Canon's Captures

Here are a few shots I have taken with my new digital camera. I am lovin' it so far.

Yep, I still LOVE taking floral & sunset shots! :) They don't run away when I come with the camera like Bob, Olivia, Boomer, & Chevy do.

GRR!

Those Packers really know how to screw things up this season. They play their first pre-season game tonight. It just happens that the network that it is being aired on in the Milwaukee area is ABC. The same network that should be showing the finale of The Mole tonight. That episode will be shown, but not until SUNDAY AFTERNOON! Grrr -- what's wrong with airing it after Jimmy Kimmel like they do other shows that are preempted for whatever reason. Guess they don't realize one of the final three is from the area!

I know I can watch it online tomorrow, but it's just not the same so I feel like complaining!

For the record, I know it's not really the Packers fault, but after the saga of the last month or so I feel like blaming something else on them...LOL!

Photography for Two

Olivia hasn't gotten her "official" schedule yet, but her school uses a program where parents and students can check their grades. Olivia logged into that site yesterday and noticed her classes for the first term were listed. She got Photography. When she signed up we figured she wouldn't get it. There is only one class per year, the number of students are limited. They pick who gets into class seniors first, then juniors, and so on. It also goes by the date you registered for the class, but your grade comes first. Being a sophomore & signing up near the end of the registration period we figured Olivia wouldn't get it, but it was worth a try.

Looks like Olivia & I will be learning the same things this fall! :)

The school provides the cameras so we don't have to go on the hunt for another one. Thank goodness!

Back to the List

I don't recall if I mentioned it here or not, but shortly after the only grocery store that had a list available in my area closed I canceled my membership to the Grocery Game. I had more than enough stuff from CVS & Walgreens. I still used the principals of The Game to keep up my stockpile. The two years of requesting a list for my favorite grocery store has finally paid off. This week a list for that store became available! I have rejoined The Game.

I couldn't wait to use my list for the first time in nearly a year. The second I signed up I went though the list, marked the items I wanted to purchase, printed only those, pulled my coupons, and went off to the store. I couldn't find a single thing from that list. The whole time I was in the store I was thinking I am going to have to cancel if my stores sales are completely different the store the list maker uses. I was getting kind of bummed.

Later that evening, I decided I better read the game rules for my store. Apparently, I should have done that before I went to the store because I was a day EARLY! *snicker* On the bright side, my list is ready to go. I won't shop that list until the last day of the sale because it is double coupon day.

Guess I shouldn't have been so excited about getting back to the list & read the rules before running to the store! OOPS -- hehehe!

Two Steps Closer

Two steps closer to being all set for my photography class. Wednesday I picked up a camera bag & today I paid the tuition! The last step (unless I decide I deserve some back-to-school clothes -- hehehe) is the book. I have found several options to purchase it new at lower than bookstore used prices and a couple low priced used options as well. I will decide which one to go with next week.

The Answer

The answer to Tuesday's question is New York Jets. Brett has been traded to the Jets! Boo Green Bay Packers management!

What Will I Be Wearing This Season?

New York Jets or Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

I have a feeling we might know very soon.

Yes, I am Spoiled

Two cameras in two days! :)

I mentioned a while back that it was time for a new digital camera for us. I also mentioned that I would probably stick with Nikon. I was leaning toward the CoolPix S600. However, after reading some reviews & holding one in person I changed my mind. I ended up with the Canon PowerShot SD790 IS! They were the same price -- the Canon had a quicker start up & time between shots, the LCD is larger, the camera just feels sturdier, and everywhere I looked the SD790 got better reviews.

I have been playing around with it a bit yesterday & today, and so far I really like it. I can't believe how much faster (start up & from shot to shot) it is than my old Nikon!

Camera Located

I have found a Canon Rebel T2 that was only used with one roll of film. This person gets rid of clutter & I get something I need! WOOHOO!!

If my camera angel stops by, thank you from the bottom of my heart! :)

Entering the Workforce

Olivia got the job! Her exact words when I asked her if she was excited were, "no I want money, but I don't want to have to work for it." I told her welcome to the "real world, honey"...LOL!! When I told my mom that, she said she's way too much like Josh. As if I didn't know that already...LOL!!

Another Birthday Wish

Happy 87th Birthday Grandma Minnie!!

This quote describes grandma perfectly: A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. ~ Author Unknown

One Year Later

One year ago today my dad had a major heart attack and emergency bypass surgery that required more than a month long stay in the hospital. Those first weeks were a roller coaster of emotion. I am so glad those days of initial worry are behind us. There are, of course, new worries, but right now he is doing really well physically.

I love you dad!

3-H

No, I don't mean 4-H. I mean the three H's of the Wisconsin summer. HOT, HAZY, and HUMID! Those days are here, and my body really dislikes them. I end up with a whoppin' headache every afternoon that nothing will touch. I'm not wishing days away because I LOVE each day and the opportunities each day brings, but I do look forward to Tuesday when it's supposed to be in the low 80s.

Back 2 Skool

Come August it won't be back to school for just Olivia. I am going back too. Just one fun class. :) This morning I signed up for a photography class at the technical college in our area. I will be taking the class with a friend -- we are both photography nuts and are really looking forward to this.

That means I have to get to work on finding an SLR. I need to email the instructor to find out if the camera is required to be film or if a digital would be OK. I really don't want to go back to film. However, if I have to get a film SLR for the class I will get an older used one, and then get a DSLR down the road. Ooh, just had a thought. Maybe my crazy brother has an older SLR that he isn't using! Off to call Joshie!

Fabulous Blooms

Daylily


Red (with one white petal) Dahlia

Thankful for...

The cooler weather that allows me to open the windows and shut of the air conditioning. I just love to see the lace curtains in the family room blowing in the breeze.

Head Banging Update

I love the tech who was at our house yesterday. In our are, our satellite company uses private contractors to do their installs. The tech who was here yesterday called first thing this morning to say his supervisor would like him to take care of the problem TODAY! I don't have a four hour window -- he will be here at 4:30!

The appointment tomorrow is with another company, who may or may not know anything about the new box that was installed yesterday.

Once we are getting all our channels as we should the supervisor will cancel our appointment for tomorrow.

Hooray -- I don't have to sit and WAIT for hours for someone to show up, and I don't have to sit and listen to commercials while on hold for 15 minutes waiting to cancel my appointment.

Good customer service may not be dead after all! Woohoo!! :)

Head Banging

Do you ever feel like you are banging your head against the wall when you are talking to the customer service people who are supposed to be there to help you with your problem?

I won't name the company, but you will be able to tell it is one of the satellite providers.

We have used this company since 2000 when our local cable monopoly made Bob mad. In 2003 or 2004 we upgraded to HD in one room and added another (a non-HD with TiVo) receiver in another room. Back in November we upgraded the non-HD w/TiVo to an HD with DVR. From install until the storms we had in June everything was fine. Since then there have been some channels that we can only watch the "searching for signal" graphic. Most are HD, but not all. At the time it wasn't priority because most of the ones we weren't getting were channels we didn't watch or we could watch them in standard def.

Friday when I get an email about upgrading the older HD receiver, I jumped at the chance. This box is different technology from receiver we got in November and doesn't get as many channels. When I called to set up the appointment for that upgrade, I was told we would get a new HD receiver, a new satellite dish, and a couple other things. I thought getting a new dish was strange since they would just be putting up what we already had, but I didn't say anything since I was fairly certain our "searching for signal problem" was an alignment issue. I knew a new dish would have to be aligned which would take care of our problem.

The tech came out today. His work order was just to replace the box. He swapped the receiver and did a check of signal strength. It was low -- as we already knew. However, he said he could not do the work because it was not on the work order and if they found out he could be reprimanded. We went out to take a look at the dish location. He stared at the dish for a few moments. When suddenly he said, do you have the service plan? He was contemplating doing the alignment so we wouldn't be charged the $80 service call, but since we have the service plan included for a year there will be no charge for a service call. So we came back inside, he activated his receiver and was on his way.

(As I continue remember, the tech already told me the problem is the alignment. The tech who has seen the dish and the signal strength in person.)

Shortly, after he left I decided to call the satellite company. The woman has me tune into a few channels and says my problem is that we don't have some sort of converter hooked up to the back of our boxes. So, I ask if something in their technology has changed because the signal was fine up from November until these storms. She said no, but still wouldn't set up a service call for the alignment. The worst part: she says we have to wait for a tech to bring the converters, hook them up, and then if there is still a problem we will have to call AGAIN for the realignment.

I probably wasn't as nice as I could have been, but she just REFUSED to listen to me when I was telling her what the tech told me or when I told her it worked fine until the storms. I stood my ground, and got that appointment I wanted it the first place. It only took 35 minutes -- not including the 10 minutes of hold time before I got transferred to her.

Now who wants to place bets on if the tech will arrive in his NOON - 4:00 PM window? The one today was nearly two hours late for the 8:00 AM - NOON window.

Jib Jab 2008 Campaign

Time for Some Campaignin' is TOO funny!!

Interview & Runway

Olivia said her interview went well. She was told she will hear something late this week or early next if she got the job.

Did you watch Project Runway last night? Do you have a favorite yet? I liked the challenge, but some of them played it WAY too safe. At this point I like Kelli & Kenley! (By the way, isn't the name Kenley adorable?) Stella makes me chuckle and think of Cher...LOL!

Enough Already

I love Brett Favre & I love the Packers, but if I have to hear one more story about them I am going to plug my ears and sing...

Grab Your Sketch Pad

Project Runway Season 5 premieres tonight! Oh man, I cannot wait! It is my most favorite show on television!

Another Sign She's Growing Up

About a month ago I mentioned Olivia put in job applications at McDonald's and Cousins. Then a couple weeks later she also put one in at Subway. I could have pulled some strings & gotten her in at McDonald's, but we wanted her to do this on her own. Well, last evening she got a call for an interview at Cousins. It's tomorrow afternoon at 12:45 -- she's really nervous about the interview, but I know she will do fine.

If she gets the job that's great -- really great because her concert hobby is EXPENSIVE! ;) However, if she doesn't get it, having an interview under her belt will be good for her as well.

A Couple Gripes

If you were going on vacation asked a family member come mow your lawn while you are gone, wouldn't you show that family member where your lot ended and the next person's began? I know I would, but our neighbor didn't and this person cut quite a bit of our lawn which wouldn't normally bother me, but she cut it down to the soil in a couple areas. Here come the weeds -- GRRRR!

A little over week ago one of our neighbors across the street put in a new mailbox. A nice new mailbox -- this morning there are three yellow spray paint marks on one side. (Update: the neighbor's were able to get the paint off their new mailbox with a little WD-40 & a lot of elbow grease.) A truck was parked on the street a few blocks from our house, but on the next street -- the truck also has spray paint on it. A different color and "design". Last week it was on the garage of one of Olivia's friends, the gas station that is next to their garage, and a nearby bus stop.

I am fairly certain this is just kids being a bunch of jerks and not any dangerous gang activity. People work hard for their property and the police should be making their presences known in our neighborhoods -- not just out writing tickets for traffic offenses along the busier streets. I WANT them patrolling our neighborhoods, as well; and have sent emails to the appropriate places to let my city officials know that.

Bob's ready to put up a for sale sign. That silly guy tends to over react at times. Like the time he called the mayor to complain about a letter we got from the city telling us to trim a tree that hung too low over the road. Then it went on to state the exact city ordinance and call our property a blight on the community. It was a form letter sent to everyone who needed a tree trimmed, but it sent Bob over the edge and running to the phone to leave a message for the mayor. The mayor did call to apologize, sent a written apology, & they changed the way they inform homeowners in these situations now. Oh and in case you are wondering, we did NOT get reassessed because of that call...LOL!!

Storm Was More of A Heavy Shower

Last night I Stormed the Bastille. However, my "storm" was more like a heavy shower. I have had limited run training time this summer due to crazy weather here and a HUGE dislike for the treadmill. Not to mention the knee pain I end up with when running on a treadmill. It do not get that when I run outside -- I think I must change my stride and that causes the knee pain.

We had a great time! This run has such a different atmosphere than the others. It is run at night through the streets of downtown Milwaukee. There was one water station and one BEER station! See I told you it was a different atmosphere...LOL!! The beer station isn't a official run station, as you probably guessed. It is a bunch of customers from one of the bars along the run route. They purchase pitchers & are given a bunch of plastic cups which they fill for the runners. Only in Milwuakee...LOL!!

I probably ran 2/3 of the 5K -- my time (42:30) was better than 5K segment of my triathlon by about a minute, but worse than my Around the World in 5K time by about 10 minutes. When I think of how much running I had to do last year to be able to get that 43:40 in the tri, I am amazed it didn't take me twice as long to run this 5k. I guess I haven't lost "it" as much as I thought.

New Adored Blogs

I have added two new blogs to the Blogs I Adore list on my sidebar. Check out Good Yarns & That's My Answer!

It Never Fails

One project leads to another!

The basement decluttering has sent me into the kitchen. I am now working on thinning out what we have in one of our cabinets so I can put dishes that were Bob's grandma's into our daily rotation. That, of course, leads to moving some of her items to the corner cabinet in the family room, and that leads to rearranging the things on display on the tops of our cabinets. Oh well, I needed to get those cabinet tops washed off anyway.

I am guessing this project will lead to something else...LOL!!

The Great Basement Declutter

I am a "declutterer" by nature and Bob is a pack rat. Our basement is packed with things we are NEVER going to use again, but Bob was hesitant to get rid of because we might need it. I think the amount of time we have had to spend in the basement recently because of tornado warnings has opened his eyes to how much stuff is really down there. He has FINALLY agreed that something needs to be done. Woohoo!

I began The Great Declutter yesterday afternoon and have already taken a full load of stuff to Goodwill. And by full load, I mean full load -- back seats of the Blazer down and filled to the top! Had to get it out of here before Bob changed his mind...LOL!!

There is more work to do, but I am well on my way to a decluttered, organized basement.

ACK -- The Poor Book

Just before Father's Day I purchased a book for myself. I began reading it over the weekend, and what did I find after I finished reading page 52? PAGE 117! Yes, my book is missing all those pages, but the funny part is page 98-117 are in there twice.

I don't think I have my receipt anymore because I figured it's a book, I know I will like it, and what could be wrong with it that I can't see. Well, I got my answer and will NEVER get rid of a receipt for a book until I finish reading it or at least count the pages! :)

Happy Independence Day

Barkwood, Hickory, or Weathered Wood

Yesterday afternoon Bob & I signed a contract with a roofer. Now comes picking a color for the asphalt shingle. They will be the architectural style that is popular now -- at least here. I thought I had it narrowed down to one color, but some others have caught my eye now.

The shingle manufacturer's website allows you to upload a picture of your home, map the areas you would like to change, and then change those areas. I did that with an image of our house today and here are the results...

While this isn't an exact representation of what our house will look like when it is done, it gives us a good idea. The contractor is going to get us the address of some houses that they have done in those colors. I have it narrowed down to either Barkwood or Hickory with a slight preference for Hickory. Weathered Wood is too much like what we have now, and I want something with more contrast.

Which is your favorite?

Reminder for Each Day

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. ~ Ruth Ann Schabacker

I'm a Klutz!

Last night while Bob, Olivia, & I were watching Hell's Kitchen, I was on the couch and got a little chilly because the air conditioning was on at the cool temps Bob likes. I tried pulling the quilt out from under me, but I couldn't pull it out. I shifted my body a bit and suddenly I was rolling off the love seat. Chevy was sleeping on the floor right next to the love seat, and I knew if I just rolled off I would likely hurt him. I tried catching myself so I wouldn't land on him. Well, it kind of worked. I landed on my hands & knees over Chevy, but instead of the palm of my left hand being on the floor, the top of my hand was on the floor. (You know fingers pointing toward the toes) Initially, I thought I might have broken something because the pain was so sudden and intense. I nearly fainted too! (Some of you know my family's fainting tendencies. I don't know if I have shared any of those stories here before. If not, I will another time.)

How do those BRATS, Bob & Olivia react? They LAUGH! Nice family, hey? LOL!! During the commotion of me flying to the floor and the thud of my landing that stinkin' dog never moved. Does he know the hurt from which I saved him?

I swear every joint on the left side of my body hurts today. Wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, & knee. Glass half full: at least my finger joints & ankle are OK. :D I'll be fine in a few days I am sure, and I can laugh about it now too. I am sure I looked hilarious.

Could You Pass?

A Citizenship Test

I got a 95%. I missed question #7! :(

A Day of Music

Yesterday I took Olivia and some friends to see Paramore. They were in town to perform at the largest music festival in the world, Summerfest. It runs 11 days, and during that time over 700 bands play on 11 stages. The best part is there is only one concert a day that requires you to purchase a ticket. (Yesterday that show was Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.) I was just as excited about that part as Olivia was about seeing Hayley & the gang...LOL!!

Olivia had a blast with her friends. They were in the fifth row -- that's about where they usually pick because they want to be close but not pressed up against a stage or barricade. (Smart girls, hey? LOL!) We got there around 4PM. The show wasn't until 10PM, and these girls did not move from their spots once.

I walked around to check out other bands. Remember Dot Dot Dot from The Next Great American Band last winter? I saw them and they were AWESOME! I hope to see them at the end of July again. Also saw the Gin Blossoms and a few "undiscovered" bands who were pretty good.

Around 8PM I headed over toward the Paramore stage and was amazed at how many people were there. I figured there would be a lot, but it was incredible how many there actually were. Hayley mentioned that several times during the show. They were INCREDIBLE!!

If you like Paramore, and ever get a chance to go to one of their shows, do not pass it up.

Olivia will be back at Summerfest Sunday for the Jonas Brothers!

Ah, Nature

Thursday night Olivia was out in the garage emptying the canister from the vacuum when all of a sudden she runs in the house saying Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. I thought she got stung by a bee or something, but it turned out she saw a possum (or opossum if you prefer). Yes, a POSSUM! Olivia said when he saw her, he scurried under my vehicle. I went out to the garage to investigate. I noticed he had used our garage floor as his litter box, but opened the garage door before cleaning it up. I searched under the car and behind the few things that are stored next to the car, but did not see him. I figured he had ran out of the garage when I opened the door. I closed the garage door and we went to bed a bit after this adventure.

First thing Friday morning I go out to check the garage under the light of day. That bugger wasn't gone - how do I know you wonder? Well, he had used my garage floor as a litter box again. I opened the door, ran the car, moved things around in the garage. Cleaned up his second mess which as in nearly the same spot as the first I had cleaned up. I know he is nocturnal, but left the door open most of the day so if he wanted to escape captivity he could. All day long no messes, no sight of him. I figured he must have been gone, but decided to check again in the middle of the night when one of the dogs needed to go out. No sign of him so I was pretty confident that he was gone this time.

First thing Saturday morning, I checked the garage! Sure enough, he had used the floor as a litter box again. I decided that meant I needed to take everything out of the garage to get rid of him. So I pulled my vehicle out of the garage and got to work. The first thing I reached for was a bag of mulch (there were four) we didn't use when we added the bed by the mailbox and laid new mulch in another area of the yard. As I am moving that first bag, what did I see? Yep, you guessed it -- that little stinker curled up in a ball playing possum on top of two of our bags of mulch...

It took some time and a little gentle guidance with a metal pole (yes, I am a chicken), but I finally got that little bugger out!! :)

It gives me the willies to look at the pictures I took Saturday morning...LOL!!

Happy Birthday

my dear brother, Scott!!

Scott's birthday concludes the wishes for now! :)

Happy Birthday...

JEANNIE!!

Happy Birthday...

LINDA!

Estimates Gathered

All our roofing estimates are all in, and we are close to a decision. The whole process is enough to make my head spin. I don't think I want to hear 30 year, 40 year, lifetime, redeck, fascia, roof-to-wall, ice & water dam, etc for a VERY long time.

Isn't it funny how when you set out on the "estimate journey", you think you will go with the least expensive quote, but you rarely do? We have decided to go with the quote that is pretty much smack dab in the middle. He's $3500 higher than the lowest, and $3689 lower than the highest. We were most comfortable with the person they sent out, they use the same shingle as the highest quote which is a little better quality brand than the one used by the lowest quote, but most importantly of the work we have checked out this company's looks the best.

So sometime in August you should be seeing pictures of our house with a whole new look! The color we will most likely use is here! I think it will look great with the colors of our siding, trim, shutters, & doors.

I know it will be a big improvement from whatever that color is! I like to call it washed out -- ACK!

Our Happy Trail

This morning Erin & I met at the trail we used for triathlon & 5K training last year. We haven't been to that trail since the Friday before the 5K which was in November. I hate to admit it, but I haven't run much since then either. In fact, I think today was the first outside run since the 5K. I've got to get into shape to at least run a 5K. We are getting ready to Storm the Bastille on July 11.

Help Me

My hair needs help big time! My bangs are too long, I need the length trimmed, and my roots are beginning to show. I am trying to wait until my usual stylist, Diane, returns from maternity leave to have my hair done, but I need it done SOON! I am not sure of the exact date she will be back, but she better hurry!! :) The stylist I went to last time wasn't bad, but she wasn't Diane either. Diane just knows my hair!

Hurry back woman or I will be spending the foreseeable future in ponytails with headbands! LOL!!

Second Blogiversary

Two years ago today I started Just Bloggin' Along. I was halfway expecting to run out of things to write about. There have been days like that, but the majority of the time I find something. I think each and everyone of you who stops by to read what's happening in my little part of the world!

Oh Baby...LOL!

One of People's 2008 Hottest Bachelors

That Roof Over Our Heads

Well, the time has come to gather quotes for a new roof on our house. Even if you are prepared for the cost (have it in savings), the numbers can be shocking! I am really excited to get this project behind us because I know it will make a HUGE difference in the look of our house!

Slowly, but surely we are getting those pesky home improvement projects off our list.

Here We Go Again

Olivia and I had to head to the basement again this afternoon because of a tornado warning. In my 38 years, I don't think we have ever had to head to the basement more than once in a season let alone three times in a less than a week. That threat has passed without incident here, but it is going to be a rough evening with a long line of severe weather moving this way and the unstable atmosphere. This is certainly the last thing we need with the swollen lakes and rivers, weakened dams, saturated ground, and nearly full sewer systems.

I am sure you are sick of reading about our weather, but there is really nothing else happening or being talked about here. Local stations have had weather coverage constantly since about 2PM.

Another One Down

Olivia is done with her freshman year! I can't believe I am the parent of a sophomore! YIKES!

There was a schedule change for the end of the year due to the flooding in the area. The exams that were to be taken on Monday were canceled. Tuesday's & Wednesday's exams were held as scheduled. Today was to be the last day of school, but with high water still near some schools the last day was changed to yesterday.

Students were able to Monday's canceled exams to try to improve their grades, but a poor grade on the exam would not hurt them. One of Olivia's canceled exams was for a class in which she had been struggling and the other she was close to an A so she took them both. She did well on those exams and improved those grades. For one class she was the only one to take the exam and one of three in the other. Yes, it took some nagging from mom & dad to get her to take those exams, but she is glad she did.

To celebrate Olivia & I went out to lunch. Then we went off to McDonald's & Cousins where she put in job applications. I think she has a pretty good shot at the McDonald's job because of her "connections". As most of you know Bob & I both worked there, and I still do two weeks per year to do those bunny parties.

Still Rising

The waters are still rising around the state.

It seems our city's water levels are going down, but not fast enough. The school parking lot was still under water this morning.

The flood waters broke through an earthen dam draining Lake Delton into the Wisconsin River (video). Can you even imagine watching your house just get swept away like that?

The house still standing in the video is owned by Bob's junior high math teacher. It eventually cracked & fell as well. Only when this one fell the water was gone so it didn't get carried away.

This is an EXTREMELY popular tourist area in our state. In fact, the summer months here feed the economy of that area of the state. A Wisconsin Army National Guard Engineering Team is working on figuring out how to get water into Lake Delton.

No School

This is the last week of school for Olivia. Today, tomorrow, and Wednesday were to be exam days and the last day of school is Thursday. School today had to be canceled due to flood waters from our weekend storms.

Entrance to school parking lot.

The parking lot!

The parking lot of the school was completely under water and not just a little water. It was up to the tops of the very few vehicles that were in the lot. There is some damage inside the school as well.

There are more photos of the flooding near us posted in my flickr account.

Twenty Years Ago Today

I graduated from high school! Another case of where has the time gone?

What a Weekend

We had a pretty exciting weekend here in Southeastern Wisconsin.

I spent about 40 minutes down in the basement Friday afternoon due to the possibility of a tornado moving into our area. Of course, right as the warning sirens sounded Olivia called to be picked up from school. She stayed after school for some much needed algebra help, the doors lock behind students when they leave after the end of the day so she wasn't able to get back in. Fortunately, she was with a friend who lived right across the street. She & her friend ran to the friend's house and headed straight to her basement. It worked out perfectly, I think. We were all safe in a basement and had Olivia not been with her friend she would have been home alone and might have been a little freaked out. After the all clear sounded I picked her up. We were home about 10 minutes when more severe thunderstorms moved in to the area. Thankfully, those did not bring the tornado warnings.

Tornado warning sirens sent us to the basement again yesterday afternoon for about an hour and a half. This time we were all home.

Thankfully, there were no tornadoes in our immediate area, but the rates at which the rain fell were down right incredible. We had more storms with heavy rain this morning and more are moving in as I type. I think most of the state is under some sort of flash flood and/or flood watch or warning tonight.

We don't live in a low lying area or near any of the rivers or creeks that are flooding in our area so the high water we have around here is minimal. We did get a bit of water in the basement. It was just coming down so fast and the ground is so saturated that it had now where to go other than into the window well and then into our basement. Most of it was soaked up by a rug I had on the floor nearby and nothing was ruined. So while it was a scary, wet weekend so far things are OK here.

Here are a couple pictures taken Friday afternoon. Believe it or not, these were taken within seconds of one another. I was standing in the middle of our deck, and to the east was the ominous, stormy sky while to the west was the beautiful blue sky with the sun shining brightly. VERY strange afternoon indeed!

I have added the rest of the pictures I took of the storms moving in Friday afternoon to flickr. You can see them here.

I hope to be able to get out tomorrow to try to capture some pictures of the high water. However, I don't know if that will be possible. It sounds like we are supposed to have more of the same for the next couple days.

Hilarious

Have you seen this?

Oh my goodness, HILARIOUS!! "It's worth the risk," ROFLMBO!!

Not Hypo

Oops...saved as a draft instead of publishing this baby!

Well, all my blood work came back fine. My cholesterol wasn't just fine -- it was excellent! :) I credit that to eating whole grains & good fats! Thanks to learning South Beach Diet way of life! :)

I do not have hypothyroidism at the moment, but the doctor believes my body could be headed in that direction since my number was on lower side of the normal range. She will test again in a year. If I don't start feeling better and my metabolism doesn't speed up, she will refer me to an endocrinologist.

For now, she had a few suggestions for boosting my metabolism based on the food/work out journal I keep. She thought my caloric intake was a little low for the amount of activity so she suggested I raised my caloric intake about 100-150 calories. She also suggested adding one more strength training workout to my week. I am going to make those changes and see how it goes!

Anyone know of other ways to boost a slow metabolism?

A Big Dip AGAIN

Yesterday's high 83! Today's high 53! Grrr! I want warm weather to stick around. It is June after all!

The Mole

One of my favorite shows is returning to television tonight. I will miss Anderson Cooper, but I am really excited about the return of The Mole!

One of the contestants is from the area so I will be rootin' for him to win (or be The Mole...LOL)! I have a couple in mind who I think it could be, but am not ready to say it out loud yet. :)

Dashing Dahlias

A couple shots of this year's window box flowers -- Dwarf Dahlias!!



Not to toot my own horn, but they may be the best I have ever taken. I LOVE them! :)

Am I Hypo?

Both my mom and grandma have hypothyroidism, and I currently have more than one of the symptoms. They have crept up in the last few months. I have done a bit of reading on it in the last few weeks and have decided it is time to see my doctor. I will be having blood work done tomorrow and will see my doctor next Wednesday. It could very well be nothing, but I will not ignore my body when it is trying to tell me something.

I have gained 20 lbs in less than a year -- nearly 15 of that has been since mid-March. I eat right most of the time, I exercise, and there is no way it is 15 pound gain in muscle. I had to buy bigger clothes. My nails are brittle, my hands & feet swell, I have lost a small portion of my left eyebrow. (A few other symptoms I have may be considered TMI for my blog so I will spare you the details...LOL!) :)

These all could simply mean I am getting older and need to adjust my lifestyle again, but with thyroid disease in the family I think it is wise to rule that out.

Photographic Evidence

Here is some photographic evidence of our busy weekend.

As you might remember, over the winter our mailbox lost a battle with a snowplow so we purchased a new one. A new mailbox called for a fresh look. We had planned on doing this (minus the mailbox) for the last couple years, but never got around to it.

Before

After #1

After #2

Replacing the coral bells, three euonymus, and a bush that was somehow a mixture of spirea & weigelia are fountain grass surrounded by creeping phlox, coreopsis, coneflower, meadow sage, veronica and some sweet alyssum. The rock has been replaced with mulch.

Thank you again, Olivia, for moving all that rock to the back yard.

Old Friends

This afternoon I got together for lunch with my best friend in the whole world. We have been friends since 8th grade. She has been by my side for some of the greatest & worst moments of my life as I have been for her. Even though we don't talk or see each other as much as we used to when we do get together it is like we were never apart.

Let's not let another five years go by without seeing each other again -- I missed you!! I love you, Linda!

Someone's 15 Today

Happy Birthday to our dear little girl young lady!!

Olivia at 3 months

Spring Blooms

These were blooming about a week ago (two weeks later than normal), but are done now...

They are the tulips & rhododendrons I have shown before, but this year I took pictures from a different vantage point -- worm's eye view and ultra close. The close up of the tulip is my fav, and I may have it printed on canvas to hang in our house somewhere.

Shaping Up the Yard

The last couple days have been busy ones!!

Purchase:
mulch -- check
annuals for window boxes -- check
hanging baskets -- check

To Do:
put down mulch -- check
plant window boxes -- check
hang baskets -- check
put more sand under bricks to level sidewalk area -- check

I also began getting rid of some bushes in our front yard. I have hated those things since the day we moved in. I wanted to get rid of them, but Bob liked them so that took some convincing. That is until he realized he likes summer blooming things more than those things.

They had spread and grown so much that I had forgotten there were only three. I was thinking there were five of the large ones. One of them was massive. I also pulled out two other pine/evergreen bushes one was dead and the other was in an odd spot to leave. Once I get some muscle (Yoohoo -- Bob and Scott, Kevin, or Dale!) to dig out the roots from the three larger bushes, we will have a blank slate and begin planting some perennials. I can't wait!

Wow, I must have really hated those bushes. I cannot find a single picture of them unless they are covered with snow. My camera batteries are dead (again), but once they are charged, I take some pics.

CrushCrushCrush

Crush, unhealthy obsession, or watching Idol too close to bed time? Which one is it when David Cook shows up in a dream? ROFL!!



This morning, I asked Bob & he just laughed at me. I don't think he has an answer because he's remembering his dream of Edyta! *snicker* ;)

Mission Accomplished

Don't you just love days that all the things you need to happen to accomplish something finally do? Bob left the truck home, the weather was beautiful, my grandma didn't have any appointments, the lawn mower we took in for a tune up was ready, and the dump was open. I was finally able to get the leaves, branches, and other yard waste out of our yard and to the dump. Some of it had been buried under the snow all these months. I won't tell you how gross some of that stuff was. I was also able to pick up our lawn mower.

I am looking forward to being able to mow for the first time this season. Our mower was at the repair shop so long I wasn't able to do the first mowing of the season. Since it had gotten so long we hired the company that does our fertilizing to do it this one time. They came Friday morning and would you believe it needs cutting again? Guess what I will be up to tomorrow if the rain holds off as it is looking like it will now.

A Day at the Park

Miller Park that is...

We spent Mother's Day at the Milwaukee Brewer game. They won with help from my guy Ryan Braun and his pink bat! :)

I like to think his hot streak is because I bought his jersey Saturday afternoon! :)

I forgot my camera so Bob took a couple pictures with his Blackberry. They aren't the best quality pictures, but I had to share...

Pink ribbon behind home plate.

The racing sausages just for Carolynn.
The Polish Sausage won (video)! :)

Ladies Night

Last night I joined five friends for a rare ladies only night! With all our schedules it is really hard to get all of us together, but this time it worked. The stars must have been aligned just right when we planned...LOL!!

I had a great time, ladies! Thanks for being such great friends!

Bob & the Guys

That Bob of mine and his friends are crazy!

As I mentioned a little over a month ago, Bob & his Vegas buddies booked the flight for an October trip to Las Vegas. Well, rates are a little lower now so they have already booked their March 2009 flight! I told them they are nuts, but they think they are a bunch of geniuses since the rates are so good compared to when they went in '08.

They were able to find travel insurance that will cover them should the airline cancel the flight for whatever reason -- including bankruptcy!

Were You Nervous?

I was so nervous about American Idol tonight! Yes, my man David Cook was good last night. Not GREAT, but good -- well, maybe the second song was better than good. I was just a wreck because this was the week Chris Daughtry went home. I am glad he's safe for another week!

Is any one else growing weary of David A? I am and would love to see a David C, Syesha final! :)

I know there are bigger things to worry about & be nervous about, but this week AI is my much needed distraction from reality and a crappy situation!

Tremendous Tunes :)

Time to tell you what newer music I am listening too and LOVING...

I have heard Panic at the Disco's CD called Beatlesque and would have to agree on a few of the songs. It's a fun one! :)

For quite sometime before Spirit was available in the US, I was loving the song Bleeding Love and was going back & forth on whether I should purchase just the song from iTunes or the CD from a store. (I like to have the "stuff" so I purchase the CD rather than purchasing/downloading it from iTunes.) After she was on American Idol, Bob said he would like that CD. He didn't even know I had been trying to decide what to do. Scary hey? LOL!!

Anyway, I purchased it the day it was available in the US as a gift for Bob's birthday. I listened to it for the first time this morning and have been listening to it ever since. Hooray -- it wasn't like that Tim McGraw CD we bought a few years ago!! ;)

Happy Birthday

to the love of my life & best friend...

Bob!

Cudahy Soldier

Last week a young man from Cudahy named Steve Christofferson was killed in Iraq. Cudahy is very nearby. The funeral was held today.

Steve was buried at the cemetery near my house. The one I frequently go for walks through. The street in front of the cemetery was lined with American flags and throughout the cemetery there were clusters of 3 - 5 flags. The main flags in the cemetery were, of course, at half mast. I have never seen so many flags in my life. What an amazing site to see.

I was on the outskirts of the cemetery during a portion of the burial. There were a few people standing way off. I just felt like I had to be there -- to say thank you for the sacrifice he & his family made so my family and friends can live in freedom -- even if it was from a distance. I didn't want to intrude on the private time his family & friends deserved. At first I thought it was weird, but when I saw how many others had walked up and were doing the same thing I felt I had made the right decision.

While each story of a young serviceman or woman lost breaks my heart, once I heard Pfc. Christofferson was going to be buried near my home the loss of his life brought tears to my eyes. Each time I think of him now, I tear up. I think it is because seeing this with my own eyes rather than a story on TV makes it more real.

Thank you Pfc. Steve Christofferson and all the men & women in uniform for serving our great country.

Whoa!

Where has all the time gone? I can't believe it is May already! I can't believe this week is over and this is the first time this week I am posting! I wish I could come to tell you I hadn't posted because I was away on some glamorous trip, but that isn't the case. It has just been a busy week of doing some spring cleaning, errands, and appointments.

Oh No, Not That Church

Yesterday afternoon we had thunderstorms move through the area. They weren't severe storms just heavy rain, a little thunder and some lightning. I had the TV on, but was in the other room kind of listening to the news when I heard about something near the airport being on fire and they mentioned the street. Soon it was said it was a church steeple that was on fire. I immediately knew what church it was, but had to go to the the TV to see with my own eyes. Yep, it was THE church I thought it was... The church where Bob & I were married on August 15, 1998...

St. Stephen Catholic Church
Originally uploaded by Retinal Fetish

This building will likely be torn down sometime after the new church is built on another site, but it was still hard to see the place where we began our marriage burning.

There was one minor injury to a firefighter.

I Heart PaperBack Swap

I listed some books on Paperback Swap this afternoon. I had requests for two of them before 20 minutes had gone by. That is crazy, but I am so glad to get them out of my house.

Once those who requested the books receive them and mark them as such, I will be able to pick out two of my own. Now to begin browsing and find the perfect book! :)

Back in the Saddle

Well, if you call a bike seat a saddle...LOL! Today was a beautiful day so I cleaned up my bike, pumped up the tires, and headed out for a bike ride. It was good to feel the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair again! Not sure when I will get out again because rain, cool temps and possibly even a little snow are in the forecast for the next few days.

Happy Earth Day

I am going to try to live more green this spring/summer by:

• riding my bike to the grocery store for small trips. I am going to get a basket to make the ride home easier. :)
• visiting the local farmers market to purchase our produce and other products they have for sale there.
• drinking fewer cans of Diet Pepsi & more water, but the water will be in a glass rather than a plastic bottle.
• planting plants native to our area in our yard.

This is in addition to what I do already. I know I could do A LOT more, but I try to live a little green. It's hard with an anti-green husband. My friend, Erin, is a big time green girl. She & Bob joke that he goes the house turning lights on and running water...LOL!!

How have you "greened" your life?

Photos, Photos, & More Photos

I have spent sometime the last couple days adding more pictures to flickr. They go back to 2004 and it isn't all of them. One of these days I will get them all up for friends & family to enjoy and as a back up to our back up. A bit of overkill? Probably, but can you ever be too careful with those precious memories.

Did You Feel It?

This morning just after 4:30, 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook the Midwest. It was centered six miles from West Salem, IL. The quake was felt hundreds of miles away in places like Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinatti, Des Moines, Indianapolis and others. I know it happens occasionally, but one that large doesn't. The furthest north in WI I have seen it reported as being felt is Peshtigo. That's a long way from West Salem, IL -- according to Google Maps that's 521 miles from West Salem. Wowzers!

No one in our house felt it. We were sound asleep at that time and it probably wasn't enough of a shake to wake people this far away from the epicenter. This earth science geek still finds it pretty interesting. :)

Retiring the Famous #4

The Green Bay Packers announced today that Brett Favre's #4 jersey will be retired during their season opener September 8. The Packers play the Minnesota Vikings that night on Monday Night Football.

Favre's jersey joins just five others...

The 14 of wide receiver Don Hutson (1951)
The 3 of fullback Tony Canadeo (1952)
The 15 of quarterback Bart Starr (1973)
The 66 of linebacker Ray Nitschke (1983)
The 92 of defensive end Reggie White (2005)

Each of those men is enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame as I am sure Brett will be.

One Year Later

We Remember!

Measles & Rubella

There have been a lot of strange stories in our news lately and one of them has been that of the measles. There have been four confirmed and three probable cases of measles in recent days. Today brings the news that there is now a confirmed case of rubella (German measles). Many communities are holding special immunization clinics so those who would like to receive the MMR immunization may do so.

I know immunizations are a controversial topic, but with many parents choosing not to immunize their children I can't help but wonder if stories like these are just beginning.

Tax Day

Since our return was filed weeks ago, I am able to spend time doing what I want today rather than searching for receipts & papers to prepare our return. So I decide to use that time to search for a few quotes about taxes. Enjoy...

The best measure of a man's honesty isn't his income tax return. It's the zero adjust on his bathroom scale. ~ Arthur C. Clarke, author

I am proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is – I could be just as proud for half the money. ~ Arthur Godfrey, entertainer

Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you thirty cents? ~ Peg Bracken

Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss. ~ Robert Heinlein

And what might be my favorite...

There's nothing wrong with the younger generation that becoming taxpayers won't cure. ~ Dan Bennett

Spring Spruce Up

I decided to do a little sprucing up around my blog today. I know it's the best spring or summer look, but I LOVE plaid and like the colors. Don't know how long I will keep it around, but it's here for now! :)

My new look actually reminds me of a Bob & Olivia go shopping story. It was either right before or right after Olivia's sixth birthday. Bob & Olivia were out running some errands. I think they had gotten an oil change on my car, and there is a Kohl's nearby the oil change place. Bob asked Olivia if she wanted to go shopping. (Silly question to ask a girl...LOL!!) They ended up shoe shopping for Olivia. Her tennis shoes were getting too small so Bob decided to help her find a new pair. He was thinking spring colors since the nice weather was just upon us. He was looking at different styles of white shoes with pink or purple on them. Much to Bob's dismay, Olivia fell in love with a pair of gray shoes with purple stripes. Olivia won and got the gray shoes, but for weeks when he would see her wearing them he would say, "nothing says spring like gray!!" Nine years later we all still say it.

Teaching Moments (Adult Topic)

Sometimes teaching moments hit a little bit too close to home.

An 18-year-old student at Olivia's school is under investigation for having unprotected sex with one of his classmates and not telling her he is HIV positive.

He has not been criminally charged, but his medical records have been subpoenaed by investigators. According to those documents, he has been HIV positive since at least 2006.

According to two former girlfriends of the student, he had sex with one three times last year and had sexual contact another in December. Neither knew he was HIV positive until the aunt of the student told them after she found out last month.

Even though we believe (and teach Olivia) abstinence is best, we use these moments to talk about how situations such as these can be avoided.

I can't even imagine how distracted the kids have been the last couple school days with all the cameras & reporters around.

Tragedy Once Again

The wife of one of the partners (I'll call him M and her F to protect their privacy) in Bob's department at the firm passed away unexpectedly this morning. All that is known is that M took F to the ER last night because she was having difficulty breathing. Then this morning he called to let his secretary know he wouldn't be in because his wife had passed away.

F was 42 years old and leaves behind two daughters and a son. I don't recall their exact ages, but are all pretty close to Olivia's age.

M...Our thoughts & prayers will be with you, the kids and the rest of the family during this extremely difficult time.

#512

I was looking through my blog entries this morning and noticed that my next post would be #512. Not an even number to celebrate or anything, but I couldn't believe how quickly they have added up. When I started blogging in June 2006, I didn't know that I would have much to say and some days I don't, but that's OK.

I enjoy my time in blogland and cherish the friends I have made in my blog travels. I want to thank my readers! Whether you are a commenter or a lurker, I appreciate each one of you!

Fun Day

Some of you may know that I have an uncle who was a youth pastor. (He now works at Cornerstone University). All my life he, my aunt, and three cousins have lived outside Wisconsin. Mostly in Michigan, but also in Kansas City, MO & Waukegan, IL. Even though we only saw these cousins a couple times per year we were pretty close and always had a great time with them. (When the weather was bad, we had a blast playing in the church gym and classrooms on visits to Michigan.) Well, this fall my cousin Jamie answered the Lord's call and took a position as children's pastor in Janesville, WI. Our family is so excited to have them closer to us.

Today my mom, grandma and I took a road trip to visit my cousin, his wife, and their four darling little girls. We had a great time with them as usual.

This is just the third time I have met his wife, but she is the sweetest, nicest thing. She has so much patience with those girls (6, 4, 23 months, and 6 weeks). I know I would be pulling my hair out...LOL!!

The picture is great-grandma (grandma to Jamie & me) holding our family's newest little darling.

Jamie, Denise & girls...I am so happy you guys listened to your calling and came "home" to Wisconsin. I love you all and can't wait to see you again soon! :)

Would you believe grandma is nearly 87? She's very proud of her age and no one ever believes her when she tells them how old she is! I hope I inherited those genes. :)

I have added a few other pictures from the day to my flickr account.

Wow, That's Service

After our last big snow storm or maybe the one before that (there have been too many to keep them all straight), our mailbox had a fight with one of the plows and the snowplow won! It won big time. The post was broken off right to the ground. After the snow we were able to pack enough snow around it to keep it up right and functional for a week or so. The snow melted so I spent a little money for a temporary fix that worked until our Sunday papers were delivered. Adding their weight to the mail/paper boxes brought it crashing down as did the wind a few days later. I had had it with trying to keep the box propped up in the bucket of sand. So I put our mail on hold -- went several times a week to pick it up.

Knowing we don't really have the proper tools to install a new post & box system properly, I decided to try to locate a local company who could handle this job. One look in the Yellow Pages (how late 1900s of me..lol) lead me in the right direction. They have a website so I began my search for the perfect mailbox. It was pricey, but I didn't want any old mailbox in front of my house. Yes, I am a mailbox snob...LOL! I found this one (in matte black)...


After I seeing that one, I called to inquire about a the price for installation & about how long it would be until the install could happen. I was told the install would be $85 and would take 1-3 weeks for what we ordered to come in a be installed. That was acceptable to us so VERY late Sunday night (more like Monday morning) I ordered.

I was prepared to keep waiting & thought if I hadn't heard anything from them after two weeks I would call just to check on the status of the order. Well, that call will not have to be made. I got a call from the installer yesterday before noon. Barely 36 hours after I placed the order, I had a call and a time the installer would be out. He arrived yesterday afternoon about 2:30 and worked in the rain for a little over two hours. Not only did he install the new post/box in a new area, but also dug out the old cement with broken off post and filled that hole with the dirt from the new hole he dug. He took the old stuff along with him and left the area in good condition.

It will be so nice to be able to walk out to the mailbox tomorrow to pick up my mail rather than having to hop in the car & drive across town to pick it up. I don't envy those of you who have to go pick up mail.

Thank you "Mahvelous" Mailboxes!!

Just for Carolynn :)

Here's a video of a Klement's Sausage Race. They take place during the sixth inning of every Milwaukee Brewers' home game.

Not Wasting Time

Bob hasn't been back from Vegas for a week yet, but he and the guys have booked their flight for an October trip. Think they like it there...LOL?!? They got a really good deal on airfare -- $227 including taxes & fees. The airfare for the March trip nearly twice that -- yikes! As long as the airline they booked with doesn't get added to the list of no longer flying airlines, it's a great deal. There is no reason to believe this airline will go under, but we never really know!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

My Brewers are off to a great start once again. They are 4-1 going into play today. Let's hope they can continue on this path during this long season! :)

Bob's Cubs on the other hand aren't playing so hot. They are 2-3 (one of those wins is thanks to a game blown by the Brewers.) For Bob's sake I hope they turn the season around, but I will not be rootin' for them against my Brewers! :)

My Ouch Update

Monday afternoon was my appointment with Dr. Sureddi for the cyst on my back. She could tell by looking that it was infected, wrote an Rx for an antibiotic, and sent me off with a surgeon's phone number (as expected).

Yesterday was my appointment with the surgeon, Dr Mittal. He lanced it to allow to drain the infection and to make sure it will heal properly. I will need to see him in 6 weeks for follow up and then possible removal. Since an infection recurrence is likely, I plan to have it removed at that time. I don't want to have to go through this again down the road because I didn't have the cyst removed.

Duel

I am so glad this show is back! I LOVE IT! :)

Happy Birthday...

to my niece! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Yes, we have a lot of birthdays from March 26 - April 3! :)

Happy Birthday

to my dear friend Renee who I haven't seen in ages! I miss you, girl!

Home Soon

Bob will be home later tonight & it will be so good to see him. I have missed that man! :)

See you at the airport in a few hours Bob & Kev!