Cars

I love my car - my sweet CR-V, but it's getting old... and it's having issues...

#1 loves his car, but it's getting old and it had a big old nasty issue...  His clutch gave out on the highway yesterday. (All are safe and well.) We had the 1990 Camry towed to the fixit.  It will be more than $900 to get it fixed, but the car is worth it.  It only has about 70k miles on it.

My car, on the other hand, has more than 177k miles on it and they want $2,000 to attempt to maybe fix it.  I'd rather fix it and let my LLB drive it, but $2,000 for a "maybe it will work" is almost too much to risk.  They think that my issue might be the catalytic converter disintegrating.  Oh yay... not!

I've been researching cars and done a bit of car shopping.  I will be purchasing a new CR-V.
I am SURE that the best pricing is happening now - as in today... I am also SURE that when Mr. finally decides that we need to purchase the new car (next month or in May) that there will be no bargains... As is what happened last time I needed to purchase a car.

Alas, this is the way things go and it makes me crazy!

 

Presents I've Made this year

So -- I've been busy crocheting.
I thought I might show you all what I've been making.
This year I started making baskets -- It's my new thing and I'm thoroughly enjoying modifying the patterns I've found...

 I modified the basket above -- I put a little ruffled edge on it and then we gave it to a very sweet friend of LLB's for her birthday.

 This basket above is made with clothesline... It was such fun to make! It went to the Bus Driver -- we filled it with goodies.
The basket below is big!!  And floppy!! And fun... I might keep it for myself because I love it!

The clothesline basket below went to R.  She got to choose which one she wanted and she chose this little lovely.

This wee basket - perfect for pocket change - is awaiting a new home... My dresser?  Your dresser? We shall see, won't we?

 This little lovely went to LLB's Secret Santa person.  She's a lucky girl!

I've made scarves galore and I have one more to finish for a very special lady who likes green...   This purple gem is on it's way to England!

 This green one is currently with a Band Mom.

I made other scarves and mittens... I have one more pair of mittens to make -- in giant size -- for a Band Dad.  :-)  He'll get his mittens in January (or February).  :-)

I also made the cutest little purple basket...

My sister and I have decided that from now on, our gifts to each other have to be homemade... I think it will be fun to figure out something new to make her every year. This year she got an afghan in her choice of colors for her birthday.  Next year? We'll see.  I've got a bunch of nifty ideas up my sleeve already.

If you have ideas of things I might create, please leave me a comment and let me know.

Sea-Bands Review and Give Away

I was asked to review Sea-Bands anti-nausea wrist bands. My husband - Captain Carsick - gets motion sick on a chair lift, so he was the absolute perfect guinea pig for this review.  The bands are easy to use. You just put one on each wrist and go. He gets such severe motion sickness that we weren't sure this would actually work.
My husband rode around with me over country roads and highways with his Sea-Bands on his wrists and has determined that they really do make a difference. He doesn't get nauseous. He can't read in the car, but he can look for something he's dropped and bend over to get it without tossing his cookies. This is a marked improvement!
They come in a small case which we keep in the car.  My husband just puts them on if he is going to be the passenger. They are unobtrusive, easy to wear, and simple to use. They don't give you cotton mouth or make you dopey like the anti-nausea medication does... This is huge because when he gets where he is going, he doesn't need to drink a gallon of water or take an afternoon nap!  

YOU can win a set of Sea-Bands!  Leave me a comment by December 29th and I'll pull a name out of a hat.  If you win, the Sea-Bands will come directly from the manufacturer. :-)

What they say:
Keep Your Holidays Happy and Nausea-Free! Get on the “Band Wagon” and Get Celebrating with Sea-Band Drug-Free Nausea Relief Wristbands!

Nausea induced by busy and stressful days, filled with traveling and migraine triggers, are unfortunately hallmarks of the holidays. This year, stop nausea in its tracks with Sea-Band Drug-Free Nausea Relief Wristbands.  It doesn’t matter whether you suffer from motion sickness, morning sickness or need nausea relief from a migraine, even chemotherapy treatment or post-surgery; it’s time for you to join the “band wagon” for drug-free nausea relief from Sea-Band!

How Sea-Band Works…
Approved by the FDA, Sea-Band is the leading drug-free remedy for, motion sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy nausea and post-operative nausea. Most recently, a 2010 study, carried out at a German clinic specializing in migraine and headache therapy, showed that Sea-Band wristbands significantly reduced nausea and vomiting: 83% noticed perceptible reduction and 44% found their symptoms markedly reduced.

Sea-Band works by exerting constant, gentle pressure on a point on the inner wrist known as the Pericardium 6 (P6) acupressure point. It brings effective relief within five minutes of being applied and can be used before or after the onset of nausea. The all-natural, drug-free, latex-free Sea-Band does not cause the side-effects often associated with anti-nausea medication such as drowsiness, disorientation, dry mouth or possible interactions with other drugs. It’s safe for pregnant women, children, and patients taking prescription medications. Packaged in a convenient carry-case, they are washable and reusable, and available a variety of colors in sizes for adults and children.

Don’t let feeling nauseous hold you back this holiday season! Join the “Band Wagon” with Sea-Band on Facebook to take advantage of special product giveaways at www.facebook.com/seaband ! And, for more information about Sea-Band products, visit www.sea-band.com. 
Click here to watch an informative video about how Sea-Band wristbands work.  In addition, the company also offers Sea-Band Anti-Nausea Ginger Gum, for fast nausea relief with fresh, uplifting flavor. Each piece of the great tasting gum contains 25 mg of ginger oil (equivalent to 8 grams of fresh ginger root).

Sea-Band products are available in the U.S. in Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, as well as in Canada in Overwaitea, IDA, Familiprix, Guardian and other independent drugstores or pharmacies throughout North America or online at drugstore.com and at http://www.sea-band.com/shop.

Suggested retail price is $10.99 per pair in the US, and $12.99 in Canada.

I wrote this review for Family Review Network and Sea-Band. I received a set of Sea Bands free of charge in exchange for my honest review. 

Hickory Farms Goodness!!

I was asked to blog about this Hickory Farms box of goodies that arrived in the mailbox the other day.  Everything in it was absolutely  delicious!  My favorite is the beef summer sausage - but I'm getting ahead of myself.

We took the goodies to VMI when we went to visit our #1 son.  We added them to the food at his Senior's tailgating table.  Everyone that tried the cheese, crackers, and summer sausage absolutely loved it.  I let everyone know that they were required to taste and then tell me what they thought -- good or bad -- and there was not one complaint. Well, there was one - that it was all gone and I had no more.  The mustards included were also a big hit!

(FYI: We had ham for Thanksgiving dinner and I put the Sweet Hot Mustard on my ham, as it is my favorite.  It was wonderful! Don't tell, okay...)

The cheeses were disappearing - The smoked gouda was the first to go.  Everyone loved the smooth smoky flavor.  The cheddar - a classic - went next.  The beef summer sausage was a huge hit as was the turkey.  I went to get my camera to take a picture of everyone enjoying the Hickory Farms goodies, but when I returned -- literally moments later, every crumb had been eaten and enjoyed!  So - unfortunately, I don't have a record of everyone enjoying the cheese, crackers, and summer sausages.

If you should need a gift for someone, don't hesitate to go to the Hickory Farms website, place an order, and sit back and wait for the complements.  Don't forget that they have 3 day for $3 shipping - that's a bargain and you'll look like a hero if it arrives in time for someone's party.


 “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a product sample to facilitate my review.”

For the Sake of Tolerance

I received this in my email this morning and thought I'd share...  If you disagree, push the little red x at the top of your screen.

I am truly perplexed that so many folks are against a mosque being built at or near Ground Zero.  I think it should be the goal of every American to be tolerant.  Thus the Mosque should be allowed, in an effort to promote tolerance.

That is why I also propose that two nightclubs be opened next door to the mosque, thereby promoting tolerance from within the mosque.  We could call one of the clubs, "The Turban Cowboy", which would be gay, and the other a topless bar called "You Mecca Me Hot ."

Next door should be a butcher shop that specializes in pork, and adjacent to that an open-pit barbeque pork restaurant, called "Iraq o' Ribs."

Across the street there could be a lingerie store called "Victoria Keeps Nothing Secret", with sexy mannequins in the window modeling the goods.

Next door to the lingerie shop, a liquor store called "Morehammered."

All of this would encourage the Muslims to demonstrate the tolerance they demand of us, so the mosque problem would be solved.  If you agree with promoting tolerance, and you think this is a good plan, please pass it on.

For the sake of tolerance, of course.

You wanted change??

After two years of Obama ... 

Here's your change! 

The top numbers are from when he took office...  The bottom numbers are current...

Avg.. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S. 

$1.83 

$3.44 

+84%

Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) 

$43..48 

$99..02 

+127.7% 

Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) 

$38..74 

$91..38 

+135.9% 

Gold: London (per troy oz.) 

$853.25 

$1,369.50 

+60.5% 

Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL 

$3.56 

$6.33 

+78.1%  

Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall 

7.6% 

9.4% 

+23.7% 

Unemployment rate, blacks 

12.6% 

15.8% 

+25.4% 

Number of unemployed 

11,616,000 

14,485,000 

+24.7% 

Number of fed. Employees increased 

2,779,000 

2,840,000 

+2.2% 

Real median household income 

$50,112 

$49,777 

-0.7% 

Number of food stamp recipients 

31,983,716 

43,200,878 

+35.1% 

Number of unemployment benefit recipients 

7,526,598 

9,193,838 

+22.2% 

Number of long-term unemployed 

2,600,000 

6,400,000 

+146.2% 

Poverty rate, individuals 

13.2% 

14.3% 

+8.3% 

People in poverty in U.S. 

39,800,000 

43,600,000 

+9.5% 

U.S.. Rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings 

5 

9 

Present Situation Index 

29.9 

23.5 

-21.4% 

Failed banks 

140 

164 

+17.1% 

U.S.. Dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate 

89.76 

82.03 

-8.6% 

National debt, in trillions 

$10..627 

$14..052 

+32.2% 

Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history. 

Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane 27 times faster, it would be doing 7,555 MPH! 

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 29 months -- so you'll have one year and five months to come up with an answer! Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable. 

And...He's started campaigning again!!!

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS... 

I WONDER HOW MANY WILL FORWARD THIS ? 

And...He's started campaigning again!!!

Sources: 

(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor; 

(7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundationand WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; 

(13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury 

Football FINALLY makes sense

A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team's bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

'Oh, I really liked it,' she replied, 'especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents.'

Dumbfounded, her date asked, 'What do you mean?'

'Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was: 'Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!' I'm like.....Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!!!!!!!!!!! '

THE BASIC RULES FOR CLOTHESLINES:

(if you don't know what clotheslines are, better skip this)

1.  You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes -

      walk the entire lengths of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.

2.  You had to hang the clothes in a certain order, and always hang "whites" 

with "whites,"

      and hang them first.

3.  You never hung a shirt by the shoulders  - always by the tail!. What would 

the neighbors think?

4..  Wash day on a Monday! . ... . Never hang clothes on the weekend, or 

Sunday, for Heaven's sake!

5.  Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide your 

"unmentionables" in the middle     ( perverts & busybodies, y'know!)

6.   It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather  .... Clothes would 

"freeze-dry."

7.  Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes! Pins left on 

the lines were "tacky!"

8.  If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did 

not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next 

washed item.

9.  Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes 

basket, and ready to be ironed.

10. IRONED?!  Well, that's a whole other subject!

                        A  POEM

          A clothesline was a news forecast

          To neighbors passing by,

          There were no secrets you could keep

          When clothes were hung to dry.

          It also was a friendly link

          For neighbors always knew

          If company had stopped on by

          To spend a night or two.

          For then you'd see the "fancy sheets"

          And towels upon the line;

          You'd see the "company table cloths"

          With intricate designs.

          The line announced a baby's birth

          From folks who lived inside -

         As brand new infant clothes were hung,

          So carefully with pride!

          The ages of the children could

          So readily be known

          By watching how the sizes changed,

          You'd know how much they'd grown!

          It also told when illness struck,

         As extra sheets were hung;

         Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,

         Haphazardly were strung.

         It also said, "Gone on vacation now"

        When lines hung limp and bare.

        It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged

       With not an inch to spare!

        New folks in town were scorned upon

        If wash was dingy and gray,

       As neighbors carefully raised their brows,

      And looked the other way .. . .

      But clotheslines now are of the past,

      For dryers make work much less.

      Now what goes on inside a home

      Is anybody's guess!

      I really miss that way of life.

      It was a friendly sign

      When neighbors knew each other best

      By what hung on the line.

A funny

This came across my desk this morning...

What has America become?

This was in my email when I got home today.  I happen to agree with what it says.

Has America become the land of special interest and home of the double standard? Let’s see: If we lie to the Congress, it’s a felony and if Congress lies to us it’s just politics. If we dislike a black person, we’re a racist and if a black dislikes whites, it’s their 1st Amendment right. The government spends millions to rehabilitate criminals and they do almost nothing for the victims. In public schools you can teach that homosexuality and lesbianism is ok, but you better not use the word God in the process. You can murder a child in the mothers womb, but it’s wrong to execute a mass murderer. We don’t burn books in America, we now rewrite them. We got rid of the communist & socialist threat by renaming them progressives. If you protest against Obama’s policies you’re a terrorist, but if you burn an American flag or George Bush in effigy, it’s your 1st Amendment right.

You can have pornography on TV or the internet, but you better not put a nativity scene in a public park during Christmas. In America, criminals are now called sick people. The government takes money from those who work hard & gives it to those who are lazy. Parenting has been replaced with Ritalin & video games. The land of opportunity is now the land of hand outs.

And how do we handle a major crisis today? The Government appoints a committee to determine who’s at fault, then threatens them, passes a law, raises our taxes, then tells us the problem is solved so they can get back to their reelection campaign.

Do you agree? Pass it on.

If you disagree, please click the red button up at the top of the page and go away.

Marzetti Caramel Dip Review

I was asked to review the Marzetti Old Fashioned Caramel Dip. I have to say, I LOVE this stuff.  We had it with apples at the band competition on Saturday. All the kids (and adults) ate it and not one disliked it. We fed about 50 people the Caramel Dip -- we used 2 tubs. The Caramel is smooth and creamy and wonderful!
We put the Caramel Dip on apple wedges.  When we ran out of apples, the kids dipped grapes.  Some even sopped up the remaining caramel with their grilled cheese sandwiches.  They said, "It's sweet and yummy. We can't waste it!"
I even caught some of the people licking their plates -- heck, I licked my plate! There was not one drop of the caramel dip left.
I've found that even kids that aren't real "fruit eaters" will eat apples with the Marzetti Caramel Dip. That says a lot!  It used to be if you covered food in ketchup or cheese, they'd eat anything... I'm thinking that if  Caramel Dip might work better...  That's pretty cool!
I have been surfing the Marzetti web site. The recipes they have are fantastic! I'm going to try the Baked Pancake with Caramel Sauce, the Caramel Banana Tiramisu, and the open faced Peanut Butter Caramel Sandwich!  I make chocolate covered marshmallows, but they have a recipe for Caramel dipped marshmallows... that sounds wonderful!  There are so many  uses for the Caramel Dip that it needs to become a staple in every home in America... Marzetti Caramel Dip is the absolute best.
Marzetti is giving away $75k in prizes with their Lucky Pick Instant Win Game!  Pick up a specially marked tub of Marzetti Old Fashioned Caramel Dip... If you get a Lucky Pick, you can enter the code on the website to claim your prize!
Oh - one more thing!  I have 2 coupons for a free tub of Marzetti Caramel Dip.  Want one?  Leave me a comment. I'll be drawing numbers out of a hat on Sunday, 10/2.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign my Family Review Network on behalf of Marzetti Old Fashioned Caramel Dip and received a complimentary product sample to help facilitate my review and to thank me for taking the time to participate.

The Trumpet

My LLB has a new Xeno trumpet as many of you know. She needed to step up to a professional model and it has made a HUGE difference.  The new trumpet requires far less air to make music, and therefore, can produce a much larger sound with less effort. We could definitely hear her on Friday night.
She used it in class last week and found that she was a bit... umm.... loud.  The director kept telling her to "LLB, SHH!!! I can only hear you!"
She didn't think that was such a bad thing...

God does have a sense of humor

While creating wives, God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world. 

  

. . . And then He made the earth round.

(I found this in my e-mail box this morning and just had to share!)

Friday!

So tonight my LLB plays her solo to start the half time show with her brand new trumpet. I think she's nervous, but one can never tell as she hides it well.  This new trumpet requires so much less air to play, that she gets amazing sound out of it with very little effort.  I am SURE we'll be able to hear her quite well tonight - even if all the people in the stands can't be quiet...
Speaking of quiet - I've got to make some posters for the band dads to hold up like they do at the golf games!!  I'd best get going on that this afternoon...
My dearest oldest friend is coming in for a visit today. I'm so excited! We have a great weekend planned including football, band uniforms, polo, wineries, and seeing a cow -- she want's to see a cow... It's not my idea of excitement, but if that's what she wants to do - we'll go see a cow.  :-)
 

It's been a while...

So it has been a while since I posted. Sorry about that, but life takes over when you least expect it.
My #1 is off to VMI.

He is really enjoying it - although the first 9 days were pure torture.

When we saw him at matriculation, he looked like this:

Check out the poor kids behind him... they look like they might just puke!

He took the Cadet Oath at New Market. This is a very special occasion and the first time we get to see the kids since we left them at matriculation. When we saw him at New Market, he looked like this:

His requests have been simple:
1. Mom, can you send me a Swiffer?

Now, how many college students do you know ask for a Swiffer? Yeah... mine is probably the only one.  BUT - they passed room inspection with those nifty Swiffers I sent. I sent the Swiffer wet, the Swiffer dry cloths, and the Swiffer duster. There was no dust or dirt to be had in that room.  I think Swiffer ought to do an advertising campaign at VMI - those kids sure do know how to clean!!

2. Mom, can you send some of LLB's cookies and some other snacks? I'm starving. The food sucks!

We have sent cookies, peanut butter cups, granola bars, slim jims, chips, and more. Friends have sent brownies. I guess mess hall food is not what it's cracked up to be.

3. Mom, can you send brass polish?

How many of you out there with college kids have ever even thought about sending brass polish? Well - I sent the best: Simichrome.  I haven't had any complaints about polish that doesn't work since I sent that stuff. That stuff is magic!!

By the way, under that hat, he looks exactly like he did when he was six and had a buzz cut. He looks like this:

Towligator

I was asked to review this nifty little item: The Towligator.

It is AWESOME! It's absolutely brilliant!

Basically it's an alligator clip with a long bendable tail.  I use it to keep my towel on my chair. I clip the center of my towel in the clip and and then bend the tail over and hang it on my chair.  If the wind blows, my towel stays put. No more chasing my towel across the pool deck.  I also keep track of my swim goggles with Towligator. I clip my goggles in his mouth and loop his tail over the chair and they stay put. I always know where they are.  This has proven quite useful since we've had hurricane force winds come through here and sure enough... my goggles stayed on that chair -- no problem!

He works great at the beach, too! You can clip the corner of your towel in the Towligator's mouth and then band his tail over and shove it in the sand. Thus, your towel stays put even when it's windy!
Some people stick the tail in the sand and then put their cell phone or iPod in the Towligator's mouth to keep it from getting all sandy and dirty.

We love Towligator! He is cute, fun, and extremely useful.
I currently have one in the kitchen. He is holding my dishtowel with his tail looped over a drawer pull.  The drawer pull was too small for the dishtowel, but this works great!  I have my dishtowel where I need it and he is so cute, too. I've gotten many compliments on my Towligator!!

This is what they said:

Toweligators are a must have for every beach bag, boat, and pool deck! Don’t miss an opportunity to order this season’s most popular, most talked about innovation. The Toweligator is NOT only seen on TV!

Vacations and days by the pool are supposed to be relaxing and fun, not spent chasing your towel. No more dual role hair clips, tying knots, finding safety pins or constantly adjusting your towels. Let a team of Toweligators grip and fasten your towels right where you need them.

Originally designed to hold your beach towel securely in place, either in the sand or on your beach chair, its practical uses are endless. Use your imagination, then allow team gator to hold your glasses out of the sand and your snack bag sealed on YOUR towel.

The unique and well-researched design allows the bendable tail to attach almost anywhere to make it the most versatile and fun clamp on the market. The tail can bend around chair backs, closet rods, tree limbs, and boat decks making the Toweligator not just a beach clamp, but the everywhere clamp. The strong gator-grip jaws ensure your belongings stay where you put them. Take your Toweligators everywhere!

Buy'em for gifts, buy'em for vacations, or buy'em for laughs. Just buy'em!

I think this year, Towligator may find his way into some stockings around here at Christmas time. There are a gazillion uses for them and they are so unbelievably cute!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign my Family Review Network on behalf of Towligator and received a complimentary product sample to help facilitate my review and to thank me for taking the time to participate.

An Interloper

We found this itty bitty froggy floating on the pool thermometer this morning. I think he wanted to celebrate LLB's birthday with us today.  We are a few months late celebrating -- we were waiting on the pool and then we had to wait for everyone to come home!
Hopefully, the rain will stop and the sun will come out. If not, we'll swim between the raindrops.

Affresh - Round 2

I was asked to review Affresh - the stainless steel cleaner.
I have now used it for 6 weeks and I can honestly say that it is terrific!  I used in on the bottom of our popcorn popper -- it's a movie theater style popper with a stainless tray on the bottom.  Even with all the salt and popcorn kernels and oil spatter, the popper cleans up beautifully with Affresh. The Affresh makes it easier to clean -- the goo seems to just wipe right off. It's great!

My sink continues to wipe up nicely as do Gram's appliances. They stay cleaner longer. It's almost like magic!  The water spots on Gram's refrigerator are gone and the fingerprints don't seem to stick.. I'm telling you... This stuff is awesome!
If you have stainless steel appliances, stainless steel sinks, or stainless steel that gets grungy frequently -- use Affresh! It works.


 “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of affresh and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

We have

Water!

Think about this:

Since the Democrats have held the majority in the House of Representative for about 46 of the last 60 years since 1950 and The Senate has been controlled by the Democrats for about 40 of those 60 years and the Democrats have controlled at least one or the other of the 2 branches over 50 of the 60 years and the Democrats have controlled both Houses since 2007 until recently - exactly the period of the current Economic collapse from an all time "high" in July 2007 - how can the failed economy be the fault of the Republicans?

Democrats controlled the House 44 years
Republicans controlled the House 12 years
Democrats controlled the Senate 38 years
Republicans controlled the Senate 18 years

Happy Birthday, America!

Today is the last day my #1 will be home and able to sleep in.  Today I will let him sleep because I am nice and because I know that every day for the next 25 days or so, he will be up early and in class. This little tidbit brings me great joy as this is payback for all of those years he was up at 6am without fail.

Later this morning Mr. will help chop the tree that fell at the church last night. He gets to use his chainsaw -- how manly!  #1 will finish packing his trunk. He has a few items that he needs to put in there like a fan, a bathing suit, and his running shoes. LLB hopes to spend the afternoon with HP playing video games and chatting it up. As for me, I hope to be sipping a mimosa and chomping popcorn with a dear friend while we watch the frogs hop around the puddle in the bottom of the pool. It's not exactly what we had envisioned -- sipping mimosas while floating around the pool on our noodles -- but it will do.

We head off to VMI tomorrow morning - bright and early.  Because we are good parents, we will haul his stuff in, help him find and purchase his required textbooks, have lunch, and wave goodbye.  He will have wanted us to leave as soon as we got his trunk up to his room!  We have a Parent Orientation which we are required to attend in the afternoon.  It will be a fun and informative day, I'm sure. :-)

On a separate note, the pool is due to be plastered tomorrow morning - beginning at 6:30. Let's hope that by the time we get home it is done and full of water.   I want to be dangling my feet in there tomorrow night.

The Pool

Is still empty and gray.
They did not show up to plaster it on Friday as promised.
Alas, patience is a virtue.

Yesterday I packed my #1's trunk for his first stint at VMI.
Spacebags are my friend and his. It's amazing how much one can stuff into a spacebag when one can only bring one trunk... His clothes and his comforter have been vacuum packed. He even had room in there for his lamp, his clock, his pillow - which I could probably have put in a spacebag, too -- and I still might.  All that's left to put in there are his flip flops, his running shoes, and is external drive. :-)  How he gets it all in there to come home is his problem.

As I was packing, I realized that I need to purchase him 2 more sets of towels - he only has 4 sets and they require a minimum of 6.  This will require a C*stco run, but that's not a huge deal and I like C*stco.

We haul him and his trunk to VMI on Tuesday. He is excited. He is nervous. He will be just fine, I'm sure. This first stint is similar to summer camp with homework. He is taking English Composition. He can write. He will excel. While he is there, he will be issued his combat boots and a pair of socks - he was already told that he had to break them in. In my minds eye I picture him dressed in plaid shorts and combat boots - that's attractive -- hahaha!!! :-)

Hey! Check it out!

First thing yesterday, Grandpa was out in the yard snooping around. He found this and asked if he could keep it. Hah! I should think not.

We went from this yesterday morning...

To this....

It makes the whole pool look larger and the pool area so much more beautiful.
We are very very pleased with the progress...
After speaking with the company's owner, it's thanks to his wife for pushing him to get this pool done. He and his family live across the street and are really terrific people.  It seems that she made him sit and watch all the kids, cars, and people pile in here for all the events we have had. He said she made him stay up for the cast party. She made him watch for the graduation party. She makes him stay and watch the kids come up for the Wednesday Sectional Rehearsals. I had no idea they even noticed. He said it gave him perspective - he saw it from the consumer's side of things. That alone is worth the parties we had without the pool. As long as something good comes out of it - besides my learning to be patient - it was all worth it.
Now -- if they don't show up to plaster and fill today, I'll be absolutely crushed. Patience is a virtue, but I still want the kids to swim on Monday!

Pool Progress

Proceeds at a slothlike pace.
Actually, this is a better than a soap opera! We couldn't make this stuff up!

They were supposed to put the concrete around the pool last week, but that didn't happen.  It seems we are at the mercy of the County Inspector. He deemed one item - the grid?? - unacceptable on Wednesday and was supposed to return Friday to approve the re-do.  The pool guys were here late Thursday and did the re-do -- they even showed up at 6:59am on Friday to be sure it was done and done the way the inspector wanted it for his 8am inspection. So much for that! Mr. Inspector did not show up.  at. all. ahem...
Yesterday I sent an email to the Pool People asking about the inspection and this week's schedule - or as we say "this week's pipe dream".  
This is the email I received from our Pool People yesterday:
Good Afternoon,
I was surprised to see your email about the inspection, since I was PROMISED it would be done Friday.  I am now being told they will be out tomorrow, and I will be sure to stay on top of them about it!
We are still on schedule for concrete Wednesday/Thursday, and plaster Friday, with water being hauled in after plaster Friday.

The Saga Continues...
Will #1 get to swim in his pool before he heads off to school on July 5?
Will LLB get to swim in her pool before she heads of to camp on July 14?
Will it be done before Labor Day?
Tune in on Thursday to find out if the concrete has gone in...
See -- I told you -- this is way better than a Soap Opera!

Affresh Stainless Steel Review

I was sent a bottle of Affresh Stainless Steel cleaner.

I have a stainless steel sink that I can never seem to get clean. Gram gets really annoyed by smudges and fingerprints on her stainless steel appliances. I thought that this might be a great product for us to try.

Gram used the Affresh on her appliances first. (She had fingerprints, water drips, and smudges and since I had a sink full of dishes -- She won!)  She sprayed a soft cloth with the Affresh. She rubbed. The smudges and fingerprints came right off. The drip stains from the ice/water in the door where people dribbled took more than one application, but nothing else has ever taken them completely out until now.
The company claims that the cleaner stays put where it is sprayed... not so much on a smooth vertical surface.  Gram put paper towels on the floor to catch the drips from when she sprayed the water stains on the fridge.  But honestly, it's not a huge deal.
Gram's dishwasher front was kind of a mess. With one application of the Affresh, it looked like new. No smudges. No drips. No nothing.  And a week later it still looks great. Ditto for the fridge. I don't think it has stayed as clean looking ever...  

I emptied my sink and proceeded to clean my sink.  Affresh works well. The scent is wonderful and clean. My problem is that the minute I get the sink clean, someone comes along and fills it up or runs water or just gets in my way.  That said, it seems to stay cleaner longer - you know?  The stains don't seem to stick to the sink the way they did before.  I did notice that when I sprayed the sink, the Affresh didn't seem to run down it as fast as I thought it would. It did sorta stay where I sprayed it. I wonder if it's because the sink is a different kind of stainless than the fridge...

What they say:

Affresh® Stainless Steel Cleaner gently cleans the fingerprints, smudges, and residue left behind from daily use. The cleaner combines commonly used cleaning agents with special ingredients that, when used as part of a normal maintenance program, can help prevent the formation of residue that can build-up on stainless steel surfaces.

The durable, distinguished look of clean stainless steel can really make a kitchen shine. Keeping that look, though, has always been a chore, until now.

To ensure maximum performance, Whirlpool recommends a monthly maintenance and cleaning routine detailed in the product’s Use & Care Guide. With the new Affresh® Stainless Steel Cleaner, consumers have even more cleaning power to help resolve the build-up residue.

Anyway - we'll continue to use it and let you know if we still like it in a few weeks!  Although, since we cleaned the appliances last week, they've stayed clean... This stuff seems kind of expensive - $6.99 per bottle - but since you use so little and the clean lasts so long, it's a great deal!


 “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Affresh and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

It's Fathers' Day!

Happy Fathers' Day!!

We have a huge surprise happening here a little later.
It involves the two fathers in the family - of course!
Now I need to run and clean up this house while my Mr. is off strumming his guitar at church.

I found this ladybug family picture and thought it was so cute!

How can it be Saturday?

This week as absolutely flown by...
They came to fix the air conditioner. It's still not fixed. They had to order a compressor for the second unit. They said 3 days. I suspect they will be back on Monday. If not, I will be calling them... It's getting hot again and I don't mind not having air when it's cool out. Somehow, I do mind not having air when it gets hot and sticky.
The pool progress continues to be slothlike. The electricians came and were done in a couple of hours.  For this they made me wait two weeks? sigh...
The pool people sent an email stating that the concrete around the pool is going in next week. It's supposed to rain next week... of course it is.
It will be interesting to see what they do or don't do. It would be nice if #1 could actually swim in the pool before he leaves for college, but I'm certainly not holding my breath.
LLB had her Brass sectional here this week. There were trumpets and horns and tubas! It sounded really really good. I have to admit, I was impressed. They worked on marching skills. They worked on music. They worked on standing and breathing, too. Next week we do it all over again and I can't wait! I just would be so much better if the pool were done so they kids could enjoy it. Alas... patience is a virtue -- or so they tell me.
Polo tonight!  I'll be sitting on my rear end watching polo drinking a mimosa... Be there!

On the upswing...

So, Mr. took the car in yesterday and for $272, it has been fixed. It had a bad V-Tech valve thingy. They wanted to replace the catalytic converter for $1900. Ahem.. um... no.

Yes, there are reasons to replace the catalytic converter - emissions and better gas mileage... But there are reasons not to replace said item - about 1900 of them.

I will continue to drive my sweet car until it croaks.
I can only hope it isn't too soon...  I've got 170k miles on this car... I need another 100k out of it.

We shall see...

When it rains...

It pours...
This is my week:
Pool - not done and there has been very  little progress this week.

Air Conditioning - guy came to fix it and now it's still broken. They will be back on Monday to fix it.
My Car - the transmission seems to be on the fritz.  It is going in to the shop today. I hope it is an easy and inexpensive fix.
So - I got no pool. I got no A/C. I got no car.
Where is the hidden camera??

It's the little things....

I was reading Fatal Abstraction. I enjoy her blog immensely.
Today she posted about the most wonderful TP holder I have ever seen.

No more springy holder thingy. It's is a lever... How absolutely brilliant! 
Those of you who receive Christmas gifts from me -- you just might be receiving this.  If you don't know what to get me - this would be an awesome stocking stuffer. ahem...

Overheard in PE Class...

LLB has PE. Right now they are working on a "Health" unit.
The class is a co-ed class.
The teacher was talking about bacteria.  She has a very pronounced southern twang...

"Bacteria thrives in a dark, warm, moist environment.  Girls - y'all are a walkin' petrie dish!"

I don't think I've ever laughed so hard...

Graduation...

It's time...
My #1 is graduating.
The Band Moms and one Band Dad got together and made surprise scrapbooks for this year's seniors. We filled them with pictures and keepsakes...
Since my sister and my in-laws are far away and probably won't get to see the book - I thought I'd at least share the letter I wrote to put in #1's book. 

Dearest #1,

Your senior year at Highschool is over. You are graduating in a few days. It seems like just yesterday you were getting on the kindergarten bus. Time just flew ~ How did that happen??

Thanks to the US Army, you have been given the opportunity to follow your dreams, study at VMI - your first choice school, and serve your country. This is the beginning of the next step of a wonderful journey! Just think - You are going to learn, see the world, do great things, and have awesome experiences! As my Gram used to say, “The world is your oyster”.  I can’t wait to see where it all leads. That said, Dad and I are in need of a destination vacation, so choose your deployment assignments with your dear parents in mind, okay?

College is a time to grow. You’ll grow in ways you never expected and I’m not talking about biceps. You’ll be pushed and pulled in many directions – some good, some exciting, and some difficult. It’s your level head and your faith in God that will keep you on the straight and narrow.  I can only hope that you remember your roots and your small town values as you move in new and unfamiliar circles.  Temptation comes in many forms – you’ll be tempted to try things, go places, and do the stupidest most moronic things you’d never think you’d do. The question is – which path will you follow?  The choice is yours, but the repercussions are like a pebble dropped in a lake. They affect more than you alone and most, both good and bad, will follow you well into adulthood.

Success in life comes down to 4 simple rules:

1. Keep your head up, your mouth closed, and your eyes and ears open.

2. Always tell the whole truth – no matter what.

3. Think twice before you speak or act.

4. Don’t shame your mother. 

(If you follow rules 1 - 3 to the letter you won’t have to worry about rule number 4.)

We love you.

We are proud of you.

Love,

Mom and Dad

That says it - right?

Perfective Ceuticals Review

I was asked to review this product:
Perfective Ceuticals Divine Age Guardian Cream with Growth Factor

It is a moisturizing, wrinkle reducing, fine line erasing cream for your face.
I think it actually works.
I have the worlds most sensitive skin and I didn't itch when I put it on. It has very little scent if any and that scent is a clean smell. It's a very light feeling cream. It goes on, soaks in, and some of the tiny lines went away. My face felt nice and smooth after applying the cream. It didn't feel sticky like there was still cream on my face, you know.

I am using the cream as my daily moisturizer and after a week of use, I do see a difference.

This is what the company says about it's magic cream:
Discover the science of luxury: leading edge anti-aging technology combined with exquisite indulgence. Divine Age Guardian Cream with Growth Factor is a rich, nourishing cream infused with high strength anti-aging ingredients to rejuvenate skin from the inside out.

Its proprietary complex of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl), Ginseng Extract and Emu Oil specifically help reprogram the aging process of skin cells, repair fine lines, wrinkles and sagging by stimulating cell turnover, microcirculation and the production of Collagen and Elastin. Combined with time released hydrators, anti-oxidants and skin lighteners to enhance health and radiance, the skin feels brightened, lifted and toned. Anti-inflammatory. Non-comedogenic. Scientifically proven.

Directions: 1. Apply a small amount to the face and neck with gentle and smooth circular movements. Wait five minutes for absorption. 2. For best anti-aging results, use after Divine Age Guardian Serum with Growth Factor, and follow with Anti-imperfection Eye Therapy with Growth Factor. 3. Apply twice a day or as directed by physician. 4. Use as a daily moisturizer or after a beauty procedure; microdermabrasion, radiofrequency skin tightening treatment or laser skin resurfacing treatment. 5. Apply a sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection before sun exposure. 6. Best for normal, dry, combination, sun-damaged and sensitive skin.

I like this cream very much and will continue to use it.  You use so little at a time that I'm sure that the container will last quite a long while. That said, I love the container - it is a lovely blue ball sitting on my dresser. A blue ball containing magic cream that makes me look younger... I like that!

Perfective Ceuticals has a line of anti-aging products, and I am considering trying the other products. Why? because my skin is so incredibly sensitive, and to find a product that I can put on my face is nothing short of miraculous. Normally, I can only use water on my face --  no soap, no make-up, no nothing...  Since this is cream works for me, I think that the other products will be just as gentle. 

If you need a good wrinkle reducing miracle cream, try the Perfective Ceuticals line.


 “This post was written for Family Review Network & Perfective Ceuticals who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.”

Name Game

LAST NAME GAME......PLEASE don't spoil it for others!
Rules:
It's harder than it looks! Erase my answers, enter yours and
send it on to 10 people, including me. Use the 1st letter OF YOUR LAST
NAME to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real
places, names, things. Nothing made up. Use different answers if the
person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You can't use your name
for the boy/girl question. Have Fun!!

1. What is your last name?  Crossing
2. Name an Animal.....  Cat
3. A Boys name.... Charles
4. A Girls name ...  Catherine
5 An occupation....Cook
6. Color................ Coral
7.Something you wear..  Coat
8. A beverage...... Coke
9. A Food..... Carrot Cake
10. Something found in the bathroom.... Cabinet
11. A place ............ Chicago
12. A Reason for being late..... Constipation
13. Something you shout.......Come!!

The only thing better than Hairspray....

That's my boy!  Corny Collins!!

It was a phenomenal show!!!

Hairspray!

Our high school's production of Hairspray is this weekend.  My #1 is Corny Collins. My LLB is in the orchestra -- we do live music for our spring musical :-)
I can't wait to see the costumes, the show, the kids, the props...
I was at school yesterday dropping off some stand lights -- I'll fill you in on that mess when I have a few more minutes -- and I saw all of our furniture used for props! #1's old book case was ready and waiting to be hauled on stage.... as was the telephone table.  It was hysterical to see Gram's couch up there on stage! I almost laughed out loud!!
So - if you need something to do this weekend or next - check out Hairspray!
Clap for my boy... clap for my girl... cheer for my furniture!

Got Hacked!

My gmail account got hacked - by someone in China. Gmail allows you to see who accessed your account and when. Grrrr!!!
For any of you who got an email - supposedly from me - please disregard.
I find it incredibly annoying and absolutely 100% frustrating that some Chinese dude thought my gmail account needed to be hacked. Trust me, I don't need or want my account hacked.
I think this goes back to the Epsilon data theft... Thanks, Epsilon.
So much for that, huh?
So sorry for any inconvenience that this Chinese hacker may have caused you.
Hugs!!
LBC

Universal Laws

I received this in an email and thought it was terrific!

1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

 2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of Probability -The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act

4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

5. Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire..

6. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

8. Law of Close Encounters -The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

11.. Law of the Theater and Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies, and stay to the bitter end of the performance. . The aisle people also are very surly folk.

12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.

15.  Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.

17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.

18.  Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.

Busy? Who me?

I was recently asked to sub in a Community Handbell Choir for a month. I emailed the director and told her that I could make the Sunday evening rehearsals and that LLB could also sub in for the second person she was missing. 
I asked if there were any performances planned, because we have a very busy weekly schedule -- especially for the month of May.
I got an email back that said they wanted to do a performance either the first or second Friday in May. That doesn't work for us.  The high school play - Hairspray! is those weekends and we are hosting the cast party as well.  I also mentioned that I was busy on Sunday May 1st, and that rehearsal on that night was going to be impossible...
Then I tried to think of all the other dates I couldn't do.
The list is too long to print here, suffice it to say I'm booked solid.
I want to help this lady out, but it doesn't look like we are the people to do it.
I thought things were supposed to wind down at the end of the school year -- except they aren't.  We have spring break and then it's May. Then we have Memorial Day and it's June. One week after Memorial Day, my son will be a high school graduate!
So -- I thought I had time... and now, I realize that I don't.  I have parties to plan, gifts to purchase, events to attend and that is just the extra stuff on top of all the other normal stuff I have to do.
I guess it's a good thing that I got the dishes done and the laundry started early today, huh?

Fighting City Hall...

I was at a meeting yesterday.  One of the administrators made a comment that kinda got my knickers in a twist, so I wrote this letter.  I sent it to the person, and many others. Personally, I'm hoping it shows up in my local newspaper, too.  Names have been changed to protect the guilty and the innocent.


Ms. Person,
I was at the  Renovation Meeting yesterday morning.

I was appalled that you would think and publicly say that the members of the public who were at that meeting did not care about academics, have an agenda, and are trying to sabotage the HS construction project. That was extremely unprofessional and insulting!  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Mrs. Other Person was right - we are not there to sabotage. We are there because we care about the students at HS and the project.  We have every right to tell you what we don't like about your project.  We have every right to want only the best for our students. The best does not involve water walls or water reclamation systems. The best does involve a safe facility, excellent teachers, and a well rounded education for our children.

I believe this is all a matter of perspective. You don't have students at HS. You don't have students in the system. We do. Our children are involved in Band and Theatre as well as Athletics.  Our children are not the lower academic students, but the students who have GPA's above 4.0.  We are in the building on a regular basis because we volunteer to help when asked. We see what the students and faculty need. We see what they don't have. We see the teachers and students struggle with storage, lighting and acoustics. We see them make do with what they have knowing that across the county there are two schools who have it all.  We see our music students come out of rehearsals with ringing ears. We see a stage and an auditorium that SHOULD be the gold standard in the county, but is run down and in disrepair.  The HS Performing Arts department does amazing things with what they have. They could do so much more. Our students are the students who represent the county. It's time the county stepped up and represented them.

Our perspective is that of parents and a tax payers.  Our perspective is that we don't see you in our school. We don't see you asking the faculty and staff who use the facilities what they need. We see you giving them what you want them to have.  Is this really what they need??  You want us to spend $25 million of our tax dollars on a project that does not address or come close to meeting the needs of the students and faculty at HS.  You want us to be happy that you are putting up a big beautiful building when the Performing Arts wing doesn't have a fire suppression system, handicapped access, decent restrooms, adequate classrooms or storage.

Now, at the last minute, it seems that Performing Arts is important.  You mentioned that Architecture Firm would design the new Performing Arts classrooms. No offense, but shouldn't those who are going to be teaching in those classrooms be involved in the design? Music and Performing Arts classrooms are not simply square classroom boxes. They need high ceilings. They need their own HVAC. They need acoustic design. They are not an average classroom.  Let those who will use the facility tell you what they need and be involved in the design.

I am not sabotaging anything, Ms. Person. I'm simply trying to make sure that our students, faculty, and staff have what they need.