September Wordle

Oh, Cnada ; THIS is a sport???

On Yputube tonight, I got board and searched Hockey fights. it was entertaining. then i just thought ice, Canada, it all pieced together; curling.

It looks like three things combine:
1.shuffleboard
2.bowling
3.SWEEPING THAT KITCHEN FLOOR BECAUSE SOMEONE WANTS TO ROCK-AND-ROOL SOMEMORE.

Post By: Lucas.

More 'DH' Observations

--Mike and Susan were driving a Cadillac Escalade? I never thought of them as the type who would pick such a flashy ride. I didn't know plumbing paid so well.

--I'm glad this show is continuing the tradition of naked people falling out of open windows.

--It's nice to see Bob and Lee are still around. I just hope these two get a real storyline this season, and aren't relegated to bitchy diatribes and gay pop culture references.

--First a plumber, now a painter. Susan must really have a thing for men in the trades.

--One of Bree's identifying qualities is her meticulous housekeeping skills. So how did such a painstaking organizer allow a sipper cup to be tossed in a drawer with the wire wisks? I know it was a plot device, but still...

--I would like to see the Zack Young storyline resolved.

--More Mrs. McClusky, please.

'Desperate Housewives' Premier Observations

--Somehow, I just knew Mike wasn't dead, in jail, in a vegetative state, or otherwise MIA. The writers have taken us down all these roads before.

--So, what about Carlos? Was his blindness the temporary soap opera variety, or is it the real deal?

--I knew something bad was going to happen to Tom's Mustang. I just didn't think he'd inflict the wound himself. By the way, that kick he made to the driver's door was WEAK! I've seen more body damage done with a sack of groceries.

--It looks like Gabby had a case of temporary soap opera infertility. She recovered quite nicely.

--Normally I'm a Bree fan, but seeing Katherine put her on the spot was priceless. Spin that sugar, Bree!

--The only characters who aged in the last 5 years seem to be the Scavo twins. Carlos and Orson got some token gray in their hair, but even that will be gone by mid-season.

--I was surprised to see Gabby still driving the Maserati convertible. Her wardrobe and hair had gotten so dowdy that I thought her car would follow suit.

--And speaking of Gabby, making her daughter chase the car was cruel...even if the child did need the exercise. Where was that woman who accosted Lynette when she kicked the petulant P's out of her minivan in Season 1?

--Mrs. McClusky's remark about Edie meeting her husband at the free clinic...ZING!

--Mike and Susan's divorce won't last. They'll be back together by mid-season.

--So, Baby Maynard became MJ. Decent compromise.

--And where was Katherine's husband, Adam? They seemed to be on the road to reconciliation at the end of last season.

--I'd like to know whatever became of Tom and Lynette's other kids...especially Kayla. I suppose not all questions can be answered in one night.

--It looks like this season's mystery story involves Edie and her new husband (sorry, I forgot the guy's name). Q has predicted that he's the widower of the mother and child who were killed in the car accident that involved Mike and Susan.

More to come...

Chair Sketches

For this weekend's drawing homework, we had to sketch out a series of chairs from the side and front. The last chair was student's choice. The pencil lines seem fainter than they really are. Click on the pic to view larger.

The Wrath of Kyle, Part 2

Click on the photo for current information.

Friday Fill-Ins #91

1. ___Q's birthday, our anniversary, roasting pumpkin seeds, Halloween, and COOLER WEATHER___ are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.

2. Sometimes I ___talk to myself___.

3. ___Because someday I might own a Harlequin double egg cup in the rare medium green color.___ And that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!

4. When I'm down, I ___buy myself something I don't need___.

5. ___At school, at home, or en route from one to the other___ is where you'll find me most often.

6. A rainy day is good for ___staying in your jammies, watching DVDs of Desperate Housewives, pigging out on cookies, and ordering pizza for dinner___.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to ___a long overdue date night with Q___. Tomorrow my plans include ___sketching chairs from different angles and finishing an essay on Chinese decorative arts___. And Sunday, I want to ___run some errands, and maybe take the boys out for lunch___!

Friday Fill-Ins

Beltless

This morning when Luke was getting dressed, he asked me to help him find a belt. Apparently, all of his good jeans were dirty. I was given a few pairs by a neighbor lady whose son had outgrown them, but they were a bit too big.

I knew Kyle had an old belt somewhere, but it was MIA . I told Luke I would stop and buy him a belt on the way to school.

My first stop was Nordstrom’s Rack. Yes, 80% of their store is women's apparel, but they do have a decent children’s department. Unfortunately their kids' offerings don’t include belts.
So it was off to Old Navy. No dice there, either. They did have some trousers that came with a belt. I was tempted to buy those, but Luke only wears jeans.

I even scanned the girl’s department, hoping to find a belt that wasn’t pink or purple—anything that could pass for gender neutral. I left with only a pink tank top from the ladies’ clearance rack. A girl can never have too many pink tank tops.

On the way home, I stopped by Kohl’s. They had boys’ belts, but aside from being buried in a rack behind the clearance section, their belt selection was lackluster, at best. There were no black and brown reversible braided belts with a gold-tone buckle in size small anywhere in the store. I guess I’m an impossible customer to please.

Seriously, how hard could it possibly be to find a kids' belt? I mean SERIOUSLY?!?!? Is there a leather shortage I don't know about?

Sigh. I'll probably try Target and another Kohl's this weekend. Worst case scenario, I'll check Wal-Mart. In the meantime, I have to throw a load of jeans in the wash.

The Wrath of Kyle

We're feeling the effects in Arizona. This storm attacked our house 14 years ago. The bedroom next to the upstairs bathroom hasn't been the same since.

Keep track of Tropical Storm Kyle at the National Hurricane Center.

Miami Trip

I am finally getting around to posting pics from last weekend's trip to Miami (yes, we have a Miami in Arizona, too). It's a small turn-of-the century mining town about 100 miles east of Phoenix.

We went there to visit our friend Rick, and see his photography exhibit at a small local museum. Rick was such an incredible host. After leaving the museum, we ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant that serves their meals on Fiesta.

We also took a tour of historic downtown Miami. The architecture was amazing.

Much of the drive to Miami was through mountain passes. I captured this pic while Q and Luke were chasing lizards on the side of the highway.

Fireplace at the county courthouse.
Driving through town.

The old YMCA building in downtown Miami. It's for sale if anyone's interested.

A cool Art Deco motif on the window of an empty storefront.

An antique store's storage area full of cool yard junk. Too bad this place was closed.
We were all amused by this gas pump. The readout for the total price doesn't reach $10, and the per-gallon price doesn't reach $1.

This stair climb goes several courses up the hill.
Q and the boys at the top of the stair climb. Rick and I went up the first course before stopping. I wasn't going to make the entire hike in Birkenstocks.

Rick gifted me with this gold Granada coffee server. It has found a new home among my Ironstone collection.

Another Friday Meme

Craig at RainbowDishes did this meme on his blog, and since we always borrow each others post ideas, I'm going to do it too.

WARNING: This post is not quite G-Rated. Please don't read on if you're the least bit priggish, prudish, or otherwise easily offended.

Just bold the items you have done.
If you haven't done the item, just leave it alone.

1. Bought everyone in the pub/bar a drink
2. Climbed a mountain
3. Held a tarantula
4. Taken a morning shower with your man
5. Been in love
6. Broken someone’s heart
7. Had your heart broken
8. Done a striptease
9. Bungee jumped
10. Watched a lightning storm at sea
11. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise
12. Seen the Northern Lights
13. Gone to a huge sports game
14. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
15. Slept under the stars
16. Changed a baby’s diaper
17. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
18. Watched a meteor shower
19. Gotten drunk on champagne
20. Given money to charity
21. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
22. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
23. Had a food fight (and guess who got to clean up the mess!)
24. Bet on a winning horse
25. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
26. Had a snowball fight
27. Photocopied your butt or any other intimate body part
28. Held a lamb
29. Gone skinny dipping
30. Taken an ice cold shower
31. Seen a total eclipse
32. Ridden a roller coaster
33. Hit a home run
34. Been arrested
35. Visited all 50 states
36. Taken care of someone who was drunk
37. Stolen a street/highway sign
38. Backpacked in Europe
39. Taken a road-trip
40. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Milked a cow
43. Alphabetized your records
44. Sung karaoke
45. Lounged around in bed all day
46. Gone scuba diving
47. Danced in the rain
48. Gone to a drive-in theater
49. Started a business
50. Gotten married
51. Been in a movie
52. Crashed a party
53. Gotten divorced
54. Had sex in an unusual place
55. Made cookies from scratch
56. Gotten a tattoo
57. Been on television (does a crowd shot count?)
58. Had sex in a public place
59. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
60. Recorded music
61. Had too much to drink at a party
62. Bought a house
63. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
64. Been on a cruise ship
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Bounced a check
67. Called or written your Congress person
68. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
69. Sang loudly by yourself in the car
70. Wrote articles for a large publication
71. Piloted an airplane
72. Helped an animal give birth
73. Been fired or laid off from a job
74. Won money on a T.V. game show
75. Broken a bone
76. Ridden a motorcycle
77. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
78. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
79. Ridden a horse
80. Had major surgery (does a c-section count?)
81. Had sex on a moving train
82. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
83. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
84. Visited all 7 continents
85. Eaten sushi
86. Had your picture in the newspaper
87. Parasailed
88. Changed your name
89. Dyed your hair
90. Been a DJ

49 out of 90. That's better than half. I'm happy.

Friday Fill-Ins #90

1. There is no need ___yell___.

2. Where in the heck did the ___damn camera go___?

3. ___Stopping at the store for milk on the way home___ is all I managed to do.

4. Prospects for __getting Lucas to clean is room are slim___.

5. ___Love___ is the message.

6. Simplicity and tranquility are ___highly overrated___.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to ___going to the gym___. Tomorrow my plans include ___taking the family to Miami to visit a friend and see his photography exhibit at a local museum___. And Sunday, I want to ___go shopping for a new alarm clock___!

Friday Fill-Ins

He Beat Me There

As I was driving to the gym this evening, a jackrabbit ran across the road in front of me. I had to swerve into the left turn lane to avoid hitting him.

Q met me at the gym after work. As we approached the building, look who we found guarding the door:



I was surprised that he let us get as close as we did.

Rainbow Towels

Sometimes interesting things happen when I fold laundry.

Cookie Dough Dessert Sundae

On Saturday, Q and I were watching Food Network, and a guy was making dessert pizzas with undercooked cookie dough and ice cream. We decided to try a variation of this recipe on our own. The results were scrumptious.

Take a blob of chocolate chip cookie dough, and mush it to the bottom of an oven-safe dish. We used Fiesta ramekins, but I found them to be too small. Next time, I'll either use the oval bakers (when I buy a few more) or the mini pie bakers.

Bake until the cookies are not quite done. We used a store bought dough, and this particular brand took 12 minutes at 350.

Allow the ramekins to cool before adding ice cream (this was very difficult with three helicopter children hovering about). We used a Dreyer's flavor called Vanilla Sandwich. Additional toppings included Magic Shell and whipped cream. As you notice, Luke took off with his dessert before I could snap the final picture.

These pics don't do this recipe justice. Our camera is still missing (has been for almost 2 weeks) and I used my cell phone.

How Embarrassing!

After 16 years of marriage, Q and I are still quite happy. So much so, in fact, that we still hold hands in public.

Recently, we took the boys to the movies. After parking the car, I took Q's hand and we walked toward the theatre.

Kyle apparently had a problem with this. He began ranting about how we're "totally embarrassing him" and that "everyone's staring at us".

I told Kyle that he's the only one who has a problem with this. Everyone in that parking lot was too wrapped up in their own lives to care what Q and I were doing. Lucas wasn't complaining, either.
.
Furthermore, he should be grateful that his parents still even like each other. With many of his friends' parents, that's not the case.

And I reminded him that it could be worse. His dad and I could be making out with tongues!

Or worse still: we could be holding hands with other people.

Seriously. A little G-rated PDA between Mom and Dad never hurt anyone. Anyway, I think it's healthy for kids to see their parents being affectionate with one another.

But while we're on the subject of embarrassement, let's talk about that hairstyle. Kyle thinks it looks cool. I think it makes him look like the kid brother of the Free Credit Report dot com guy.

I also think it makes me look like a neglectful parent who can't be bothered with the time and expense to take her kid to Supercuts.

But for the time being, this is not a battle that I care to fight.

Dust Storm!

Here's how our neighborhood looks on a clear a day. The mountains are about a mile due east of our house.

And here's how it looked during Thursday evening's dust storm. The mountains have disappeared completely.

Friday Fill-Ins #89

1. I enjoy __Reading architecture books__.

2. __"Are we giving the boys a happy childhood?"__ is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you know ___that they're way better off than most___.

4. Take __some wind and rain__, add a little__dust and debris__ and you end up with __a green pool__.

5. Life has gifted me with __great hair__.

6. __Shopping__ is an instant vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to __maybe taking the boys out for ice cream__. Tomorrow my plans include __going to the gym__. And Sunday, I want to __finishing up a few projects for school__!


Try it for yourself: Friday Fill-Ins

Lightning The Mood...

To my friends and readers on or near the Gulf Coast: take cover and stay safe. We'll be thinking of you.

Random Blogthings

You Belong in 1977

Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all!

What Year Do You Belong In?

.

These results definitely agree with me. I've always been fascinated by 70's pop culture, fashion, architecture, design, and music. Especially the music. :-)

Thursday is the new Friday

Between my full time schedule, homework, errands, and gym visits, I'm finding it hard to post during the week. Anyway, I have Fridays off, and I NEED that day to get a jump start on a few design assignments that are due Monday.

Here's a synopsis of the week:

In Space Planning, we have to measure, draw, and dimension floorplans of our kitchens. I started the project by visiting our home builder's website and printing out a copy of our house plan to use as a guide. When a classmate saw what I was doing, he did the same thing for his house. I was flattered.

In CAD, everyone always seems to have questions that which range from file retrieval to font styles. Sometimes we ask the person next to us. But there are some real posers that only the instructor can answer. As such, she spends most of the period running from desk to desk, criss-crossing the room like Phil Donahue with a microphone.

Anyway, a few students have discovered that I can be almost as helpful as the teacher (and I do mean "almost". I can't answer them all). They'll roll their chairs across the room just to ask me a for help. Again, I'm flattered.

Drawing and Rendering has become known as the "cha-ching class" because we'll be spending a lot of money on tools and supplies. Some of these items are rather pricey and only available at art supply stores.

There aren't many such places in the Valley, and those we do have are located only in central Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale (but not near the freeway, and therefore not convenient). Michael's has some professional supplies, but they cater mostly to knitters, scrapbookers, and scout troops. I have a feeling I'll be frequenting the Dick Blick website almost as much as the gas station.

In Decorative Arts, a lecture on 16th and 17th century trade between China and Europe turned into a big discussion on dishes and pottery. We talked about Ming porcelain, celadon, Blue Willow, earthenware, ceramic, cloisonne, and many other heavily traded wares. Needless to say, I was a VERY captive audience.

On Tuesday, the Decorative Arts class is taking a field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum. Big yay! And since they don't open until 10, I get to leave late and avoid the inbound commuter traffic. Double yay!!!

Forced Home Improvement

Whenever we decide to embark on a home improvement project, ideas usually consist of fun stuff like redoing the downstairs bathroom, installing wood floors, or planting flowers. Never have I turned to Q and suggested that we replace the wood slats in the back gate. That changed after Friday's storm.

Here's how the gate looked before. We decided to replace all the planks for several reasons.

Upon close inspection, we discovered that most of the old planks were so split that they they were barely holding on. In fact, the wind probably should have blown off more than it did. Also, one brand new cedar slat would have look garish amid the black and grayed wood.

Besides, the house is almost 10 years old. It was time.

And here's the almost-finished product. The openings at both ends of both gates are about an inch narrower than those on the rest of the gate. Q doesn't have the necessary saw to trim wood vertically so he's going to seek out a buddy who has one.


The only suitable wood material Lowes had to offer were dog-eared fence boards. We had to mark and saw off the top of the plank to get the proper fit. While we did that, the boys unscrewed and removed the old wood.


Second, we had to stain each piece We chose an Olympic Waterproofing Sealant with a cedar-toned colorant.

Lastly, we drilled the holes, and screwed the boards into place. From start-to-finish, the whole project only took an afternoon, and cost around $50.

Now, I'm hoping our next door neighbors will redo their gate, too. :-)