Sunday, March 27, 2011

Irritating...

You know what I find incredibly irritating?
You get a sale ad from a company and you see something you want to purchase. You click on the ad to take you to the item. Then you get an error message. You click again -- same error message. You try to go to the main page of the site, only to get another error message or a site that hangs...
Now I'm irritated and I don't want the item -- actually I do still want it, but I'm annoyed, so I save my $1.49 and move on...
They lost a sale and I'm not happy. If their site had worked correctly, they would have made a sale -- I probably would have spent more than $1.49 -- and I'd be happily awaiting the arrival of the UPS guy in a couple of days.
Instead, I'm harping about it to you. :-)
Enjoy your day.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Half Days

I love half days of school!
I don't have to make lunches.
I can just get up, hug the children, and shoo them out the door to school.

Later this afternoon #1 has a scholarship interview at VMI - Mr. is taking him... yippee!!!  We're hoping he does well - because the more money he gets in scholarship funds means the less we have to come up with.  His tuition is covered with is ROTC scholarship, but his room and board is not. For those of you not at the college stage yet, let me put this little bee in your bonnet: Room and board costs more than tuition.

LLB has a rehearsal this afternoon, so she'll need to be picked up later. That gives me time to get #1 out the door for the second time today as well as get some things done for my bell ladies. I might even have time to squeeze a swim in today -- even though it's cold out and my fire is on and it's toasty here. 

The pool is still a big old hole in the ground. We thought they'd come and put the re-bar? in this week, but we had some rain and the guys didn't show. sigh... Let's just say that even if our pool were finished today, I'd not be swimming in it -- it's COLD out there!

I've been quite productive this morning. The bed is made and the dishes are done. The kitchen is clean. I washed 3 windows - insides only -- I'll get to the outsides once it warms up next week.  I've dusted the family room. The laundry is going. Zeb has had his morning treat...  I'd like to get the kitchen floor washed, but with all the mud outside, it just doesn't seem worth it...  It will be all mucky kitty and doggy prints in 30 seconds or less...  Maybe I'll just haul the few remaining Christmas decorations up to the attic - they've been piled in a corner for so long that I don't even see them anymore. Yeah -- that's productive and it's a quick job...  

Have a great weekend! Stay warm!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Mini Kitty

Our Mini Kitty isn't so mini anymore but she is still as impish as ever.
She looks innocent enough, but it's all an act. She's simply naughty!
Today it's a raw, cloudy, dank kind of day. She doesn't want to go outside...
What she does want to do is sock hunt.
She finds socks in drawers that are open but a half an inch. She very patiently works them out of the drawers. Once she gets them out, she deposits them in a far more useful place like my kitchen floor or the family room couch.
She found a dirty athletic sock in the laundry basket and has proceeded to deposit that one in the middle of our front stairs. It's far more attractive in that location where everyone can see it.
There are wool socks in the dining room.
There are dress socks in the family room.
There are striped socks in the kitchen and on the upstairs landing.
The list goes on.
I hear her up in LLB's room. She's trying to find a way to get her paw into the top drawer to reach a sock without falling off the dresser. She'll manage. She always does.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Tshirt Printing Review

I was asked to review a screen printed t-shirt from tshirtprinting.net.  I don't have a picture because my camera is on the fritz. If and when I get it working, I'll post a picture...
It is AWESOME!  The shirt is 90% cotton. It is very soft and is a little longer than most t-shirts, which is good for me because I'm a bit long waisted. I can raise my arms you don't see my aged belly because the shirt is long enough!!

The screen print is terrific, too. It doesn't have that "screen print smell" that most screen printed items have. I wore the shirt and didn't have to take it off because it smelled funny. This is GREAT!!
The screen print is very bright and it didn't peel at all. I've washed the shirt and it is as beautiful as when it came out of the envelope!  The screen print is also very "pliable" in that it isn't stiff and moves with the shirt. I am duly impressed!
I wore the shirt on Saturday at a bell conference and got a lot of compliments on it. Most liked the way the shirt looked - it fit great, was long enough, and seemed to be more than "just a t-shirt". I think it may have been the way the shirt was cut. It was more feminine or something. Many loved the "cheeky monkey logo". I think they were monkey fans!  Needless to say, I gave the website address out a lot!!
If you need screen printing, check out tshirtprinting.net.
Oh and don't forget -- they have more than just t-shirts -- they have hoodies, sweatshirts, hats and more!

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

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Life in General

Spring is almost here.
Petite Minou is out and about looking for something to chase... 
Zeb is enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather, too.  He loves to nap in the sun. I honestly think he may have been a cat in a past life.
Our days are busy... sometimes busier than we'd like, but it's all good!

#1 was accepted to yet another college - Grove City College in PA.  He is currently 5 for 5 -- we haven't heard from UVA - that's number 6 on the list.  As you know, he has decided on VMI for sure, but still, it's nice to have options.  He is looking forward to the end of the school year, his graduation, and his matriculation to VMI. We have his matriculation date - August 20th. On that date, we'll have a Rat in the family!

People have asked me if I'm ready to see him go. Well, it's like this: It is time. He is definitely ready. How do I know? Well -- #1 and I were chatting the other day about kids who do stupid things. The subject of underage drinking came up and he told me about a conversation he had with another senior.  The kid was talking about drinking at parties and such. He asked my #1 if he had tasted alcohol.  He told this other student that he had indeed tasted it, but that it wasn't his thing. The student asked why. His response was, "Listen, I have way too much to lose. I've got the world at my fingertips. I have a scholarship to college. I have a career just waiting to be had. Why screw it up??  Besides, you don't need to drink alcohol to have a good time." He has his head on straight. I can only hope he keeps it that way...

LLB is currently pouring over the music for Hairspray. The parts are HARD! She described the trumpet part like this: Take a flute part - the kind with a gazillion notes above the staff - hand it to the trumpets and tell them to play it.  She calls it, "Screamin' Trumpets".  Yup - it's that hard!  LLB is looking forward to summer - swimming and relaxing by the pool, spending time with friends, and going to camps. 

Speaking of the pool, it's coming along - although it doesn't appear to be much more than a hole in the ground right now. We are looking forward to cookouts, pool parties, and refreshing dips after chopping wood and mowing the lawn!

Mr. won the HOA Chili Cook-off this year! He entered his award winning chili - against 9 other entries - and came away with the trophy for his efforts!  He gets to keep the trophy for a year... We'll see if he can up the ante and win again next year!

My molasses/ginger cookies are a hit with one of our neighbors. He is obsessed with them and wants me to make them commercially.  He tried my chocolate chip cookies yesterday and told me that they are better than anything he's ever tasted. (I have to say, they were pretty good!)   He knows someone who has a professional bakery and makes goodies for restaurants and such. He wants to be my agent and introduce me and my cookies to this person. I told him that I'd think about it.  I just may take him up on his offer... Who knows... I may be the next cookie magnate! 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Pool...

We are getting a pool!
Before:
During:
There is currently a large pool sized hole in our back yard!

Friday, March 04, 2011

Zippies

Zippies are the best invention ever!
They are resusable water bottle ID tags.
My kids are on the swim team and in marching band. There are always a bunch of water bottles lined up on the edge of the marching field and on the edge of the pool. They all look the same, but they aren't the same! My kids' germs are different than your kids' germs. I'd rather they not share germs...
Zippies attach to the water bottle so that you can immediately distinguish yours from everyone else's.  There are 10 different animals and more are due to be released shortly.

Of course, you can use Zippies to identify more than water bottles. You can hang it on your keys, put it on your child's favorite stuffed animal, camping equipment, your luggage, and more.  There is a place on the back for you to write a name and a phone number. Perfect!

Here is what they say:  Zippies give kids a fun and easy way to keep track of their stuff while parents rest assured that emergency contact information (last name and parent’s phone number) is with them at all times. Use the rubber loop - or detach it to clip the pal on a key ring. They can even help prevent the spread of germs by identifying water bottles and teach children the importance of being responsible for personal belongings. These kid collectibles can also prevent constant arguments over their belongings.


This little guy is my favorite!  You'll find him hanging on my water bottle.  Check out the other choices.  I'll wait.  See? Aren't they terrific? The tiger? Yeah, he's my other favorite... LLB's, too. He's hanging on her bottle right now.  LLB has mentioned that she'd like to give them to her trumpet section at Band Camp. I think it's a terrific idea! 

Do yourself and your kids a favor. Before summer camps and summer activities start, order some Zippies! You'll make sure your kids comes home with their own items -- including their own germs!

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

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

A funny...

Gram sent me this. I found it hysterically funny!  It was one of those things that tickled my funny bone... I can only hope you find it as funny as I did.


While conducting some business at the Court House, I overheard a lady, who had been arrested for assaulting a Mammogram Technician, say,  "Your Honor, I'm guilty but.....there were extenuating circumstances."

The female Judge said, sarcastically, "I'd certainly like to hear those extenuating circumstances."  I did too so, I listened as the lady told her story.

"Your Honor, I had a mammogram appointment, which I actually kept. I was met by this perky little clipboard carrier smiling from   ear to ear and she tilted her head to one side and crooned, "Hi! I'm
Belinda! All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown. Everything clear?"

I'm thinking, "Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science."
Belinda then skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, "Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?" Fine, I answered.

I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck to finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other breast wedged
between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when I heard and felt a zap!

Complete darkness, the power was off!

Belinda said, "Uh-oh, maintenance is working, bet they hit a snag." Then she headed for the door.

"Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?" I shouted.

Belinda kept going and said, "Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back."

Before I could shout NOOOO! She disappeared. And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, "maintenance men Extraordinaire" found me...half-naked with part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life and the other part smashed between glass!

After exchanging a polite Hi, how's it going type greeting, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.

Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible, "Uh, yes, I did but thanks anyway."

"OK, you take care now" Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, "Oh I am sooo sorry! The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?"

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps...."

The judge could hardly contain her laughter as she said "Case Dismissed!