partner was up at work turning in paperwork and tried to catch up to me in his car so he could wave at me. That's what he usually does when I'm around. I just ignored him. He doesn't want to talk to me right now. Too bad he's an idiot and doesn't look past his own paycheck to see that we're in a bind right now. I guess he just can't figure out that if his paycheck is small then maybe :::gasp::: ours might be too? Chris will just not get a new partner. I have no idea why. It's almost like he enjoys working less and having me worry more when stupid partner pulls this every year. We've had a couple of good fights over this crap this time too. Nothing that'll break us up but I won't back down ever when it comes to this idiot causing money to be lost out of our pocket and not from Chris being sick or not working hard. Anyway, vent over. I had to get it out.

First Line Friday

Thanks Kathy. :) You can find Kathy at http://bagsbooksandbonjovi.blogspot.com/.
FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

One of the books in my TBR pile is Long Lost by Harlan Coben. Here's the first sentence and boy its a doozy!

Two days before I learned the secret she'd kept buried for a decade---the seemingly personal secret that would not only devastate the two of us but change the world forever---Terese Collins called me at five AM, pushing me from one quasi-erotic dream into another.

That's got to be the longest first line I've ever read. LOL. Makes you wonder if the secret is something better than the erotic dream the character is having. Must be because the second line has Terese telling him to Come to Paris. We'll see how this book turns out.

Graphic Share

With the movie coming out tomorrow I just had to play with the Enterprise. I won't get to see the movie anytime soon but I can't wait to see it when I get the chance.

Ugh!

I hate paydays now. Stupid sick idiot is causing us to go into the poor house. I'm doing what I can but I hate finagling the bills. At least they'll get paid and we won't starve but I just hate not having the little bit of extra every payday. Its not like we ever had a lot of extra but all I want is enough. I don't think its too much to ask for and I also don't think its too much to ask hubby to not get pissed when I tell him whats what either. @@ He can get over himself and stop kowtowing to his partner that caused this whole mess. Somehow in hubby's mind its all my fault for not saving any money throughout the year and for not saving any money from the loan last week (I paid all but a little money to go to the movies on bills). How can I get anything saved when we go through this crap every freaking year? He's quick to defend the stupid idiot. Now he said that when nephew gets a job he can help out. Jeez, where does he think the food came from for the last two weeks? I want nephew to help himself and get out asap. I don't want him here forever. Nephew needs to get a car, insurance and an apartment and out of here and be a grown man. That's what I'm pushing him for. Nephew also isn't getting any more cigarette money from us either. That's over. We definitely don't have it this time.

Grab It Graphics

Just one graphic today. I want to be creative but nothings coming to me. I hate blah days.

Free Clinic?

Yeah right! It's stupid. They only take the first 40 people or so and are only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays and only from 7:30 to 4:30 roughly. An hour of that time is lunch. I understand not having many resources but this is just stupid. There's got to be somewhere my nephew can go to get treated for an ear infection except for the ER at the hospital. Its just crazy. He said he'd suck it up and just put up with the pain. Hopefully he'll be able to do that. I just don't get why the free clinic is open only 2 days. :( Theres no way I can get him in line earlier than 7:30 either since I have kids that are in school. I guess if he can make it til June 3 then I can take him up there really early to get in line at least. We'll see.

Manic Monday

Just another manic Monday here. My nephew might have a job in a couple of days. He really needs one. He's sick with an ear infection and I'm taking him to the free clinic tomorrow. Hopefully he'll qualify and they'll be able to help him out and somehow we'll be able to get antibiotics for him and they won't cost an arm and a leg. There's supposed to be a help group there that figures out ways to get on a drug card program to get them cheaper. I'm hoping there'll be some kind of program that will work out for him. Anyway, he's up for a job working in the deli of a local grocery store. I told him its a start and hey, it could lead to a management career in groceries. Everybody has to go to the store for food right? He just wants a job so badly right now. It'll happen. He just needs to catch a break.

Thanks Kathy. :)

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

I found a great place to get books. Goodwill. The one I go to has paperbacks for 99 cents and hardbacks for $1.99. I was in hog heaven when I came across them the other day. Mostly they're older books but I sure haven't read every book ever written so its all good in the end. Also, you never know where you'll find a new favorite.

Today's book from my TBR pile is Love @ First Site by Jane Moore (pub. 2004).

Cuddly, Ferrari-driving 38-year old, GSOH, travels extensively with job, WLTM fun-loving woman and see where life's wide open road takes us.

LOL. What the heck is a GSOH and a WLTM? I guess I'll find out. This story is about a girl who's friends sign her up on an internet dating site. It should be a fun read at least.

Woohoo!

I've lost 9 pounds in 3 weeks. I haven't been trying at all but I've been eating on a more regular basis. This eating thing is working. Yeah me!

Whew!

Sweet relief. I finally got Chris to agree to go and renew our title loan. I hated doing it but there was nothing else we could do. At least we have that option. Some people don't. We're not too far behind and as long as I can stay on top of things we should be able to stay caught up. I feel so relieved. He still doesn't get that working 40 hours a week doesn't pay the bills and thinks I'll be able to save some of the money we got today but I really doubt it since 1/4 of the money is going for 4 new tires, an all wheel alignment and an oil change.

Happy Anniversary

to us! We made it 13 years. Woohoo! Chris didn't even remember. He's out on the road though is why. I know he would have remembered if he'd have been home. Too bad we couldn't celebrate it this year. :( Oh well. Maybe next year.

Better

After venting about our money woes I thought I needed to count my blessings. I'm going to try to list 10.

1. I have a very loving husband. He doesn't always tell me what I want to hear but most definitely tells me what I need to hear.

2. Two very healthy and happy children.

3. A loving extended family.

4. Health insurance with affordable copays.

5. A roof over our heads.

6. Food.

7. A car that runs.

8. Utilities that we're not behind on.

9. Clothes to wear.

and

10. No sick extended family members at this time.

I'm going to try to count my blessings at least once a week. I get so worried about the here and now that I sometimes forget what makes that here and now so important.

Money Sucks!

or should I say not having money sucks! I've paid everything I could. We have food. Yet, I'm still worrying about what I couldn't pay. I need to be worrying cause Chris just says don't worry. Yeah, right. He's the one that went on and on last payday about how we have to get new tires, an all wheel alignment and an oil change this payday. It did't happen and its not going to happen this next payday either. When I mentioned getting more on our title loan that we almost have paid off he went off on me how we don't need it. His driving partner might be back on May 17th but I really doubt it and even if he does make it back that doesn't take care of the struggles we're going through right now. It's not his bills that aren't getting paid either. Its my little ones for the book club and fingerhut that are behind. Stuff I ordered back when I thought we'd be having the paydays we were having. I don't care what Chris says I really think his driving partner is just stretching out his ear condition. A little kid who ruptures his ear wouldn't miss 6 weeks of school. I hate men who are big babies. Okay, through whining. I needed to get it off my chest and not hear don't worry about it. Off to cry.......

First Line Friday

I'm following my friend Kathy and trying my hand at this so here go the rules. (Swiped from Kathy's blog)
FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

Today's book from my TBR pile is Vegas Rich by Fern Michaels. It's an oldie. It was first published in 1996. I think I read that Zebra books is republishing these this year. Anyway, here's the first line.

The old attorney stared out his grimy windows and winced.

Hmm.....who died and who's getting something good out of it are my first thoughts from reading this line. Vegas Rich is the first book in a 3 book series about a rich family in Las Vegas. If these are as good as her Texas series I'll be a happy camper. I love family sagas.

Worried - Edited

My niece is 23. She's living a town over from me with a boyfriend. She's been living with so many people in the past year. She went from my Mom's house, to a good friends house and then this boyfriends place. Before she was at my Mom's house she was in a relationship with a 38 year old man and was basically a stay at home girlfriend. I think that's what she thought she'd have at this boyfriends house but he's telling her she has to work.

She emailed me on Monday saying she had a warrant and could I drive her to Waco if I go there this week. I checked the warrant list and she's not on there. I emailed her back, giving her the link, and told her she wasn't on it. Told her to call and check on it because maybe she got lucky and it got dismissed.

The ticket was for selling cigarettes to a minor. She's always worked at convenience stores and this is her first mess up ever. She said the undercover cop was a lady and that she kept distracting her during the sale but still she sold to a minor and has to pay the consequences of not following through on all the steps. She said she did ask him for his ID but then the lady kept butting in. Maybe the judge decided it was entrapment from seeing the video on it. Who knows? She won't know if she doesn't call and find out about it. So anyway, never heard back from her on that. Next email says I've been looking for a job and can't find one anywhere. Next email is can you send me a recipe for aunt Cheryl's cornbread casserole. So I sent that and some recipe links. Next email, can I come stay with you til Friday. I'm arguing too much with CJ (boyfriend). I'm moving in with Sherri when she gets back in town on Friday. My reply. I can't afford to come and get you. Can you get here? Are you sure you'll be able to leave on Friday because its not a big enough house to have two extra? It's not that I don't want to help you. I just can't afford any extra stuff right now. I hated sending this reply to her but there's no way I can do it. I got such a hinky feeling from her emails. It was like she was trying to feel me up for some money. Maybe not but that's the feeling I got from them. I know they smoke pot where she's living. I definitely can't have that in my home. I have kids. No way will I jeopardize them for her bad habit. My big fear is she would get here and have no where to go and then I'll be stuck with her wanting to find a job here too. We only have a 3 bedroom house so its definitely not big enough for too many extra. The only reason my nephew is here is because my son has a bunk bed in his room.

Edit on my niece. Finally got an email reply that she's staying at boyfriends house. He doesn't want her to go. @@ She's trying to find a job she says so she can get her own place so when he acts this way she can leave. She shouldn't have been there in the first place is my opinion. I sent her the link to the workforce (unemployment) so hopefully she'll go there and get some help to find a job. We'll see.

I just found out what Chris's paycheck is and I can't afford all the bills this week much less food. I get to finagle bills. Oh joy! We were having such a good financial year til the end of March when Chris's driving partner got sick. I hate this crap!

Wedding Bells

We went to a family friends wedding this afternoon. It was so beautiful and so much fun. I didn't get hardly any pictures of the wedding but I did get a few along the way at least. Here's a new one of Chris and I. I hated that I wore solid black but at least it was a comfortable dress. My sister Cheryl and I had to keep up with our nephew Phillip since Mom was the matron of honor and Dad was an usher. He slept through the entire wedding until the end when everyone clapped. Then we headed to the reception and had a really good time there too. My kids stayed with my Mom, Dad and brother Patrick so we really got to have some adult fun without the distraction of kids. It's been a long, long, long time since we've gotten out without them. I didn't get to dance with Chris but I got up with both of my sisters and did the YMCA and the bump. LOL, then I had to sit down of course. I shouldn't have danced because I pulled my book a little bit. Oh well, it was totally worth it. I'll keep reminding myself of that tomorrow when I have to pop some Ibuprofen. LOL.

First Line Friday

on Friday. Woohoo! I posted it on Friday. I'm following my friend Kathy and trying my hand at this so here go the rules. (Swiped from Kathy's blog)FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

I finally made it to the library today and picked up a couple of books that I had on hold. The one I'm going to read first is Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain. She's highly recommended by my friend Lori (The Queen's New Throne). Here's the first line.

Laurel

They took my baby from me when he was only 10 hours old.

Wow! Makes you wonder why? Drugs? Alcohol? Mentally deficient? I can't wait to read and see what's going on with this story.

Grab It Graphics (Mother's Day)

Here's a few Mother's Day grabs to share.

Well then

Chris's team driver partner is going to be out another week. I understand he's sick. He's got an ear infection. He told Chris this morning that he can't get into the ear doctor til May 13th. I don't think so. It's all to convenient to me how this is working out for him. Weird how my kids only miss a couple of days from school when they'd have them. Funny how he just declared bankruptcy but is able to be out sick and its considered a work injury because right before his ear ruptured they had made a trip through the mountains. I really think he wanted to take off of work to be with his wife who just had surgery to put a stent in her heart a few weeks ago. Convenient for him also because she's having kidney stones removed this week too. I hate being shallow about it all but he pulls this kind of crap almost every year. It never ends up hurting his wallet but it sure plays with ours. I keep telling Chris we won't survive this time but he seems to think 10 hours a day will work out great. Every time we start to get ahead we get crap like this happening. It felt so good being able to pay all the bills and not finagle them around. Now I'm back to finagling again. Guess I'll have to find even cheaper stuff to eat too. That's about the only extra I've been spending lately is at the grocery store. The really bad thing is I have to take him back and forth to work because we only have one car. That's really going to cut into our money with all that gas we'll have to use. If I didn't have kids I'd just send him to work and not worry about having a car. Oh well......

Bummed! (updated)

The dryer we ordered on April 3 was just cancelled because they all of sudden ran out of them. I can't believe our luck. I guess we'll just go to the rent to own store because I just can't wait anymore to have a dryer back in our house. I just can't do the laundromat anymore. It wears me down too much. :(

Edited:
I feel much better now. We just went and rented to own a washer and dryer. I'll give my Mom my old washer and hopefully it'll last for a while for them. We should have done the rent to own earlier than now that's for sure.

Grab It Graphics

I'll be randomly posting graphics to share every once in a while. Anybody that wants them just needs to save them to their own computer and use as you wish. I don't mind. Really!

Happy Easter!

He is risen and all is right with the world! Happy Easter to everyone.

First Line Friday

on Saturday. One of these days I'll get to do this on Friday. I'm following my friend Kathy and trying my hand at this so here go the rules. (Swiped from Kathy's blog)

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

I recently saw the movie Pay It Forward. I missed the first 30 minutes or so but really liked it. I found the book and its next on my book list to be read. Here's the first line of the book.

Maybe someday I'll have kids of my own.

~Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde~

Graphics

I play with making graphics to keep my mind occupied when things are making me be a worrywort. Recently my friend Kathy asked me to make her a graphic for First Line Friday. I had fun coming up with that one. Now I'm thinking of having a day where I post graphics I've made. For the life of me I can't come up with a zippy name. Anybody got any good ideas for me? All graphics I post can be saved by anybody that wants them. I love seeing my work float around the internet. I just gotta remember to mark them as made by me. LOL.

Worrywort

I'm the worlds worst worrywort when it comes to my family. I just worry away. I try not to bother people with it all but I usually ramble like I am now. My sister has some stuff going on with her. I hope it turns out to be nothing. She has to go to have an MRI and then hopefully I won't have to be the worrywort anymore. When I know more what is going on I'll update.

First Line Friday

on Monday. I'm following my friend Kathy and trying my hand at this so here go the rules. (Swiped from Kathy's blog)

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...First lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside.So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book.Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny?

The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school.
~ The Battle of the Labyrinth Book 4 (Percy and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan

I love these tween aged books. My son read the first 3 really quick and then we found out that a 4th book was coming out and have been waiting two months to get it. He read it in two days and informed me that there'll be a 5th book also. Nows my chance to get it read finally. If its anything like the other 3 it'll be a fun ride of a read too.

Mammogram Update

Woohoo!!! Got the letter today. Everything is normal. Yeah! My back is still kinked from striking poses for the x-rays but yeah me!! Got the all clear really quick this year.

Mammogram

I had my appointment early this morning. What a way to get the day started! LOL. It's uncomfortable but what little pain and kinks in the back I get are well worth what the consequences might otherwise be. I have a small little lima bean size lump on my right breast but I'm thinking its just like what I had on my left breast a few years ago. I have a lot of *strata for lack of a better word in my breasts and the lump from before on my left breast was just that kind of tissue but it kept growing and was painful so that's why I had that removed. This one I've felt before. It seems to come around right before my period so I'm pretty sure its nothing. I'll keep telling myself that anyway until I get the all clear letter. My maternal aunt (who I'm named after coincidentally) also had these problems. Weird, huh? Anyway, we have insurance and better safe than sorry and now I'm going to quit rambling. I always try not to worry but can't help myself for the next week or so. My Grandma, her Sister and their Mother all had breast cancer but so far it hasn't shown up in my Mother's or my generations. Hopefully it won't. Stats are though that you don't have to have a family history of it anymore for it to just show up. You just never know. So again, BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!

Sick

I hate getting sick. Yesterday I was sick for the whole day and through the night. I'm still not feeling great but I have to wait for the kids to go to school before I can go back to bed. Thank goodness Chris came home yesterday or the kids would have been on their own pretty much. I held off from this virus for over a month so I was hoping it would just skip me but it didn't. Another 30 minutes and I'll be back in bed. The hands on the clock are just moving too slow. The only good thing that came out of it is I lost 5 pounds since I couldn't eat or drink anything but I sure don't want to lose weight this way. LOL.

Dreary Tuesday

I wish I could write really fun and interesting posts. My day today was just dreary. It rained all day long and finally the sun came out about 4 o'clock. The rain just makes me hurt. It makes my Mom hurt too. My brother says its our imagination but let him have it making him hurt and I bet he'd change his tune. Nothing much went on today. I had Nicky home from school with a stomach virus. He was over it around 11 so I went and did a couple of errands that I needed to do. I's nice that he's old enough to leave at home for an hour or so now that he's 12. Made a trip to the store and post office right in the middle of the worst part of the rain but I didn't have any choice since I needed something for supper tonight. Got my package sent off for a Spring exchange I'm in. I hope I hear from the person I sent it to. I had to just guess on what to get her and only had stuff to go on from years ago so hopefully she'll like it. I'm crossing my fingers anyway. I ordered The Slow Moon by Elizabeth Cox from Paperbackswap.com Cyndy. I should get it in about a week. From what I read and you said about it makes it seem like it'll be a really good read. That's about all for my dreary Tuesday.

Spring Break/Vacation

Well, it's winding down now but we had a great time. Such a great time that I'm totally exhausted and limping my way around the house on aching feet. It was totally worth it. For our first family vacation I think we did pretty good. We spent 3 days/2 nights in San Antonio. We went to the Alamo and Riverwalk on Tuesday and then to Sea World on Wednesday. It was packed everywhere we went because San Antonio was on Spring break too. LOL, we can't win. Hopefully when we go back next year it won't be the same time.

Books, books and more about books

I just finished Inkdeath. I hated to see this trilogy end. (Inkheart, Inkspell and Inkdeath) I hope the author, Cornelia Funke, comes back with a fourth book. I doubt it but oh well. N went with my sister to see Inkheart at the movies. He liked it but said it wasn't as good as the book. I really like Brendan Frasier so I'm on the wall about whether I want to see it or not. I'm afraid I won't like it either. I'm of the school that the book is always better.

I'm finding that I really like a lot of the books I'm buying for the kids. We had the Scholastic book fair this week at school and got 4 books for the kids. Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw both by Jeff Kinney for J. N got Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver and Pendragon: The Never War by D. J. MacHale. Wolf Brother is the first in a 4 book series and I think Pendragon might be part of a series too but I'm not really sure.

I still have Eclipse and Breaking Dawn in the Twilight series to read but N won't give up Eclipse to me yet. He keeps reading Twilight over and over too. This is very unusal for him and while he's a reader he's just not usually this avid at all.

Wii Saturdays

We've been having my brother, sister and Mom coming over every Saturday since my new nephew was born on Feb. 7th. Finally my little sister brought him over and came and joined us for food and games. We've really been enjoying it so much. It's almost like old times when we were all growing up. My Dad won't ever come over anymore but that's because he's turned into a home body and doesn't go anywhere. Also his dementia is getting bad again. There for a while he seemed to be his old self. My older little sister said he cried the other day after seeing our little sister with her baby. He was saying stuff about wishing his Mom, Dad and sister had lived to see little sisters baby too. He turns 71 this year. His Dad passed just about 20 days after turning 72 so I know when he remembers about his Dad that it weighs heavily on his mind. Anyway, here's a few pics to share from Saturday.

He's so good for me. I hope he'll be as easy in
May when I get to keep him for the day.

Where's the baby? In Mommy's lap of course.

My older little sister. She says

she's the mean Aunt.

My brother didn't want his

picture taken but oh well.


He let my hubby hold him for a long time.

C said it was nice to hold a baby again. We

hardly ever get to see our niece on his

side of the family. :(

J really likes him. She didn't want
to at first because he's a boy.

He loves me best. I blame it on my
Red perfume.