THIS AND THAT

After feeling yucky for a few days, it was nice to have a date night tonight. We went to see No Reservations and then went for a low fat/low carb greasy meal of fries, patty melts, and a vanilla shake at Johnny Rockets. During the meal, I talked about how amazingly "hot" Aaron Eckhart was (oh my!) and George talked about how "hot" Catherine Zeta-Jones was. (smile and a wink) It was a really cute movie and a fun night out.

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Click on this to hear how great they are!

I'm still loving my Monk & Neagle CD that I was lucky enough to get thanks to BooMama . I love, love, love this CD! I don't care how bad/sad you feel, just listening this CD will lift your spirit.

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If you haven't been reading the 6 part post called "The Box" at Antique Mommy, you should hurry there and do so....just be sure to take a kleenex, maybe two. She always has a way with words, but this story is particularly wonderful.

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I spent some time today at the library picking up some more books on tape for my car and for the first time in months I also picked up some hardcover books. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, my blog list has increased so much that it's hard to have time to visit everyone every day. I've also noticed I haven't been reading books, which is another love of mine. So, starting tomorrow I'm gonna divide up my blog list and visit them on alternate days and also get back to some book reading.
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Not sure about you, but I'm kinda looking forward to Fall. It's just around the corner. The extremely hot days this past week has made me long for brisk cool days, comvertible rides, soup, and hot chocolate.

Have a great weekend.

INTERNET OBSESSION

Actually, my sweet husband should be the one complaining, but he doesn't. He knows I don't care too much about watching TV, so the computer is what I enjoy and he can have the TV all to himself. I'm so thankful he doesn't complain or act like the wife in this cute cartoon. Ouch!

Is it just me, or does your list of favorite blogs just keep growing and growing? Mine seems to grow daily. I'm having trouble making my way around to visit everyone. There's just so many fun places to go. I'm having a ball and I can truthfully say I've met the nicest people. You!

ANOTHER FUN GIVEAWAY

Jill is having another fun giveaway this Saturday morning, the 18th. This time it's a darling whimsical quilted backpack AND a collection of four cookbooks! Wow...what a giveaway! Sure hope I win.

Go here to enter and to see the details.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ANNIE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

NICE MATTERS

I'm still feeling a little "puny" today, but boy did I get a nice surprise this afternoon when I checked my e-mail.

My sweet and very nice blog friend, Karolee, nominated me for the Nice Matters Award. Coming from her makes it even more special! Thank you Karolee! It's easy to be nice when you're surrounded by the nicest people.

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award."

Oh, it's so hard to pick just 7! No doubt about it... I have made the nicest friends through blogging. Here's my 7 though: Annie and Deb and Tonja and Tracey and Jean and Jill and Teresa

Do yourself a favor and visit these very nice girls! Love 'em!

A FULL HOUSE

It was incredibly hot here today, 95 last I heard, but with the heat index it felt like 105. Today was the first time I had to leave the tennis court early. I started feeling really yucky, shaky, and sick at my stomach. I hated to disappoint the other girls, but it was just too hot. I'm not sure if it was just the heat or if I might be coming down with something. I came home, showered and did pretty much nothing else until tonight. Our friends, Jack and Linda, had asked a few days ago if they could bring over their son and his family (and their friends) to see our new home. And even though I didn't feel my best, I sucked it up and went through the motions. I would have asked them to come another night, but they leave town tomorrow. I made it through the hour they were here, but I'm off to bed.....


Jack and Linda and the whole gang
George and I with Miss Daisy (sure wish the camera wouldn't make her eyes look like that!)
Jack, Linda, Me, George

HOT OFF THE PRESS

I think so!

"Ain't" that right Kari?

Optimist or Pessimist

I'm more of an optimist...most of the time.

How about you?



The Optimist and Pessimist
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(This is an old joke but its meaning is still relevant)

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.
Just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthday their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse manure.
That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.
"Why are you crying?" the father asked.
"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken." answered the pessimist twin.
Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.
To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALTON!

Update: My daughter-in-law, Jan, posted some gorgeous photos of Dalton on her blog. (She's one talented photographer, as you'll see)
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Today our very sweet, very handsome, very smart grandson, Dalton, turned 13!

Happy Birthday Dalton! You always make us proud!

It just seems like yesterday that you were this little......sigh!

IT'S DEPRESSING.....

Stop staring at the chocolate cake!

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD

I've joined a new team. It's called "TEAM WHYMOMMY".

While hopping around the world of blog, I found Toddler Planet written by a young mother of two very small boys who is bravely battling cancer. Please take the time to read her post about Inflammatory Breast Cancer and spread the word.

This is an incredibly agressive form of breast cancer that does NOT begin with a lump. I repeat...it does NOT start with a lump. Here's some symptoms to look for:

redness

rapid increase in size of one breast

persistent itching of breast or nipple

thickening of breast tissue

stabbing pain

soreness

swelling under the arm

dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take off your bra, the bra marks stay for awhile)

flattening or retracting of the nipple

a texture that looks or feels like an orange peel

Join the team, spread the word and pray for this sweet mommy.

SWEET MAIL

I received some sweet mail late yesterday afternoon. The book I won on the giveaway at Melissa's arrived. And not only the book, but the cutest note cards and a very sweet note from Melissa. Thank you so much!

THE POWER OF SCHMOOZE

My sweet friend Annie thought I deserved the schmoozer award. Coming from her makes this even more special!

Here's what Annie had to say about the shmooze award:

"Schmoosing as defined by Dictionary.com is the ability to converse casually...And I think with blogging it's about making friends, being a friend, commenting and answering comments and having a welcoming blog."

Thanks Annie and thank you all for your friendship and your visits to my little blog!

Here's some great schmoozers:

Rhoda and Joan and Theresa and Lyndy and Melissa and Kari and Julie as well as those mentioned in yesterdays post (Jean, Tonja, Tracey, Jill, Sandi, Dianne and Deb).

ANNIE'S CHALLENGE

Okay, from what I understand...Jennifer challenged Susan and then she challenged Annie and now Annie has challenged me.

Are you with me so far? Okay, here's the challenge to my blog friends. Write 8 of your blog friends names in a unique way and post them. Then come back over and let me know. You must write the blogger's name that tagged you, then add 7 others. Be creative and if possible use the natural wonders of the world. (I don't always follow the rules...I wanted to do different things for different friends. At first I was going to spell everyone's name out in M&M's, but that would have been dangerous!)

Here's just a few of my blog friends:


I love Annie and you will too. She's the one who did my signature for me. Why? Because I asked her how and then she volunteered. Love her recipes, her diet devotionals and so much more. She amazes and inspires me.

Tonja and I met in real life recently when she was here at the beach on vacation and immediately we felt like we've known each other forever. You're gonna love her...for so many reasons. Dianne and I haven't met face to face, but we e-mail back and forth from time to time and I sure feel like we've met. What a sweetheart!

Tracey and her sweet husband, son and Mom came to my home for a visit when they were at the beach on vacation recently. From the moment she came in the door, we were jumping up and down and giggling like young girls.


Deb seems like someone I've know for a long, long time. I can't explain why. We sure have alot of common interest. She makes me laugh. She makes me jealous. Why? She lives on a gorgeous lavender farm in Texas.

Jean is a music teacher at a Christian School and a worship leader at her church. I tell her all the time that she's a "hoot". What a sweet, kind, funny, giving, talented, person she is! I hoping to meet her in "real life" soon.
Sandi blogs about good home cooking, recipes and tips; food, family and fun.

Jill has a way with words. Whether she's describing the joys of motherhood or her job or her love of beverages, she makes it fun to visit her blog.

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If you decide to join in this challenge, let me know.....it's fun!

THE PROVERBS CHALLENGE

Karolee at My Montana Moments has a great idea....The Proverbs Challenge. If you think you can read one chapter of Proverbs each day this month, stop by and let her know. (I've just started today myself, so I'll catch up by reading two chapters today.)

I WON! BUT...THERE'S MORE TO WIN

Yeah! I'm a winner!

Imagine my surprise when I found out I won a giveaway by Melissa at MCC. I won Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides - an Oprah's book club pick.

Thanks Melissa!

Here's something I'm also trying to win and you can too!

Janice at 5 Minutes For Mom is giving away an Insignia® 37″ Flat-Panel LCD HDTV!!! This incredible prize is valued at $799.99 and is courtesy of Best Buy.

ANGELS, CHEERLEADERS AND ATTITUDE

I love this notecard showing an angel cheerleader with attitude! I think it depicts exactly what I'd like to be. Rah Rah Rah!!

Sandy thanked me in her post today because I cheered her on. I really didn't do much. Honestly. I just left her a comment because I wanted to encourage her in her goals. I know we can all be successful if we cheer for each other.

But, this got me to thinking about how nice it is to be surrounded by friends and family who support me...in the good times and bad. I can't say enough about how much this means to me. And Sandy's comment made me realize that sometimes we don't really know how much a simply comment can mean to someone. We all need encouragement. I know I do.

Blogging has been an incredible gift. I've met so many wonderful Christian women who lift me up in prayer, encourage me, teach me, inspire me, and make me laugh. And cry, sometimes too. I've loved getting to know all of you and your encouragement and comments to me are so appreciated.

I just hope I can "pay it forward" and do to others what so many of you have done for me.

Thanks for being cheerleaders in my life.

SOUL FOOD

This was on the bulletin board at Curves yesterday:

"There are only two things that prevent you from accomplishing your goals...fear and self doubt. When you learn to trust yourself and ask for help, the world gets a whole lot easier."

Wyatt Webb

WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY - SCUFF MARKS

I've found that it's easy to remove scuff marks from my tile or wood floors by gently rubbing the spot with an ordinary pencil eraser until the mark is gone. It's amazingly fast, easy and I always have a pencil nearby. This works for me and I hope it works for you!

For more great idea, go here.