The Fluffy Pink Blog

Back To Normal...

2010-01-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

The parties are over and the guests have gone home.
The Christmas tree has been dismantled and put away.
The cookies, pies, brownies, and other goodies have all been eaten.
The Charlie Brown TV specials have been shelved for another year.
The gift cards have been redeemed and most of the Christmas money has been spent.

The post-holiday blues have set in.

Kiss Tonight!

2009-12-01T06:21:00.002-07:00

We don't go to concerts very often, but when I saw that Kiss was coming to Glendale, I knew I wanted to go. I even bought the tickets when they went on sale back in October.

The show is tonight. I'm really looking forward to it.

Marketing Gimmick?

2009-11-30T17:54:00.001-07:00

I think yes.

Sunday Dishes: Apricot Weekend

2009-11-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we went shopping at the antiques district in downtown Glendale. I didn't find anything there, but on the way home we stopped at Goodwill. There, I found a Fiesta large oval platter in Apricot. For $3, it came home with me.

Then today, I found more Apricot at the Brass Armadillo--a dinner plate, salad plate, and a fruit bowl. While the bargains weren't as great, I bought these items for less than I could find them on eBay...even before shipping.

I Am Here

2009-11-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a screen capture of our house as it appears on Google Maps. It's obvious that this pic was taken in the afternoon based on the location of the shadows. Also, the garage is open (forever immortalizing the car, lawn mower, paint cans, and other useless crap on the Internet), which means the boys had just gotten home from school. Furthermore, recycling can on the curb tells me that it was a Thursday.

I guess I'm glad this picture was taken before the frisbee got stuck on the roof above the garage.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T20:58:00.002-07:00

Six Digits

2009-11-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Our Dodge reached 100,000 miles today. I wasn't able to get a picture of the actual rollover since Q was driving it at the time and he has better things to do than care what the odometer says. Anyway, that's more my thing.

We've never owned a car this long. I just hope the car doesn't crap out on us before I finish school and start working.

Greed & Hate

2009-11-01T09:43:00.004-07:00

For Halloween, Q and I dressed up as Jon and Kate. Here's how our costumes turned out::

We had a lot of fun rocking this look because Jon and Kate are the embodiment of everything we're against: greed...adultery...child exploitation...bad taste...

When we were shopping for costumes last weekend when I spotted the "Eight is Too Many" wig. An idea was born.

For Kate's costume I used:
--the stripey, spiky, blond wig with cartoonishly long bangs (we later found out that this wig can be worn backwards as a true mullet. Next year: Joe Dirt!)
--hot pink flouncy sleeved top from Old Navy
--long, dangly hoop earrings
--heavy makeup...including frequent reapplications of lip gloss
--white framed plastic sunglasses from Walmart
--rhinestone-studded jeans

I had a lot more fun with Q's outfit. To recreate Jon's look, I douched him up but good!

Jon's costume consisted of:
--T-shirt with skulls, flames, and other garish crap on it (I found this in a clearance rack at TJ Maxx...Ed Hardy was just too expensive for a shirt he would only wear once).
--Black ballcap worn backwards
--Dark glasses
--3/8" rhinestones glued to his ears
--Jeans with strategically-placed rips and bleach spots
--Three days of stubble growth
--Thick stack of fake $20 bills hanging out of his back pockets
--Padding under his shirt to recreate Jon's big belly.

Crafty!

2009-10-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

Today, I was doing some shopping in the Bell Road area of north Glendale. I let out a loud, jubilant scream when I saw this:

Hobby Lobby is FINALLY coming to our area! YES!!!! Currently, the closest location is over 20 miles away in Avondale. Not exactly convenient. This new location means that I'll no longer be relegated to the mediocre offerings at Michael's and Joann's.

Eighteen

2009-10-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary, Q! Has it really been 18 years already?!?!?!? It sure doesn't seem like it!

Thrilling!

2009-10-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

I was at the craft store the other day and spotted this instruction sheet on how to make this "thrilling jacket" out of Duck tape. Of course, everyone knows that this is supposed to replicate the jacket Michael Jackson wore in the Thriller video. In my opinion, the cut of the jacket makes it look more like it could be MJ's raincoat.

The sheet also included directions on how to make a Jackson-style black fedora that can be accessorized with the jacket. I guess this is fine if continuity doesn't matter to the costume wearer. At no point in Thriller does Michael wear a fedora...or any hat, for that matter. The werewolf mask at the beginning of the video doesn't count.

Not A Fan

2009-10-17T16:58:00.004-07:00

About a month ago, the ceiling fan in our bedroom bit the dust. Literally. Dust in and around the fan caused the circuit box to catch fire.

When it happened, I immediately shut the fan off at the light switch, which extinguished the fire. Q clasped his hands together and said "well, I guess we're getting a new fan this weekend!" Until then, we put tape over the light switches so nobody could mistakenly turn them on.

That Saturday, we went to Lowes, where we bought this fan:

I chose this one primarily because I like the modern design. Also the brushed nickel finished matched the other metal finishes in the bedroom. And at just over $100, it was very affordable.

Did I say "affordable"? I meant CHEAP! Very, very, VERY cheap!!!!!

Once the fan was installed, we turned it on. There was a very pronounced clicking noise coming from the motor. This was caused by the fan wobbling slightly. My attempts to steady it worked temporarily. The fan is situated right under the HVAC register, so whenever the A/C kicks on, the down-flow of air hits the blades and causes the fan to start wobbling all over again.

Anyway, that's not the worst of it. It seems our fan is posessed. In fact, Kyle is convinced that the bedroom is haunted. The light has been turning on all by itself.

The first time it happened was at 8:30 on a Saturday morning. We were still in bed, but already awake so it wasn't a big deal. We thought it was an odd fluke and dismissed it.

But it happened again. This time was around 2:30 Wednesday morning. Now THAT was a rude awakening! I shut the light off at the remote and went back to sleep--until 3:00 when the light turned itself on again. This time, I shut it off at the light switch and went back to sleep.

We don't know what's causing our fan to spontaneously illuminate. Q went up on his ladder and changed the coordinates between the fan and its remote. We're hoping that solves the problem. Either way, we don't want to go through the trouble of dismounting the fan, disassembling it, and returning it to the store. But that may be what happens if this fan only offers us limited usefullness!

Ceiling fans are very important in Arizona. Especially in bedrooms, as the air flow makes for more comfortable sleeping. Our next fan--whether it comes sooner or later--will NOT be the budget model. We will open the wallet a little wider next time.

Growth Happens

2009-10-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

Stoplights are going up at the entrance to our neighborhood. An interesting fact: this interection is actually the confluence of four different roads: 67th Ave to the south...Pyramid Peak Parkway to the north...Rowel Road to the east...and Jomax Road to the west.

XL

2009-10-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Q!!!!!!!

Having a Moment

2009-09-06T21:45:00.002-07:00

Anyone who sends unsolicited paper into my house runs the risk of being SMACKED!

You are single-handedly sabotaging my neverending efforts to keep and maintain organizational harmony on horizontal surfaces scattered throughout the house.

Flyers, circulars, unsolicited magazines, coupon envelopes filled with offers for crap I will never buy, and leaflets will be sent straight to the recycling bin.

The mail order catalogues that used to excite me are no longer welcome here. I do all my remote shopping online.

Same goes with phone books. In recent years, we have been getting new sets of the Greater Phoenix area Yellow and White Pages--3 to 4 books total--every few months. Other than keeping miniaturized copies of the West Valley phone book in the trunk of each car, these are useless to me.

Q and I spent a few hours cleaning out drawers, desktops, shelves, boxes, and other surfaces where clutter gathers. The recycling bin that was emptied on Thursday is now filled beyond capacity.

This is not an appeal to "go green". That's why I chose purple for this font. I'm just trying to reduce clutter and maintain order in the home.

Jello Shots!

2009-09-04T19:21:00.001-07:00

I don't think this is what the good people at Homer Laughlin China had in mind when they designed the egg plate!

Sticker Shot

2009-08-31T20:04:00.002-07:00

When we were in California last month, I bought shot glasses from both of the MLB parks we visited. The glass I got from Angel's Stadium had this warning sticker attached to it:

This can't be any worse than the chemicals that will ultimately go on the INTERIOR this glass!

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

2009-08-27T07:30:00.003-07:00

My son is 15 years old today.

Bathroom Floor

2009-08-24T17:50:00.015-07:00

Q and I just spent the better part of last weekend replacing the flooring in our bathroom.

When we had this house built, we opted the carpet/sheet vinyl combination as a way to cut costs. This was supposed to be a temporary solution until we could afford to have better quality flooring installed. Well, 10 years is temporary enough.

Click on the pics to view them larger.

The sheet vinyl in the water closet has been popping up for years. At times, we even tripped over it.
I was damn tired of looking at the mold spot that had formed in front of the shower door. It was usually covered by a rug, but still. This carpet HAD to go!

On Friday, while Q was at work I ripped out the sheet vinyl in the water closet. A heat gun made short work of this task. That is the best $25 I spent on this whole project. I also removed the carpet and padding. That was a dusty, dirty job.

Carpet and pad waiting to be stuffed into the trash can. On Saturday morning, we would drive to Lowe's to buy our new flooring--a groutable peel-and-stick vinyl product by Armstrong.

After we got home with our materials, Q and I got down to business. We removed the doors and baseboards... cleaned and prepped the floor....

Cut and installed cement backerboard....

...and Jango helped!

By the end of Sunday, the entire peel-and-stick floor was laid. This picture was taken before the joints were grouted. For the grout, we used a premixed acrylic sanded grout. This is made specifically for groutable vinyl tiles. We also used 1/8" grout lines instead of the usual 1/4".

The floor had to be rolled to ensure adhesion of the tiles. This is also what happens when I quit caring about my appearance.

The toilet had to be removed. We placed it in the shower because the bathtub was being used for trash. This was a very, VERY messy job.

Jango won't drink he water out of Fiesta, but she will drink out of an upturned toilet tank lid. Dumb cat!

We also decided to remove the contractor-grade base moulding and replace it with a more ornate product. For this, we figured an 8-foot section would be enough. And it was. That little piece in Q's hand was all that was left.

Q installed the carpet-to-tile transition like a professional.

The finished floor. I got snappy-happy and took this pic before the base moulding was installed.

Goodbye Summer !!

2009-08-24T09:12:00.008-07:00

My very busy summer is quickly coming to an end. I return to school tomorrow.

It all started in June when I decided to take an algebra class. Math has never been my strong suit and I just wanted to get it out of the way.

That class took me the WHOLE month of June. When I wasn't physically attending the class, I was doing and redoing the homework and watching class lectures online. I did take one afternoon off to drive Kyle and his friends to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on opening day. As the only live parent without a job, that chore fell squarely in my lap. Anyway, I ended the 4 week, 4 credit algebra class with a B. Oh, happy day!

July was our month for traveling. My first trip was to the HLCCA Conference in Pittsburgh. On the 8th, I flew to Indianapolis, where Craig picked me up. From there we drove to the Embassy Suites in Pittsburgh, where many conference attendees had already congregated. We met up with Shane, Brad, and Nich...at which time hi-jinx ensued. More on that in a future post.

Later in the month, we took a big family trip to southern California with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces. We spent the week just being tourists. We went to Knott’s Berry Farm, Soak City, a medieval themed dinner show, the beach, and a few baseball games.

And in true tourist fashion, we got lost on the way to Dodgers' Stadium. That park is located in downtown LA, near the confluence of like seven freeways. So if you're in the wrong lane at the wrong time, you're SCREWED! The lack of stadium-related signage didn't help matters. One bright spot to this little detour was that we got to drive past the famed Bonaventure Hotel. That made me giddy

While in California, we went antique shopping in downtown Orange. At one of the malls, I spotted this rare piece of Fiesta--a maroon covered mustard dish. At $2,200, it was too rich for my blood. But the owner saw me admiring it and she took it out of the glass case. Yes, I got to touch the rare mustard! :-)

So far, August has been spent taking care of back to school-related errands. Orientation nights, meet-the-teacher events, supply shopping, doctors appointments, etc...etc...etc... Kyle is now in high school. He's enjoying it so far...or so he says. The information he shares with me is about what can be expected from a boy of almost 15. Speaking of which, his birthday is on Thursday.

Luke is now in 6th grade. They now follow the same format as the junior high grades in that he has to switch classes every period. Luke will still be participating in band and in the next month will be starting baseball.

Q and I have spent the the last few days replacing the floor in our bathroom. After 10 years and a few large mold spots, the temporary carpet is history. Pictures of this project will be posted upon completion.

Mixer Pics

2009-07-20T18:41:00.002-07:00

Today is the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing. This occasion--along with the upcoming 40th anniversary of Woodstock--was celebrated last Thursday at the conference mixer.

Here's a pic of me and my twin brother from another mother, Christopher with Buzz Aldrin.

I thanks to complimentary hotel cocktails, I was buzzin' with Buzz. As a result, iIdidn't take too many pictures. But I did manage to sober up long enough to get this shot of my very first dish friends--Wendy, Rick, and Mike. They're also from Arizona. Wendy and Mike live in Scottsdale and Rick in Miami.

Fallingwater

2009-07-16T15:40:00.005-07:00

On Saturday afternoon, Brad, Nich, Craig, and I broke away from dish festivities and drove to Mill Run, PA to tour one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous homes--Fallingwater.

For me, this jaunt was the one of the highlights of the entire weekend. In fact, I have a few design instructors who would expel me from the program if they I knew I was in the area and didn't stop by FW.

While I took LOTS of pictures, legal ramifications keep me from posting them here.

The drive to Mill Run took us across the river into downtown Pittsburgh, where I was regaled by all the bridges, high rise buildings, and other architecture. Downtown Phoenix is nothing like this.

Fallingwater is located in a very thick wooded area where the humidity is high and the air is very heavy. And as evidenced by the numerous crates of umbrellas available for guest use, rainfall is frequent.

Getting to the Fallingwater house required a very scenic five-minute walk from the visitors center and gift shop.

The house itself yielded a few surprises:

Wright employed the open-plan concept before it was actually en vogue. The main "room" contains the fireplace, sitting area, study, and dining area,
An outdoor staircase leads to a tiny perch that's surrounded the Bear Run stream.
The bedrooms were quite small. Some spaces were only large enough to hold a twin-size bed and some basic furniture. That's one way to ensure that houseguests won't overstay their welcome.
The ceilings are very low--less than 7 feet high in some places.
At 2885 square feet, the main house is not as large as it seems. It has only three bedrooms.
The bath fictures are also very low to the ground. The toilets in particular remind me of those used in a preschool.
Hallways and stairwells were very narrow.
The terrace railings were lower than normal. This was done so as not to interfere with the views from inside the house.
The waterfall can only be viewed when standing on the terrace of the top floor.

Since the woods are very thick and sunlight didn't penetrate easily, many of our pictures came out dark. Here I am with Craig, Brad, and Nich.

The Haul!

2009-07-15T16:30:00.005-07:00

On Monday, I made it home from Pittsburgh and the HLCCA conference. This trip was a BLAST! In fact, it's safe to say that I had as much fun as I'm allowed to have without my husband. The complimentary cocktail hour that the Embassy Suites offers was a contributing factor...as was a very eventful trip to McDonald's.

More pics will be posted later (including a full report on all weekend debauchery). In the meantime, enjoy this table photo of my dish booty (click on the images for a better view):

I brought 3 suitcases on this trip...two of which were earmarked for dishes. I even brought a boatload of bubble wrap, but lost it all when the hotel maid mistook it for trash. Good thing Craig brought extra.

On the plane ride home, I had plenty of time to think about where I would house all this loot. I decided to evict the crockpot, that cheapo carousel storage container holder we never used, some mismatched stemware, and other miscellaneous ware.

Some of these items will find homes elsewhere in the kitchen. Some will go into storage. But most will end up at Goodwill. I have too many beautiful dishes to hang on to crap.

I also removed the cabinet doors. Here's the finished product:

I have similar plans for the corner cabinet in the dining room. A bunch of green Granada and Amberstone followed me home...including a covered marmalade!

I'm Outta Here!

2009-07-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

Pool Crasher

2009-07-06T08:43:00.003-07:00

This dragonfly decided to hang out with us at the pool on Saturday. He stuck around for quite awhile, too. Long enough for me to dry off, go inside, get the camera, and snap a dozen pictures.

Dragonflies are always coming around the pool area, but they're usually the little blue ones. This particular one was a good three inches wide.

Sunday Dishes: Pinks & Stones

2009-07-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I got a surprise package in the mail. Elaine--affectionately known in disher circles as the Tablecloth Fairy--sent me two beautiful pink vintage tablecloths.

Around that same time, our cheap camera broke completely. The camera was replaced on Friday and I am finally able take and post photos.

Not only is this one pink, but it goes perfectly with my Ironstone/Amberstone/Casualstone collection. Two great tastes that taste great together!

It also works with Fiesta's new Lemongrass color!

This plaid one will go in the breakfast nook. It looks great with pastels. I can also see using it with vintage yellow only.

Thank you SO MUCH, Elaine! I can't wait to meet you in Pittsburgh in a few days.

Happy Fourth, Everyone!

2009-07-04T14:13:00.002-07:00

Errand Day

2009-07-03T08:09:00.003-07:00

It's errand day! Kyle is going to the new water park with his friend so the rest of us are heading out for an all day trek to the stores.

Our day will include stops at:

--Party City: Hoping they have some round-frame John Lennon style hippie glasses. I struck out at the other two PC stores I checked. I saw them at the Bell Road store recently, but didn't buy them at the time. These are for Thursday's 60's-themed mixer in Pittsburgh.

--BevMo: Cinnamon schanpps. Our grocery store doesn't have any that costs less than $20.

--Barnes & Noble: The new issue of Modernism magazine is out and I'll need something to read on the plane.

--Target: New cooler for weekend pool parties.

--Best Buy for a new camera. Our old one broke last week (if Q couldn't fix it, nobody could) and we NEED a new one for my Pittsburgh trip and our vacation in California later this month.

--Dillards: Seeking the new Lemongrass Fiesta

--Dick's Sporting Goods: Lucas likes looking at the baseball equipment, and I promised him a new Under Armour t-shirt. Also, I have a coupon.

--Trader Joes: Tamales, veggie pizza, cereal, and ??????

Good thing all these stores are located on Bell Road in north Glendale.

One More Week...

2009-07-01T09:52:00.018-07:00

This time next week, I will be heading out for the annual HLCCA Conference in Pittsburgh. The trip will start in Indianapolis, where Craig will pick me up. We will then hit the road for a weekend of...

Meeting cyber friends for real

Buying Fiestaware

Dressing like hippies

Visiting four different states: Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Introducing Craig to the musical stylings of Jefferson Starship.

Food, fun, and folly.

Visiting and touring the factory where Fiestaware is made.

Buying MORE Fiestaware!

Antiquing with people who actually enjoy it.

Touring Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater masterpiece.

This trip is going to be a BLAST!

Clarvoyant iPod?

2009-07-01T09:16:00.003-07:00

Today was the last day of my algebra class. Just like the other students, I waited while the instructor graded it. He also gave us our final grades at that time.

I got a B in the class. A B!!!!! A big, bad @$$ B!!!!! I was shocked. And thrilled. Considering the rough start I had in the class, I would have been happy with a C.

Trembling, I bade the teacher farewell and stumbled out of the classroom. Once outside, I called Q (for the last month, he'd had a front row seat to my math-fueled anxiety attacks). After he heaped on the accolades, I started the car and turned on my iPod.

The song that was playing? "It's a Miracle" by the Culture Club.

Definitely an appropriate song for the moment!

Bittersweet

2009-06-30T06:30:00.003-07:00

I'm happy that--for the time being--Jon and Kate are out of the news spotlight. I'm just saddened that Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, and a several other celebrities had to die to make it happen.

What About Spell Check?

2009-06-27T00:58:00.001-07:00

The upcoming HLCCA conference in Pittsburgh will include a 60's-themed mixer. I want to get some hippie-style novelty buttons for my outfit. I turned to eBay, and my search yielded this:

If I read this right, the message portrayed here is that home and land ownership is an aid used to enable the weak, injured, and lazy? OooooKaaaaaay.........

I know this is not what the seller intended because the auction has "reality" spelled correctly. But didn't this mistake occur to anyone during the initial manufacturing process?

R.I.P Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T06:54:00.005-07:00

Hearing about Michael Jackson's death yesterday came as more than a little shock. This is HUGE! Like the Kennedy assassination, John Lennon's death, President Reagan being shot, and the Challenger explosion, I predict that hearing the news of MJ's death will be one of those events that will be permanently burned into our collective memories. We will remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard about it.

For me, I read about Michael Jackson's death on Collectible Medium Green (dish collector's site). It was around 4:15 PDT, and I was reading a thread about Farrah Fawcett's death, where someone had mentioned that MJ had also died. I thought that couldn't be true--someone's idea of a joke, perhaps. So I turned off the DVD I had been watching (Dallas, Season 1...it was the episode where Bobby was working to help Cliff beat a murder rap) and turned on the local news. Sure enough...

Michael Jackson's music was a huge part of my childhood. An icon of my generation, if you will. I got the Thriller LP for my 11th birthday and played it until I damn near wore it out. His videos were in constant rotation on MTV. My friends and I tried to learn and copy the group dance from the "Thriller" video.

But perhaps my favorite Michael Jackson record is 1979's Off The Wall. It's one of the few complete albums that I have included on my iPod. Plus, the videos from "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" are pure, chintzy disco gold.

Thank you for the music, Michael!

Two More Weeks...

2009-06-24T09:29:00.002-07:00

...and I'm off to Pittsburgh! It took 36 years, but I FINALLY get to venture east of the Mississippi River! I don't know if I've ever looked forward to a trip this much.

5 Things

2009-06-20T12:42:00.006-07:00

I got this from ~M, who got it from Becky.

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Changing diapers
2. Getting ready to move into our new house
3. Being amused by everyone who was caught up in Y2K fever
4. Stepping over Thomas the Tank Engine toys that were oozing out of every doorway.
5. Eating off plastic dishes that I purchased from the seasonal clearance section of Target (Fiesta what?)

5 Things on my 'to do' list:
1. Finish folding laundry
2. Pick up some groceries (a neverending job)
3. Reattach some of the patches to my hippie jeans before conference
4. Deposit a check in the bank
5. Remove the bottom doors from the corner cabinet to make more display space for the dishes.

5 Things I've done today:
1. Fed Jango
2. Ate breakfast
3. Went to the gym
4. Stopped by Goodwill to drop off some outgrown boys' clothes.
5. Checked my e-mail

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Ice cream (bars...sandwiches...sundaes...shakes...you name it)
2. Lindor peanut butter and chocolate truffles
3. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies
4. Peanut M&Ms
5. Oreos

5 Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Buy and restore an architecturally-significant house and furnish it with authentic modern furniture
2. Take Kyle to Japan
3. Encourage Q to quit his job and pursue his interest in cooking by going to culinary school
4. Buy a summer home in a more temperate climate
5. Set up college funds for the neices and nephews

5 Places I've lived:
1. The house on Surrey
2. The apartment on 7th Street
3. The house on Laurel Lane
4. The apartment on Mission Lane
5. The current house

Good!

2009-06-19T00:29:00.001-07:00

I got the following article from azcentral. I LOVE it when rational wisdom and common sense prevails. Although, I do feel sorry for the child for being born into these circumstances.
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No benefits for LA girl born from dead man's sperm
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Jun. 18, 2009 09:52 AMAssociated Press
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PASADENA, Calif. - A U.S. appeals court says a California girl conceived from the frozen sperm of a dead man cannot receive his Social Security benefits.
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A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision Wednesday, ruling the girl wasn't dependent on her father at the time of his death.
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The case involves sperm that Bruce Vernoff's widow, Gaby, ordered extracted after he died unexpectedly in 1995 from an allergic reaction. It was kept frozen for 15 months before she became pregnant and in 1999 gave birth to Brandalynn.
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She applied for child survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration but was rejected, and a legal battle ensued.
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A call seeking comment from the widow's attorney was not immediately returned Thursday.

Lucas Rant #187

2009-06-18T22:40:00.006-07:00

The following item does not necessarily reflect the views of the writers of this blog. They are the rantings of one 11-year old boy who watches to copius amounts of TV news and, as a result has become a little too jaded for his age.

CFL (B.S.) BULBS June 18, 2009

By Lucas

Everybody is talking about the new CFL bulb. You know, the twisty kind. There supposed to be "Energy Efficient". Its just BS.

First, They say they save energy. NO! THEY DON'T! Tests show they use the same amout of energy as normal bulbs, but they cost much more when you add the prices up. Also, this just occurred to me while typing, but when you buy normal bulbs if you think the same as me, when you're in the checkout counter with your normal bulbs, everybody else has CFLs and you look like a total DOUCHE!

Another thing is people say they're "greener" but, really, is the mercury in the CFLs really "green". Compared to a normal bulb that has no mercury, mu point speaks for itself now.

Next, is efficiency.Even though if you have a light that's constantly on, CFLs are good because they don't get hot, that's the only upside. They say "If every house in America changed just one bulb to CFL, it would save enough energy to power every home in Arizona for a day." Now i took that statement word for word from an APS commercial. I don't own these words in that sequence, but still...What they don't tell you is it would take years and YEARS to harness that power and for what??? JUST A DAY? JUST CRAP!!!

And one last point. it's called a light BULB for a reason. Why, you people who's brains are rotted by Al Gore's crap from the mouth, Edison intended the light bulb to be a BULB! He spent many many sleepless nights and thousands of techniques for a bulb! It's a damn BULB!!! Like a kerocene lamp!

American Trivia:

The longest used light bulb was built in?
A.) 1871
B.) 1999
C.) 1901
D.) 1897

Answer...C!

It is in a what in Livermore, CA?

A.) A house
B.) A firestation
C.) A hospital
D.) A police Station
E.) A Cafe

Answer...B!

It was a(n)...?

A.) Flood light
B.) CFL
C.) A Bulb
D.) A florecent tube

Answer...You guessed it...C!

Summertime Sloth

2009-06-18T11:52:00.004-07:00

The worst part of summer vacation? I do more before 8 AM than my kids do all day. Today, I went to my algebra class and ran a few errands. I got home around lunchtime to find the only one awake was the cat. Disheartening, yes?

Since school has ended, my kids have gotten night and day switched around. They stay up late and sleep in even later. I don't necessarily enforce bedtime during vacations. That's just not a battle I care to fight. And I won't fight it so long as they keep the TV volume down and the hallway lights turned off. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case last night.

My displeasure came to a head around 11:30. After repeated requests to keep the noise level down, I ~~blew my stack~~ d ~~had a meltdown of cosmic proportions~~ made the boys shut off their TV and computer and go to bed.

It's very difficult for us non-idle types to subsist on less than eight hours of sleep. I have to be up by 6 for a 7:00 class, and Q needs to be at work not long after. It doesn't help matters that the Siamese Alarm Clock goes off around 4:30. We don't need the inconsideration of being kept awake by the sound of giggling over the lastest installment of Robot Chicken.

To say that the boys weren't happy at my breaking up laze fest is an understatement. But I felt that I had no choice if I didn't want to arrive at school looking like the walking dead.

In the future, if the boys want their all night bum parties to continues, they need to show a modicum of regard for their dad--the guy whose job makes it possible for us to even HAVE cable TV and high-speed Internet. And their mom, who washes their clothes, buys their snacks, and plays hostess to all their friends. That means, after 10:00, the action gets moved downstairs to the living room.

Enjoyable Weekend

2009-06-14T17:59:00.003-07:00

--a trip to the gym
--a refreshing dip in the pool
--a baseball game with Q and Lucas while Kyle went to a birthday party (translation: NO FIGHTING!)
--algebra homework that wasn't too terrible hard
--3 ebay auctions won
--a clean house
--all laundry DONE!
--I found 2 really cute tops at Nordstrom Rack!
--and to top it off, the weather was nice enough to drive with the top down. That's practically unheard of in Phoenix in June.

Gone Shopping?

2009-06-11T11:13:00.003-07:00

Between leaving school and picking Lucas up from baseball camp, I stopped by the store to buy some laundry soap. Here's what greeted me at the front entrance:

These ducks were hanging out in the shade, trying to escape the heat. This particular store is located about a quarter mile from one a golf course housing development with manmade lakes dotted throughout. I think the ducks came from there.

I was amazed that they weren't afraid of me or the other shoppers who were milling around. Perhaps they thought we had food? Like maybe a just-purchased box of quackers?

Yes, I know that was bad...

Random Thought #612

2009-06-08T18:43:00.003-07:00

With the boys out of school, I thought I would be saving money by not having to write lunch checks to the school cafeteria. But no. All savings (real or implied) is going straight to people like Trader Joe, Mrs. Grass, the Pillsbury doughboy, and Chef Boyardee.

Simple Treats #318

2009-06-05T19:04:00.007-07:00

Getting to hear a Jefferson Starship song on commercial radio. Even better if it's one of their mid to late '70s-era hits. Marty Balin's singing voice is a one-way ticket to my happy place.

Daydream #286

2009-06-01T13:08:00.010-07:00

For the boys to get their dirty clothes, towels, and bedding within three feet of the laundry hamper. I'm tired of being told that "I don't have any clean ___(insert clothing item here)___".
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Well, if you would just fish said items out from under your bed once in awhile...
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Other wishes:
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--Please scoop out the litterbox without my having to remind you. Just walking into that bathoom should be reminder enough.

--Please bring your dirty dishes back to the kitchen before the uneaten food starts to mildew.

--Speaking of mildew, please don't leave wet pool towels on the carpet.

--Please don't throw a fit when I ask you to put your backpack in the closet.

--Please flush the toilet. Seriously...

--Please don't complain to me that your toilet looks gross (see above).

--Please don't let your hair go unwashed for weeks. If you run out of shampoo, let me know. I WILL buy more.

--Same goes for shoes. Don't suffer in silence while that hole in the sole grows to the size of a tea saucer. Let me know that you need a new pair, and we'll go shopping.

--If you have a nosebleed on your pillowcase, please tell me about it so I can treat the spot before it sets in and becomes a stain.

--Please don't throw empty soda cans, water bottles, and cereal boxes in the trash can when the recycling basket is only five feet away.

--Please don't use steak knives on the Sapphire Fiestaware. We have a stack of Periwinkle for that.

I really don't ask that much of you. Just the basics that make life in our home look and smell better.

Drinks Aplenty

2009-05-29T07:08:00.007-07:00

Amongst our friends and family, we have the largest house, the coolest dishes, and our pool is the envy of the neighborhood. And to top it off, Quinton is the best cook of anyone we know.

Yes, we are truly blessed. As such, everyone likes being entertained in our home.

Some of our guests even invite themselves over. But they always bring something to the table. Usually food. And drinks. Lots and lots and LOTS of drinks. With all the wine, soda, beer, bottled water, and wine coolers provided, nobody ever goes thirsty here.

And then there's the food: chips, salsa, queso dip, fresh fruits and veggies, hot dogs, buns, and all the necessary fixin's. Between that and all the food we provide, there are always leftovers.

And when the party's over, it all gets left with us. Our pantry contains items that were never even opened. The refrigerator is packed full drinks, watermelon, and other barbecue fare. But all is good. I have a teenager to feed.

Samples of my work

2009-05-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

Hand-drawn trim mouldings

Travel banner. Marker and pencil

Loft conversion space plan in AutoCAD

Hand drafted floor plan

Hand drafted house elevation

Fireplace elevation, inspired by the fireplace of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Eric Brown House.

Elevation and floor plan with shading and color gradations. Marker and pencil.

Bedroom remodel. Marker and pencil.

Pendant lamp. Quick sketch pencil drawing.

Daydream #432

2009-05-27T03:59:00.006-07:00

Finding a Bertoia Diamond Chair at the Goodwill. Even if it's one of the low priced reproductions, I would find a place for it in the house--a house that has way too much furniture already.

Goodwill Tour

2009-05-23T14:54:00.017-07:00

Today was half-price day at all central Arizona Goodwill stores. We hit six stores in north and northeast Phoenix.
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Our first stop was the 16th Avenue and Happy Valley store. I visit this store the frequently because it close to home. It also seems to have the best stuff. Most of the Goodwill Fiesta I find comes from there.

And today was no different. I found five mugs--1 each in Juniper, Cobalt, and Plum, 2 Periwinkle, and a Cobalt dinner plate. I didn't want or need them. But like Siamese kittens in a shelter, I couldn't just leave them there. Besides, the mugs were only 35 cents each and the plate was 50 cents.

I also found a Sunset book about patio design (many pics of cool modern architecture here) and a pair of Lucky Brand jeans. Luke netted a heavy duty baseball tee.

Our second stop was 7th Street and Union Hills. Here, I found 2 books on American architecture and residential floorplans.

Lucas encountered this rack full of office phones. We estimate there were close to three dozen of these same phones in all. What's pictured isn't all of them. They were scattered all over the electronics department.

The third store was the 7th Street and Dunlap location. Long time Phoenicians know this place as the old Liquor Barn store. I like this particular store not for the offerings, but because the building is an example of true modern architecture (click on the above photo to view larger). In a city where everything older than ten years old has been torn down and/or given a Mediterranean or Tuscan-style facelift, this place--save for a paint job or two--is mostly original. Definitely a rare sight.

I didn't find anything here. But Q got a supplemental pack of Trivial Pursuit cards for $1.

Stop #4 was Cave Creek and Cactus. The closest thing I saw to Fiesta is this sauce boat and undertray that looks like a bad copy of the original. It wasn't marked or stamped. In fact, the paint job looked like it was done at one of those paint-it-yourself pottery places.

No, I didn't buy the sauce boat...or anything else, for that matter. But Lucas did find an A/V splitter for his old school video game collection. I have no idea what it is, but he was sure excited about it.

Our fifth stop was 19th Avenue and Thunderbird. Again, I didn't buy anything here, but I was regaled by the grab-bag format Goodwill uses to sell items that are too small to be placed loose on the shelves.

I scanned through these bags and found little odds and ends like shoelaces, votive candles, dental floss, hair rollers, shower curtain rings, pacifiers, etc. In fact, this was how my Fiesta napkin rings were packaged. One of these days, I will find one of these plastic grab-baggies full of Harlequin nut dishes. Oh yes. It will happen.

Lucas referred to this shelf display as Keyboard Heaven. If you didn't already know, this boy loves the electronics department.

By the time we reached 19th Avenue and Bell, we were all running out of gas. Even so, I found another floor plan book (I really love reading those things) and a Star Wars book for Kyle.

Pat (Q's mom, who's visiting from Oregon) found a bunch of stuff too, including clothes, plastic dishes for the grandchildren, table linens, knitting yarn, a utensil organizer, and a hard-sided suitcase.

We arrived home with a very full trunk.

Valology

2009-05-22T18:21:00.008-07:00

I borrowed this from Craig, who borrowed it from Elaine. And I'm sure one or two people will borrow it from me.

**********FOODOLOGY***************
1. What is your salad dressing of choice? Honey Mustard
2. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Cantina Laredo
3. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Chocolate and peanut butter ice cream from Baskin Robbins
4. What are your pizza toppings of choice? Yellow pepper, carmelized onions, mushrooms, and olives
5.What do you like to put on your toast? Butter and cinnamon sugar
6. Any vegetables you don't like? Radicchio
7. Do you eat seafood? Yes

***********TECHNOLOGY***************
1. How many televisions are in your house? Five, but only four work
2. What color cell phone do you have? Ice blue with a pink cover
3. How long would it take you to look up who invented the Rubber Band? Probably about 10 seconds.
4. Have any idea how may Megahertz your computer has? 1.73 GHz (I just checked because Q told me how.)

***************BIOLOGY******************
1. Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right
2. Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Babies
3. What is the last heavy item you lifted? A very large box of blankets, sheets, and towels that needed to be taken to Goodwill.
4. Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Does general anesthesia count? If so, yes.

************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************
1. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Probably not
2. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Probably something that is common enough for people to spell correctly on their own.
3. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? That depends. If it's one of those vinegar-based sauces like Tabasco or Mexi-Pep, then the answer is no. If it's a tomato-based sauce like Pico-Pica, then yes.

************DUMBOLOGY******************
1. How many pairs of flip flops do you own? I have one pair but I never wear them. I don't like the feeling of that little hard strap thing between my toes.
2. Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Not really a "run-in" but I was pulled over for speeding. He let me go with a warning.
3. Last person you talked to? Either Lucas, Quinton, or Pat
4. Last person you hugged? Lucas

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
1. Season? Spring
2. Holiday? Probably Christmas
3. Day of the week? Saturday (every other Saturday is half-price day at Goodwill).
4. Month? March (best weather month in Arizona. Plus, it's my birth month!)

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
1. Missing someone? Yes
2. Mood? Relaxed
3. What are you listening to? My iTunes library in shuffle mode. Current song is "See You When I Git There" by Lou Rawls
4. Watching? Q and Lucas playing catch in the back yard.

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
1. First place you went this morning? The gym
2. What's the last movie you saw? Star Trek
3. Do you smile often? Sometimes

***************OTHEROLOGY*****************
1. Do you always answer your phone? No
2. It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? Probably the same spammer who's trying to sell me insurance "for $3 per day".
3. If you could change your eye color what would it be? Blue to match the rest of the family.
4. Do you prefer cold or hot? That depends. I like my Pepsi cold and my soup hot.
5. What's your favorite gossip magazine? None
6. Have you ever had a pet fish? Yes...we had a little tank of guppies when I was a child.
7. Shoes you're currently wearing: Brown suede Birkenstocks
8. What's on your wish list for your birthday? Well, since my birthday is almost 10 months away, it's hard to say. But you can never go wrong with Fiestaware or anything pink.
9. Can you do push ups? Maybe one or two.
10. Can you do a chin up? Yes, I can do A chin up.
11. Does the future make you more nervous or excited? Excited
12. Do you have any saved texts? Yes
13. Ever been in a car wreck? Yes
14. Do you have an accent? Nope
15. What is the last song to make you cry? "The Goodbye Girl" by David Gates
16. Plans tonight? Playing the Trivial Pursuit Family Edition game with Q, Luke, Pat, and Kyle if he makes it downstairs.
17. Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yes. Three years ago when I thought I was going to lose my husband.
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Nothing yesterday, but today I bought an Under Armour gym top, and a baseball bat for Lucas, and a impulse tin of mints to make the first two items coupon eligible.
19. Have you ever been given roses? Yes. And they were pink!
20. Current worry? The effect that the C in Art History will have on my GPA.
21. Current hate right now? I can't discuss this one without pi$$ing off a few people.
22. Met someone who changed your life? Yes.
23. How will you bring in the New Year? Since it's more than six months out, I can't say for sure. But if history is any indication, we'll probably spend it at a neighborhood block party.
24. What song represents you? "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" by The Alan Parsons Project
25. Name three people who might complete this? Craig already did it. After that, I don't know.
26. Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Yes, I think that I would.
27. Have you ever dated someone longer than a year? Yes
28. Do you have any tattoos/piercings? Piercings: 1, Tattoos: 0
29. Does anyone love you? Yes
30. Ever had someone sing to you? Yes
31. When did you last cry?? Two days ago
32. Do you wear glasses or contacts? No, but that might be changing soon.
33. Do you like to cuddle? Yes
34. Have you held hands with anyone today? Yes
35. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school? Disco, Motown, pop, adult contemporary, and 80s new wave.
36. Do you like pulpy orange juice? I don't like any kind of orange juice

Weather Report

2009-05-22T06:40:00.006-07:00

It's raining outside. It's been raining all night.

My husband made it happen. He washed the car yesterday afternoon. The rain began about an hour after he finished.

It doesn't rain very often in the Phoenix area. In fact, we almost never see rain in May. This is a stark departure from normal, considering that it was 107 degrees earlier this week. It's now 65 degrees outside.

I am loving this weather. I hope it doesn't let up anytime soon.

Sunday Dishes: Stepping Out on Homer

2009-05-17T09:30:00.005-07:00

A few months ago, Q and I were cruising through an antique mall (the same place where I found my blue Fiesta comport) when this gravy boat caught my eye:

It's obviously not Fiesta. It's not even from Homer Laughlin. In fact, it's somewhat of a departure from the solid colored dishes that have taken over parts of the house. But I was fascinated by the cool atomic/tiki vibe. Plus, the shape reminded me of the dishes we used when I was a child. There is a tiny chip on the rim, but at $5, I had to have it.

I brought my gravy boat home and the research began. I knew the maker was Taylor Smith & Taylor (Luke thought this was a law firm). And based on some Internet digging, I was able to narrow the pattern down to either Cathay or Jamaica Bay. I just don't know which. Both use the same decal. I haven't seen an example of this gravy boat on eBay or anywhere on the Internet since.

During the course of my limited research, I discovered other equally cool TST patterns and pieces. This coffee server in the Adagio pattern.

and this relish boat.

I have a feeling this is only the beginning. I'll definitely be looking for more TST at conference.

For The Rest of Us

2009-05-10T07:45:00.013-07:00

I got this from my friend, Chantel's Facebook page.

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids? Here's questions for the people who are a little older...(Not sayin' we're OLD or anything!!)

You know what to do. Copy and paste into your own note, then answer the questions. Finally, tag your friends. But only if you want to.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most? Toss up. Either the mortgage payment or electricity bill.

2. Do you miss being a child? No, not really. As an adult I get to choose what color the walls are painted. I hate having that decision made for me. But I like making it for other people.

3. Chore you hate the most? Scrubbing soap scum out of the shower. The toilets are no fun either...especially the one in the boys' bathroom. My kids will NEVER be marksmen.

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner? Probably PF Chang's with Q last Wednesday night. Any dinner without the boys in attendance is romantic.

5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be? I would have bought a house with more architectural character.

6. Name of your first grade teacher? Mrs. Rosenloff at Sunburst Elementary.

7. What do you really want to be doing right now? Walking through an antique mall filled with underpriced Fiesta, modern Bauhaus-era furniture, and mid-century dishes and accessories.

8. What did you want to be when you grew up? An architect.

9. How many colleges did you attend? Two.

10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now? Because it's pink and matches the pants.

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices? I have gotten WAY too comfortable with under-$2 gas. But just as long as prices stay under $3, I'm good.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? Since Jango IS the alarm, I figured it's time to get up and feed her.

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night? "My head is killing me"

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? Owen Wilson

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle? Yes.

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer? I already do.

17. Get up early or sleep in? Definitely get up early. Especially in Phoenix in the summer. I like to get as much done as I can before it gets too hot outside.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character? Woodstock

19. Favorite thing to do at night with a guy/girl? Stay up late...watch a cheesey movie...talk...listen to 70s music...other stuff.

20. When did you first start feeling old (but never too old for this $#!@)? Four years ago, I took a sociology class and I was clearly older than ALL the other students AND the teacher.

21. Favorite lunch meat? Londonport roast beef.

22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart? Laundry soap, Windex, a toothbrush, and Chapstick.

23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual? No, but I don't think most people don't take it seriously enough.

24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about? Promise not to laugh? Saved By The Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas

25. What's your favorite drink? Mango Mantra smoothie from Jamba Juice. But this is quickly being edged out by Oreo milkshakes.

26. Who[m] from high school would you like to run in to? Pretty much anyone.

27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now? Q drove it last so probably something on the AM dial.

28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives? Housewives...no contest.

29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back? Since I can only pick one, I'll make it a blanket statement. Many of the fights Q and I have had that were banal and pointless.

30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from/next to you at ~~work~~ school? It's different people in different classes and the answer is yes to all.

31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes? Nope.

32. Last book you finished reading? The Ranch House by Alan Hess and Noah Sheldon

33. Do you have a teddy bear? I'm married to him.

34. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth? In the car.

35. Do you go to church? No.

36. How old are you? 36

Great Day!

2009-05-09T21:42:00.005-07:00

--Lunch and shopping with Mom and Meredith. We had sushi.

--New, cute summer tops for everyone!

--Mom let me drive her little Pontiac roadster. Nice car and REALLY fun to drive, but visibility is rather limited. You know how when you're moving and you load your back seat down with so many boxes that you can't see out the rear window? Yeah. It's like that. Except in this case, there were neither boxes nor a back seat.

--Q and I went to the D-Backs-Nationals game. Killer seats. Sucks that they lost, but at least we had ice cream.

--Harvey's package of yellows arrived safe and sound in today's mail

--Kyle vaccuumed the edges and corners of the stairs for me.

--Lucas put his clean clothes away without protest.

And it's not even Mother's Day...yet.

Today's Work

2009-05-04T14:51:00.003-07:00

My current project is to create a bathroom perspective using Google Sketch-Up. Here's what I came up with:

The photo quality doesn't do this piece justice. I took it with my cell phone. The glass tile surrounding the bathtub is quite a bit brighter.

For the second part of the project, we had to copy our Sketch-Up creation using marker and pencil. Here's what I have so far:

It's nowhere near done. I need to add texture with the colored pencils.

This Week...

2009-05-02T08:06:00.009-07:00

Another week has past. Here are a few of the highlights and the lowlights:

--I registered for the fall semester. I'll be taking classes in kitchen and bath, codes and regulations, and professional practices. I'm also taking a math class in the summer. I should have my associates' degree in December.

--Another Fiesta large comport is coming to live with me. This one is yellow and will look fabulous on my kitchen table. I'm adopting it from Harvey, a good friend from the CMG message board. I also bought his yellow Harlequin individual creamer.

--Q left his cell phone at the gym. The next morning, I went back to look for it. I was shocked to find it still in the cup holder of the leg press machine...right where he'd left it.

--Lucas and I think this swine flu business is being over-hyped.

--I made my flight plans for July's HLCCA Conference. I'll be flying to Indianapolis, where Craig will pick me up. From there, we'll drive on to Pittsburgh for the conference. I'm really looking forward to this trip since I'll be visiting a part of the country I've never seen before.

--I finished watching my Knots Landing season 2 DVDs. Even though I'd seen it dozens of times before, I had to have the Kleenex box handy when Sid Fairgate drove over that cliff.

--I'm more than a little miffed that Facebook changed its Friends page so users can no longer see their friends' status updates. That was one of the best parts of FB!

--I have NO papers to write for next week. Even though I have a few projects to work on, they're not going to consume the entire weekend as they have in recent months. We are taking the boys to the Star Trek Experience exhibit at the Science Center today.

65 Questions

2009-04-28T04:26:00.004-07:00

Still in desperate need for filler, I got this from Christopher's Facebook page. No tagging. Anyone can participate when and if they feel like it.

1. First thing you wash in the shower? My hair

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? Gray

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Yes

4. Do you plan outfits? Yes

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Restless

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red? Lucas' robe, which is slung over the arm of the sofa.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? I just remember that my teeth fell out.

8. Did you meet anybody new today? No

9. What are you craving right now? Chocolate and peanut butter ice cream

10. Do you floss? Yes. When I remember.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Coleslaw

12. Are you emotional? I wouldn't say I'm emotional. Overwrought, loud, and dramatic is more like it

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? No

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? Bite into it

15. Do you like your hair? Yes, since I recently gave up on growing it long.

16. Do you like yourself? Usually

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Yeah, probably...especially if he's paying. If anything, I'll have bragging rights that I got to break bread with a former president.

18. What are you listening to right now? The 70s channel on Music Choice. Current song playing is "Baby Blue" by Badfinger

19. Are your parents strict? Dad was. Mom, not so much.

20. Would you go sky diving? Not likely.

21. Do you like cottage cheese? Gross!

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? I once met Frank Bialec and Doug Wilson in a store in Scottsdale at the height of Trading Spaces popularity.

23. Do you rent movies often? No

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? Not currently.

25. How many countries have you visited? Seven...eight if you count Monaco.

26. Have you made a prank phone call? Yes, when I was 12 or 13

27. Ever been on a train? Do trains at amusement parks count? How about a commuter rail? If so, yes.

28. Brown or white eggs? White, I guess. I'm not sure I've ever had brown eggs.

29. Do you have a cell phone? Yes

30. Do you use ChapStick? I only keep a tube in every purse I own.

31. Do you own a gun? No.

32. Can you use chop sticks? Yes

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? Q, the boys, and the cat.

34. Are you too forgiving? I think I am, although some might disagaree vehemently.

35. Ever been in love? Yes

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? Working

37. Ever have cream puffs? Yes

38. Last time you cried? A few weeks ago

39. What was the last question you asked? "Are you watching this or can I turn it off?"

40. Favorite time of the year? Spring

41. Do you have any tattoos? No

42. Are you sarcastic? NOOOO!

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? No

44. Ever walked into a wall? Yes

45. Favorite color? Pink

46. Have you ever slapped someone? Yes.

47. Is your hair curly? No, but it's very wavy.

48. What was the last CD you bought? A compilation disk of hits from 1979. And I only bought it because it had a few songs that I couldn't get on iTunes.

49. Do looks matter? Looks aren't everything, but they're not completely unimportant, either.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? Hell NO!

51. Is your phone bill sky high? No

52. Do you like your life right now? Yes

53. Do you sleep with the TV on? No.

54. Can you handle the truth? I can if I'm prepped for it.

55. Do you have good vision? Yes, for the time being. I do think I should get my eyes checked because small print is starting to look a little blurry.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? No.

57. How often do you talk on the phone? Every day

58. The last person you held hands with? Q.

59. What are you wearing? Pajamas

60. What is your favorite animal? Siamese kitty

61. Where was your profile picture taken? Disney's California Adventure

62. Can you hula hoop? I used to be really good at it when I was a child. Now, not so much.

63. Do you have a job? I have lots of jobs. Unfortunately, none of them generates a paycheck.

64. What was the most recent thing you bought? Dinner at In-N-Out Burger for me and the boys.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window? Yes

Paula Deen Diet

2009-04-17T18:45:00.003-07:00

Every creative brain cell I have is currently being eaten up by school. Even so, I still felt the need to come up with a filler post. Video clips are great for that. Besides, I know a few people who might enjoy this one.

BGSS 2 Presents: Paula Deen

Yes, I am a straight white girl from the suburbs.

And yes, I watch the LOGO channel. :-)

Cushing's Awareness Day

2009-04-08T00:00:00.009-07:00

April 8 is Cushing's Awareness Day. Cushing's Syndrome is a hormonal disorder that causes the body to produce abnormally high levels of cortisol. More information about Cushing's can be found here.
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As most of you know, this issue is close to our family. Complications from Cushing's Syndrome almost cost Q his life just three years ago.
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Cushing's Syndrome is quite rare. So much so Q was living with it for a few years before we even knew what it was. His primary care doctor was even stumped. An endocrinologist was able to diagnose him almost on sight. Here's how he looked shortly before his hospital admission in 2006. This was one of his good days.

During this time, Q needed assistance to get off the couch. He could barely walk up and down stairs. His glaucoma was so bad that he probably shouldn't have been driving a car.

All the while, Q never called in sick to work. On his worst days, he would work from home.

But Q is one of the lucky ones. After spending four months in the hospital, enduring three major surgeries, and an extended recovery, he is living a normal, healthy life with minimal restrictions. In fact, the only way one can tell he was ever sick is the surgical scarring and the bottle of cortisone pills in his medicine cabinet. He still has all the mojo of a 19-year old.

He's able to enjoy the rides at an amusement park...

participate in water sports...

frolic in the pool during a summer rainstorm....

play catch with our sons...

and give Luke some stiff competition at Skee Ball.

Pieces of Flair

2009-04-02T19:28:00.003-07:00

Recently, I have been directing my computer attention toward Facebook (at the noticeable expense of my blog). One of my favorite parts of FB is an application called Pieces of Flair. This feature allows users to send colorful and snarky buttons to one another. If you require further explanation, please consult Urban Dictionary.

Below are a few flair buttons that express me to a T. Some were sent to me by other FB friends, others I added on my own. My visually impaired readers may need to click on the photo for easier reading.

More flair to come...

Backyard Visitor

2009-03-31T19:07:00.002-07:00

Stuff 'n Save Your Money

2009-03-30T20:29:00.005-07:00

Since we eat Mexican food no fewer than three times a week, I'm always looking to try something new. So I bought these Old El Paso Stand 'n Stuff taco shells.

The concept behind these flat-bottomed shells is that you can set your taco down upright and the filling won't roll out. It's a good idea, in theory. These shells do exactly what they're supposed to. But the design was just poorly executed.

I'm not a physics expert so I'm not going to pretend to give a scientific explanation. But something about the not-so-gradual folds in the taco shell make for a weaker product. When Q bit into his first taco, the shell cracked on the creases and the whole thing fell apart on his plate. He had to eat the rest of his taco mess with a fork.

I had slightly better luck. It was cumbersome, but I managed to hold the shell together long enough to eat the entire taco. My spillage was limited to some meat and a slice of avocado. But I did have a problem with the fact that the above-average width of the shells made them difficult to bite into without the ability to unhinge my jaw.

One positive attribute is that since the Stand 'n Stuff shells are wider, they hold more taco filling than traditional round bottomed variety. But in my opinion, that alone is not worth the price of admission. Next time I'll go back to the smaller, rounder shells. And if more food is desired, we'll simply help ourselves to a second, third, or fourth helping.

Renaissance Festival

2009-03-29T07:52:00.005-07:00

Yesterday, we went to the Renaissance Festival out in Apache Junction. Below are a few pics from the day.

Another Goodwill Rescue

2009-03-19T14:34:00.004-07:00

Today's Goodwill trip yielded the following score:

Eight Fiesta napkin rings--four Rose and four Seamist. These look like they have never been used. Lucas commented that "they don't even smell ghetto!"

I got them for a grand total of $3.99. And it wasn't even half-price day.

Thursday 13: Right Now

2009-03-19T04:00:00.013-07:00

1. Right now, it's 4:01 AM and I can't sleep.

2. The only good thing on TV is VH1 Classic. The video for "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" by Aretha Franklin and Annie Lenox is currently playing. I haven't heard that song in YEARS.

3. After I'm done here, I'm off to iTunes. While I'm there, I'll download Adam Carolla's latest podcast, which, BTW is the #1 downloaded podcast on iTunes. It's beating anything NPR is putting out there! If you need a good laugh, give the Ace Man a listen. (WARNING: Subject matter is graphic and unsavory language is used often.)

4. NPR = Not Particularly Relevant.

5. Right now, I'm having to share the ottoman with Jango. She's being quiet, for once.

6. There's a bunch of Scarlet birthday Fiesta that needs to be detagged and washed. (Thank you, Mom).

7. It's 57 degrees in Peoria, AZ. The weather widget in the sidebar is wrong. It's NOT 79 degrees outside. It's not even that warm inside.

8. Right now, my hair feels parched and crispy. I place all blame squarely on that tea tree and eucalyptus conditioner I bought at Trader Joe's last week. Because the dry air in Arizona has nothin' to do with it. :-)~

9. I wonder if the recycling barrel got taken out to the curb.

10. Right now, there's a basket of white laundry that needs to be folded. Sorting socks SUCKS!

11. I'm thinking about what errands I need to do later today. I need flower pots that fit the wire plant stands I bought a few months ago. Kyle asked me to pick some duck tape. Maybe I'll see if the Happy Valley Goodwill has more unwanted Fiesta sitting on its shelves. I'd also like to see if the new issue of Modernism magazine is in stock at Barnes & Noble. Then I'll scrounge through the clearance racks at Old Navy.

12. "Tonight She Comes" by the Cars just started. This is the very first time EVER I'm seeing this video...even if it is over 20 years old. Cable TV availability was very sporadic when I was a kid.

13. Right now, I'm going to pick out what color to make the font for this post.

Shamrock! Shamrock!

2009-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Everyone!

Green Day!

2009-03-16T18:35:00.005-07:00

Look what arrived just in time for St. Patrick's Day:

The hole in my Ironstone/Amberstone sugar bowl collection has been filled.

Flip That Cap?

2009-03-14T17:05:00.013-07:00

About a month ago, one of the hubcaps fell off our car. A missing cap made the car look so ghetto that I felt self-concious driving it. Q, on the other hand, only has two requirements of a car: it has to get him to work and have AM radio. Even so, my husband still considers the latter item a luxury on par with Corinthian leather seats and a heated steering wheel. So driving the ghetto car didn't bother him.

Meanwhile, I turned to the Internet in search of a replacement hubcap for our 2001 Dodge Stratus. I was looking to get something cheap, and prices on eBay were going for higher than I was willing to pay. Remember, we are talking about an 8-year old car here.

Eventually, I got very impatient and bought a used, blemished hubcap with a $20 buy-it-now price. It arrived three days ago. We put it on the car. End of story.

Not really.

Today, we set out for biweekly trip to Goodwill's half-price Saturday. It was here where I found not one, but THREE 15-inch Dodge hubcaps just like the ones on our car! My heart sank.

I called Q over and showed him my discovery. He tends to keep his emotions very much in check, but I'll never forget his reaction. He clenched his teeth and muttered "oh my god".

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. I had just shelled out $30 (with shipping) for a used cap with scratches and here we happen upon three more that appear to be in better shape.

The price was better, too. WAY better. Even though we no longer needed them, Q decided to buy the hubcaps anyway. At $2 apiece, he couldn't afford not to.

I'm not sure what we'll do with these extra hubcaps. We will definitely swap out the $30 eBay cap for one of the prettier Goodwill ones. We might also keep one for a spare. The rest will probably be flipped on eBay.

Also at Goodwill, I found two more pieces of Fiesta: a Cobalt salad plate and a Cinnabar luncheon plate. I didn't want 'em and I didn't need 'em. But at 34 cents each, they needed to be rescued.

Big Score

2009-03-13T15:49:00.011-07:00

Today, Q and I spent a nice, leisurely day lunching and dishing in downtown Glendale (if you're in this area, La Piazza al Forno on 58th and Glendale Ave. is a must stop for pizza).

After seeing lots of damaged and overpriced ware ($65 for a Plum disk pitcher that I can buy in Dillard's for $28), I was giving up hope. Still, I wanted to hit one more shop before going home. It was there where I glanced down onto a low shelf and found this beauty--a vintage Fiesta comport in cobalt blue:

It is damaged. In addition to the chip, there is a long hairline crack through the center of the bowl. But for $25, I didn't care. These things commonly sell on eBay for $200+. This is a piece I never thought I'd own in any condition for any price. I certainly didn't think I'd find one in the wild.

It was also a little dusty and filmy. Nothing that a little soapy bath couldn't fix. But as I started sponging down the bowl, this strange yellow resinous film started flaking off:

I managed to remove all the film. It was only on the outside of the bowl, not inside. I'm assuming this was the former owner's strange attempt at a repair. I just hope I didn't do additional damage.

Additionally, I should point out that this bowl cost less than our lunch.

The Finished Product

2009-03-11T19:42:00.003-07:00

Click on the photos to enlarge:

Yes, I know I have a lot of learning to do. In fact, I'm already finding stuff I could have done differently.

Work in Progress

2009-03-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Below is my current project for my presentations class. Here, we had to redraw a picture from a magazine...including color gradations and value changes. So far, I only have the marker work done. I have been assured that the drawing will really take shape when the colored pencil work is done and texture is added. We shall see...

Click on the photo to view larger.

Thirty-Six

2009-03-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

Volunteer At Large

2009-03-06T22:52:00.008-07:00

That's me. Or you can just call me VAL. Oh, but most of you already do that. Bad joke, I know. But it was a use-it-or-lose-it kind of thing.

I spent the evening selling snacks at the Mardi Gras dance at the boys' school. Most of my time was spent at the popcorn machine because other than the PTSA officers, I'm the only one who knows how to use it without burning myself (NOT an easy task). Even with repeated showers, I will most likely be smelling like salty butter all weekend.

According to the PTSA president, finding volunteers for these events is quite difficult. Funny, because I find that I actually LIKE schlepping junk food at school functions. For starters, helping out is a great way to meet people and it's good for the community. It gives me something to do other than numbing my a$$ on a Formica cafeteria bench.

And that's what a lot of the parents were doing. Since this was a family event, students were not admitted without a parent or other responsible adult. Apparently, most were under the assumption that they could just dump off their kids and go have a quiet dinner at the Chinese place down the street. Nope...it doesn't work that way. We're not running a babysitting service here, people!

So there we had it: a vast sea of kids (90% girls) out on the dance floor partying down to the likes of No Doubt, Beyonce, and whoever sings "The Electric Slide". Meanwhile, their pi$$ed-off parents sat bored at the purple plastic-covered tables and counted the seconds until 9:00.

So, dear readers, when and if you do have kids, make yourself useful and help out at their school. The PTA officers of the world will thank you. You'll be making their lives easier, and you'll be showing your children that sometimes it's important to pitch in and do work without the expectation of monetary payment.

Thursday 13: Weekend Plans UPDATED

2009-03-05T01:50:00.001-07:00

1. Research and write a paper for Geology class. The topic is earthquakes.

2. Sell snacks at the Family Dance at the boys' school. DONE

3. Clean out my dresser...remove all baggy jeans, winter pajamas, ratty underwear, and other clothes that no longer fit and I no longer wear.

4. Go to the outlet mall and check out the new Banana Republic Factory Store. Maybe spend the gift card/coupon that BR sent me for my birthday. Any purchases can help fill the void left by item #3. DONE

5. Diamondbacks vs. Mariners Spring Training game on Sunday. I parked illegally and risked being cited or towed to buy the tickets for that game. TIIC really need to provide adequate short term parking for those of us who are there spend money at their box office!

6. Scrape the wallpaper fishies off the boys' bathroom walls (Maybe...this a big, low priority project).

7. Reorganize my iTunes playlists (Another maybe...another big project).

8. Try to find Lucas' good tennis shoes. DONE

9. Replace the hubcap on the Dodge (Pending arrival...the eBay seller shipped it on Tuesday). NOT DONE...didn't arrive in Saturday's mail.

10. Go to a trunk show that one of the stores near my hair salon is holding. NOT DONE...stayed home and played drunk Trivial Pursuit with Q and Lucas...except instead of tequila shots, Lucas did Pepsi shots.

11. Scan some stuff for a future blog post.

12. Go to the gym. NOT DONE...decided to do the opposite and go out for deep fried shrimp tacos instead.

13. Go to Target. I'm not sure what for, but I'm sure somebody will think of something. We seem to end up there nearly every weekend.

Coupon-A-Rama!

2009-03-04T01:55:00.003-07:00

Since the economy has fallen into the toilet, the glut of credit card offers that used to clog up our mailbox has pretty much dried up (thank God!). They have been replaced by coupons. Lots and LOTS of coupons. Pictured above is just one weeks worth of accumulation.

It seems just about everyone with something to sell is coming out of the woodwork. They are using special offers an other incentives in attempt to lure us into spending money at their establishment. Except for those offering 2 for 1 smoothies, most of these coupons will go unused. We currently have coupons for:

Health and wellness...

orthodontics, chiropractic services, dental care, hemorrhoid relief, elder care services, orthopedic shoes, eyeglasses, weight loss centers, testosterone replacement.

Personal care...

laser treatments, haircuts, tanning salons (we have a pant-load of these places here in sunny Arizona. Why? I don't know), colon hydrotherapy, manicures, pedicures, botox, teeth whitening, facials, yoga classes, massages, skin rejuvenation, eyebrow waxing.

Auto-related services...

car rental, airport parking, car washes, windsheild replacement, brake jobs, transmission repair, oil changes, window tinting, coolant flushes, collision repair, camping trailer rentals.

Goods and services for inside the house...

window blinds, carpet cleaning, game room supplies, granite countertops, flooring, cabinet refacing, pest control, plumbing, electrical, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, handyman services, closet organization, air duct cleaning, tub-to-shower conversions, consignment furniture, heating and air conditioning repair, grout cleaning, carpet stretching, popcorn ceiling removal, furniture movers, upholstery cleaning, room additions.

And outside...

tree nurseries, concrete slabs, retractable awnings, tree removal, pool remodeling, landscape design, pool covers, window replacement, house painting, wrought iron gates, barbecue pits, precast fountains, stucco replacement, imitation grass, security systems, patio-to-sunroom conversions, pool tile cleaning, stone facings.

And even in the garage...

garage door repairs, garage cabinets, overhead garage shelves, mini storage, garage floor coating, garage door replacement, garage door openers.

"Mom" stuff:

scrapbooking items, art and craft supplies, boutique clothing, jewelry

Stuff for the kids:

martial arts classes, zoo admission, preschool and day care, go-cart races, learning centers, pottery painting, museum admission, dance classes, foreign language lessons, inflatable and party slide rentals, bowling, mobile game truck party rentals, swimming lessons.

Stuff for the animals:
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pet grooming, online pet medication store, pet sitting, pet doors, obedience training, tropical fish, aquarium decor.

Restaurants:

frozen yogurt, Thai food, Chinese food, Mexican food, smoothies, fish and chips, pitas, sushi, coffee and donuts, ice cream, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza (I found more than a dozen pizza coupons, but NOT ONE for a sandwich shop).

Modern conveniences:

satellite tv, long distance phone services, digital cable, high speed Internet, cellular service.

Coupons for those who have a little extra cash in their pockets:

bottled water delivery service, dry cleaners, concierge services, gourmet desserts, housekeeping, catering, wine tasting.

And coupons for those who wish they did:

bankruptcy consultation services, jewelry buyers, rare coin buyers, tax preparation services, divorce lawyers, eBay selling services.

Beep! Beep!

2009-03-03T15:55:00.003-07:00

Our gym is located on the campus of the community college near our house. The campus is also across the street from open desert.

We're always seeing different wildlife here. Today, I spotted this roadrunner:

Last week, I saw a coyote running around near the bus stop. Luckily, I was in the safety of the car--he had a small animal hanging out of his mouth. And, of course we are always seeing jackrabbits.

Tagged!

2009-03-03T01:06:00.002-07:00

Over the weekend, over two dozen houses in our neighborhood were attacked by kids shooting paintballs. It happened late Saturday night after everyone was asleep so nobody saw anything. The boys did say they heard noises around 11:30, but they thought it was just dry leaves blowing in the wind.

Luckily, we were only hit once in the garage door. The paint--which was pink, BTW--came off easily, but left a bit of an oily residue. Many of the other neighbors' cars got hit. The guy whose Hummer got splattered in day-glo green was pi$$ed.

But it could be worse. We could be living among these attractive nuisances:

When We Were Kids...

2009-03-02T01:25:00.006-07:00

On Friday afternoon, Lucas gave me a bit of a scare. When he didn't get home from school at the usual time, I got worried. So I hopped in the car and set out to find him.

As I drove through the neighborhood, I called Kyle to ask if he'd seen his brother (Kyle was at a friend's house and had already called to check in). Kyle suggested that Luke might have gone to the park with a bunch of other kids from his class.

Then I remembered! Friday afternoon football games in the park had become a ritual among many of the fourth and fifth graders at the school. And Lucas was a regular participant. So I drove by the park, and there he was running, laughing, and playing with his friends. I had worried for nothing.

I saw the following passage on CMG. But I'm posting it here as a reminder that I need not be such a helicopter mom.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate bleu cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps--not helmets--on our heads.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this..

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OK.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times,we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-Boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives...for our own good. While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?

Hair by Mustang

2009-03-01T13:20:00.003-07:00

I'm having a REALLY GOOD hair day today.

Foreclosure Pools

2009-02-28T16:56:00.011-07:00

One of my favorite time wasting hobbies is to search online real estate sites for homes for sale. This is a great way to kill an afternoon when I have a house to clean or a paper to write.
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Looking at these sites gives me some insight on local architecture. It's also a fun, harmless way to snoop inside peoples' houses. More times than not, my housekeeping skills are greatly validated.
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This has never been more apparent than lately as many homes around here fall in to foreclosure. In my most recent searches, I have seen houses with stained carpet, missing appliances, and overgrown yards. And those are the cleaner ones.
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Below are some lovely green, murky, algae-filled pools that are festering in the back yards of vacant bank-owned homes all over the Phoenix area. West Nile Virus is surely going to be epidemic this year!
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At least the bank, a realtor, a neighbor, or someone took the time to (mostly) empty this one.

Admittance to this pool might require a fishing license.

Do you know where your children are? Hopefully not at the bottom of this pool. As evidenced by the Tonka truck on the porch, little ones were playing here.

This one looks like it's half-filled with antifreeze.

I wonder if the Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" was inspired by this pool.

Someone made a valiant effort to bury this pool. Why, they even planted a tree where the skimmer used to be.

Thankfully, none of these pools are in my neighborhood. While we do have a few bank owned properties on our block, none of them have pools.

Do I Creep You Out?

2009-02-22T17:26:00.007-07:00

In my Presentation Techniques class, we had to design and create a concept drawing for a case piece/chair combination. For those of you don't know what a case piece is, look it up. Google is your friend.

Part of the drawing had to include a person. In interior and architectural renderings, people are used to indicate scale. And instead of creating them from scratch, we usually trace them from books and magazines. My instructor has a book full of line drawings of people engaged in different activities and poses. In this case, I chose and traced a person who appeared to be leaning on a counter.

Here's how my design turned out:

On my evaluation sheet, the instructor wrote that my person creeped him out. He did, however, qualify the statement as one of personal opinion and not a reflection of the quality of my work. We had a good laugh about it.

I wouldn't have said he looks creepy--especially considering that previous projects had us drawing people with no faces whatsoever. Although I do think adding pupils to his eyes would have given him an air of normalcy. I think if I'd given him dark hair, he'd look kind of like Rowan Atkinson. Or maybe with dark hair and a moustache, he could be Jack Dodson.

Thursday 13

2009-02-19T10:32:00.008-07:00

1. For Valentine's Day, Q bought me some bracelet charms in my initials. But instead of an "M" for the last name, he mistakingly bought me a "T", which is the initial for my maiden name. Does he think we're still only dating?

2. Kyle got a haircut this week! A REAL haircut, not just a bang trim. Per his request, no photos will be posted...not even for the relatives.

3. Jango barfed on my favorite tan shoes. Since they are suede, the shoes are ruined. I'm just glad they weren't expensive, but DAMN they were comfortable.

4. I am grateful that she didn't puke on the bed. We were sleeping in it at the time, and it's no fun having to scare up a clean blanket at two in the morning. Anyway, the shoes WILL need to be replaced. You can't wear black with everything, people!

5. I got 83% on a geology exam last week. I talked to a couple of other students who didn't do too good either. I guess I should be happier than I am. According to the online grade chart, the class average was 66%.

6. On the other hand, I got 10/10 on Tuesday's lab quiz. Shocking because I was fighting a migraine at the time.

7. I am really going to miss The Adam Carolla Show. His vitriolic diatribes against the egregious irresponsiblilty of Octomom never got old...especially since the saga is just beginning.

8. Tonight's dinner menu: BREAKFAST! We will be having eggs, hash browns, pork chorizo, avocado, and enough hot sauce to hold it all together.

9. Why is a good sports bra so hard to find?

10. I love the rain, but with it comes weeds. We'll be doing major clean-up in the back yard this weekend.

11. You can never have too many hooks in the house. They're great for hanging things like keys, mops, jackets, belts, towels, scissors, and other crap that's always getting lost.

12. Lucas came home from school and gave me the heads up: there are jay-dubs in the neighborhood. When they got here, we pretended to not be home. We quietly laughed our @$$e$ off while they pounded on the door.

13. We knew they were gone when the next door neighbors' dogs started barking ape$#!t. I guess it's time to go get the literature off the porch!

Good News, Bad News

2009-02-18T19:01:00.005-07:00

First the bad news: Effective Friday, The Adam Carolla Show is going off the air. My morning commutes to Scottsdale won't be the same. Oh well. I guess that means the iPod will be coming in off the bench.

Now the good news: A Banana Republic Factory Store is opening at the outlet mall just up the freeway from my house. First Calvin Klein and now BR? Could a Coach store be far behind?

No Sale!

2009-02-16T08:41:00.006-07:00

The following item appeared in today's Dear Abby. There are a few people who I hope see this. Some of them might even read this blog (I have a LOT of lurkers). And if they don't see it here, maybe they'll see it in the newspaper. Anyway, I'm glad it's not just me.

DEAR ABBY: Am I alone in feeling insulted that the only time I am invited to "friends'" homes is when they have something to sell? First it was food storage items, then jewelry and clothing, and now it's food supplements that will "change my life."

Some of these invitations come from people who have been to my home for dinners or parties, but have never reciprocated -- until now. Although I would love to be in their homes socially, I have no intention of going for a sales pitch so they can get free stuff, gain points or whatever.

Do I even owe them an RSVP for this kind of invitation? -- SOLICITED IN REDWOOD CITY, CALIF.

DEAR SOLICITED: I understand your feelings, but if you want to continue having a social relationship with these people, then politely RSVP with your regrets. To ignore the invitation would be a breach of good manners.

Goodwill Finds

2009-02-14T16:20:00.008-07:00

Kyle went skiing with friends today so Q, Lucas and I piled in the car and headed out for a day of scavenging through Goodwill. After all it was half-price Saturday. We ended up hitting five stores.

Our first stop was the Happy Valley Road store. And here's proof that lightning DOES strike twice in the same place. This is the same store where I found a stack of Fiesta plates and bowls just two months ago. Well, today, I found MORE Fiesta--four white dinner plates. Incidentally, these are my first white plates. Not a big surprise to those who know me well. I also found a book of house floor plans. Total spent: $2.95.

Next, we went to the Union Hills Drive store. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. We left empty handed.

A few miles south was the Dunlap Avenue store. The only thing good was a book about volcanoes. Since I have to write a paper about a volcanic event, I thought this would come in handy for my research. Total spent: $1.49.

After lunch at a Mexican food restaurant, we were off to the Cave Creek Road store. Here, we saw some promising junk. Lucas found a Sega Genesis game controller, but it had some exposed wires so we passed. Q thought about buying a TV to replace the 13-inch one in our bedroom, but I urged him to wait until we could afford a plasma screen. Anyway, $25 seems like an awful lot to spend on a tube TV.

We did end up buying some of those modular particle board storage shelves that Target sells. I had been wanting some of these to fill in the bare area above our closet shelf. They had two available, so I bought one for the closet and one for Lucas to store his old school video game consoles. Total spent: $6.98

The Bell Road store turned out to be our go-to spot for plastic replacement parts. Here, I found a TV remote just like the one we have at home. Funny because these remotes are rentals from the cable company...they operate the digital cable boxes. It seems strange that a rented remote ended up at Goodwill, instead of being returned to Cox Cable, but whatever. Anyway, I only bought it for the battery cover. The clip on ours had cracked off and it was being held in place by duck tape.

Q also found a leaf vacuum for the pool. He already has one just like it, but a little plastic clip had broke off. Again, we bought it for that plastic part. Total spent: $3.48

After some screw tightening and a thorough cleaning, the particle board shelves looked almost new. Lucas has already put his to use:

I'm not sure if this was done by a Goodwill worker or the former owner, but my shelf had this piece of sage advice taped to it (click to enlarge if you need to).

So Emotional

2009-02-12T12:53:00.011-07:00

The following was inspired by this t-shirt we saw at Kohls.
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My Action: Sit at home all day, eating chocolate, and buying crap I don't need on eBay.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Clean the entire house from top to bottom...even scrubbing the crusty brown piss off the wall behind the boys' toilet.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Suggest that we spend Saturday afternoon at a Spring Training game.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Suggest that we spend the day at the mall.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Come to bed wearing a long, flannel gown with a high ruffled collar and tattered cotton panties.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Come to bed wearing a sheer negligee and crotchless panties.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Use my dish money to buy him the Mission: Impossible Season 5 DVD set.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Use his baseball ticket money to buy myself another pair of pink sandals.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Prepare a dinner of slow cooked pot roast, sauteed asparagus with a light cream sauce, fresh baked bread, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert.
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Q's Reaction:
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My Action: Fix overcooked Hamburger Helper for dinner.
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Q's Reaction:
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I should point out that the preceding entry was originally written for Q's eyes only. But it was the man himself who encouraged me to post it here.

46 Questions

2009-02-10T19:02:00.005-07:00

I've been tagged by a bunch of my Facebook friends to complete this one. But since most of them also read this blog, I'm doing it here.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANY ONE?...Absolutely not. I think my mom was trying to avoid that.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?...Don't remember when, but it was over that ASPCA commercial with sad Sarah Maclachlan music playing in the background. BTW, you are one sick, heartless asshat if that commercial doesn't make you well up at least a little.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?...My handwriting is getting very difficult to read...especially when I have to write fast. Some people think I'm being an overachiever when I type my homework, but for me, it's actually easier.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?...Londonport seasoned roast beef.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?...Yes...two boys.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?...I'd like to think so.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?...Every chance I get. :-)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?...Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?...Um, NO!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?...Special K with red berries.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?...Yes. For my gym shoes, I have to.

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?...Chocolate and peanut butter from Baskin Robbins

13. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?...Smile

14. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONLY ONE ALBUM FRONT TO BACK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?...Hits by Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship

15. RED OR PINK?...Very much PINK!

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?...I get angry easily.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?...Skitz, my childhood cat, and my dad.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?...Pretty much everyone has already done it

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?...Faded black sweat pants and white tennis shoes with pink trim.

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?...Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown playing in the background.

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?...Carnation Pink

22. FAVORITE SMELLS?...Q's man smell.

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?...Q. I wanted to know if he needed anything from the store.

24. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?...I got this from several people, and I like them all.

25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?...Basketball. Even though we are a baseball family, basketball moves faster and is therefore easier to watch.

26. HAIR COLOR?...Red with blonde highlights.

27. EYE COLOR?...Greenish, hazelish

28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?...No. I don't even wear glasses.

29. FAVORITE FOOD?...Depends on my mood. Toss up between Mexican, pizza, and sushi.

30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?...Happy endings.

31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?...Vegas Vacation

32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?...White with black raglan sleeves

33. SUMMER OR WINTER?...Winter in Arizona can't be beat. Anyone want a ride in my convertible?

34. HUGS OR KISSES?...Yes.

35. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?...See #18.

36. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?...Back woods, island, or mountain people who don't own computers.

37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?..."Earth: an Introduction to Physical Geology" by Edward J. Tarbuck.

38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?...The mouse.

39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?...THS Investigates: Curse of the Lottery on the E! channel.

40. FAVORITE SOUND(S)?... The sound of heavy rainfall hitting the roof.

41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?...Yes

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?...Turin, Italy

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?...Eating an entire pizza in one sitting. Granted, it only happened once, and I was pregnant with Luke at the time, but still...

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?...Phoenix, Arizona

45. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?...Again...see #18.

46. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER?...We worked together at the King's Table Buffet way back when.

When I Grow Up...

2009-02-09T01:17:00.002-07:00

I got this from T i m e O u t s:

Here's the reply the teacher received the following day:

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.

From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,

Mrs.Smith

Hail Storm!

2009-02-08T12:36:00.004-07:00

We don't get much rain in the Phoenix area. But hail is even more of a novelty...even if it only lasts 10 minutes. While the rest of us watched the hail from the warmth of our dry house, Lucas was out in the yard sitting in it.

This time yesterday, we were enjoying sunshine and 65 degree temperatures at Arizona Diamondbacks FanFest.

How About Us?

2009-02-06T14:46:00.005-07:00

On Tuesday, the Arizona Republic published an item titled "10 Steps to Big Savings". Always looking for ways to save money, I eagerly read the article.

Big disappointment. The article turned out to be little more than a puff piece that was compiled with little or no thought paid to the common man. The only money saving tips offered were things like mowing your own lawn, cleaning your own house, and cancelling the bottled water service.

Bottled water service? I've never heard of such a thing. Everyone I know buys their bottled water at the grocery store. And some of us even refill and reuse our bottles. GASP!

This leads me to ponder: what about the regular people? What about those of us who don't wear a dry-clean only wardrobe?

What about those of us who ALREADY wash our own cars, brew our own coffee, clip coupons, paint our own nails, buy generic toilet paper, wait for movies to come out on DVD, shop at Goodwill, and drive paid-for cars with high miles?

What about the housewives who reuse dryer sheets? Or the office workers who carpool to work? How about the family who only eats out on special occasions...and even then, they choose a budget-friendly restaurant and/or use a coupon?

So, how about those of us who are naturally thrifty? How about offering up some practical, creative, money saving tips for the segment of the population who--even during times of economic prosperity--don't spend frivously and are still barely able to stay afloat?

For those people, I have one tip: cancel your subscription to the Arizona Republic and read it online for free. That's an $18 per month savings right there!

43 Odd Things About Me

2009-02-06T08:14:00.004-07:00

I got this one from Becky

1. Do you like bleu cheese? Only in salad dressing.
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2. Have you ever smoked? One time. Didn't care for it.
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3. Do you own a gun? Not unless you count a squirt gun. If so, then I have a whole arsenal.
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4. What flavour of Kool-Aid was your favorite? Green
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5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not unless they're Quinton's.
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6. What do you think of hot dogs? They're good if there's no other food available...and even then, they have to be drenched in sweet relish and Mongolian Fire Oil.
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7. Favorite Christmas movie? say it with me now...National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation .
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8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Diet V8 Splash
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9. Can you do push ups? No...never could
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10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Wedding rings
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11. Favorite hobby? Modern architecture and furniture
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12. Do you have A.D.D.? No, but a positive diagnosis wouldn't surprise me in the least.
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13. What's one trait you dislike about yourself? I lose my temper easily.
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14. Middle name? Sue
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15. Name 3 thoughts at this moment: "My cell phone needs charging"..."Jango is so soft"..."The chandelier over the dining room table has got to go".
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16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Pepsi...water...mango smoothies
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17. Current worry? I constantly worry about the car breaking down while I'm driving it.
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18. Current dislike right now? Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain. I also hate the photo radar cameras that have infiltrated nearly every freeway in the Phoenix area.
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19. Favorite place to be? The antique mall...or any mall, for that matter.
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20. How did you bring in the new year? At a block party with the neighbors.
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21. Where would you like to go? This changes all the time. Right now, it's San Francisco.
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22. Name three people who might complete this? Craig, ~M, and Kelly
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23. Do you own slippers? Yes...a pair of moccasins from Lands' End
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24. What shirt are you wearing? Red sleeveless swing top from Old Navy
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25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No...but I do like 100% cotton sateen. And the higher the thread count the better.
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26. Can you whistle? Yes
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27. Favorite color? Pink
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28. Would you be a pirate? No...plundering and pillaging is not in my nature. But I do own a ruffled collar blouse.
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29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Commercial jingles..."Mack The Knife"..."Sir Duke"..."You're So Vain"...and DOZENS of others.
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30. Favorite Girl's Name: Melinda
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31. Favorite boy's name: Kenny
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32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing
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33. Last thing that made you laugh? Q's goofy sex jokes
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34. What vehicle do you drive? Mustang convertible...or Dodge Stratus if it's raining or I need a large trunk.
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35. What is the worst injury you have had? Dislocated my shoulder.
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36. Do you love where you live? It's great for what it is (tract house). But I have a longing to buy a place with more architectural significance and restore--not remodel--it.
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37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4
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38. Who is your loudest friend? Jango
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39. Does someone have a crush on you? I don't think so. Most of my man friends are gay.
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40. Your favorite book(s): anything to do with design or architecture.
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41. Do you collect anything? Fiesta dishes--both new and old...Harlequin egg cups...pink stuff...books...Coach bags...
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42. Favorite Sports Team? Arizona Diamondbacks
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43. What songs do you want played at your funeral? "Dust in the Wind"...as sung by Will Ferrell in Old School. I really don't know how to answer this one.

Thursday 13

2009-02-05T01:11:00.001-07:00

I used to do a Thursday 13 list with great regularity. But for some reason--probably lack of inspiration--their frequency has waned. Sometimes, these lists would have a theme, but mostly they were just potpourri. Today's list falls in the latter category.

1. My birthday is coming up in a month. Usually, we celebrate by going to a nice restaurant. But this year, I decided the we should do something different. So we are going to a Suns game. The boys are jazzed. Now to find affordable tickets...

2. When Q was driving home from work on Monday, the hubcap fell off our Dodge. He was able to recover it, but it was cracked and will need to be replaced. In the meantime, I refuse to drive that car with a missing hubcap. Yes, I really am that vain!

3. This house recently went on the market. Located in the Moon Valley area of Phoenix, it appears to have a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence. If circumstances allowed, I would want us to consider buying it.

4. I have a great schedule this semester. I only have to drive to Scottsdale on Mondays and Wednesdays. My Tuesday-Thursday Geology class is at the campus just down the road from our house. But the best part is that my weekends begin at 9:45 on Thursday morning.

5. Since joining the gym this past August, I have lost 15 pounds. Not that I'm bragging or anything...

6. We eat Mexican food no less than three times a week.

7. I'm trying really hard to not hassle Kyle about having long shaggy hair. He's a very well behaved boy. He's very responsible, and has made Honor Roll all year. I really should let this one issue go. That would be much easier if he didn't complain mightily about me and Q holding hands in public.

8. I'm bummed that CBS cancelled Swingtown. At least Bravo shows it in daylong marathons from time to time.

9. I'm even more bummed that the Arizona Cardinals lost the Super Bowl. At least they played strong and made the Pittsburgh Steelers work hard for the win. In fact, I found the whole season quite entertaining...and I'm not even a football fan.

10. I am easily amused by mislisted eBay auctions...such as this one. Attention dinneware sellers: know your Stones!

11. I am officially done decorating and organizing the laundry room. I now have my sights set on redoing the boys' bathroom.

12. Lucas likes to read over my shoulder when I type.

13. I can't wait until April 14.

Hers and Hers and His...

2009-02-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

For some people, having two bathroom sinks is a luxury.

For others, it's a necessity.

For us, it's no longer enough. It seems we need a third vanity bowl.

Last night, Q and I found ourselves sharing one sink. I was brushing my teeth and he was washing his hands. We were both jockeying for position.

Meanwhile, our thirsty, self important cat took over the second sink and claimed it as her own personal drinking fountain.

And Then The Fight Started...

2009-02-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

I got this from Q, who got it from his brother.
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When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her someplace expensive....
So, I took her to a gas station.....
And then the fight started...
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My wife and I are watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, "Do you want to have sex?"
"No," she answered.
I then said, "Is that your final answer?"
She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, "Yes."
So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."
And then the fight started...
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Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day. I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed.
I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible."
My loving wife of 10 years replied, "Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?"
And then the fight started...
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My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.
My wife asked, "Do you know her?"
"Yes," I sighed, "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since."
"My God!" says my wife, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"
And then the fight started...
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I rear-ended a car this morning. So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car. You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and little things just seem funny? Yeah, well I couldn't believe it.... He was a DWARF!!!
He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, "I AM NOT HAPPY!!!"
So, I looked down at him and said, "Well, then which one are you?"
And then the fight started...
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I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. "I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please."
He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"
"Nah, she can order for herself..."
And then the fight started...
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A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment."
The husband replies, "Your eyesight's darn near perfect."
And then the fight started...
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Go Cardinals!

2009-02-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday Dishes: From My Childhood

2009-02-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

Cruising through the antique mall yesterday, I found the same dishes we used when I was a child. Minimal eBay research informed me that these are the Autumn Harvest pattern from Taylor, Smith & Taylor.

I'm not crazy about the pattern, but I LOVE the shape of that creamer and sugar.

In The Mail

2009-01-31T20:41:00.004-07:00

I love getting packages in the mail...even if they're not for me. Currently, I'm waiting for:

--An art history book from textbooksrus.com
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~~--A geology book from half.com~~

~~--Q's cortisone tablets (it's way cheaper to order them online)~~
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~~--A new computer (birthday present for Lucas)~~
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~~--Some~~ ~~Chartpak Ad markers from Dick Blick Art Materials~~
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--An A/V cable for the Sega Genesis console that Lucas bought at Goodwill.

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For once, there's nothing fun on the way. No dish trades from fellow collectors. No tops from Banana Republic's online clearance section. No architecture books from Amazon.
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No FUN!

Cherner Side Chair

2009-01-31T15:59:00.005-07:00

A few months ago, my good friend Rick found a Cherner side chair at a small local store in his town of Miami. Rick only paid $25 for his chair. He said it looked pretty rough, but was able to bring it back to life with a good cleaning.

Last month, while scavenging for vintage Fiesta at our local antique mall, I happened upon a Cherner side chair. At $175, I passed.

But Rick encouraged me to go back and check the chair out more carefully to see if it is an original piece (reproductions go for $659). And since this is 15% off weekend, I decided to do just that.

Apparently, I didn't inspect the chair well enough when I saw it the first time. There was a big, honking divot carved out of the back.

Plus, it looks like someone tried to restore it, but did a poor job and wiping up the varnish drips.

So, once again, I passed. It's too bad, too. Had it not been for the damage, this mid-century treasure would possibly have been adopted into my home.

What Flower Are You?

2009-01-28T01:10:00.001-07:00

I got this from Elaine and Becky.

I am a
Petunia

What Flower
Are You?

You are a tried and trusted friend who will be there for your friends when they need you. But you have a tendency to be nervous about doing things that go against the norm.

Happy Birthday, Lucas

2009-01-27T14:02:00.004-07:00

Laundry Room: After

2009-01-25T13:58:00.008-07:00

After two weeks of disarray, the laundry room is finally done. Since the space is so small, I had to photograph it piecemeal.

The cabinet that I bought from IKEA this week keeps all the detergents, cleaners, and polishes out of sight.

This wire shelf serves as a drying rack for delicates and a place to keep extra hangers. No more having to fling my bras over a shower curtain rod!

I used bins, baskets, and hooks from the IKEA Bygel series for organizing mop cloths, cleaning wands, and small hand tools. The basket on the right serves as a dispenser for dryer sheets. The white bin to its left is a little trash receptacle for dryer lint and the endless stream of food wappers that I'm always fishing out the kids' pockets.

This mop and broom rack fits behind the door and out of sight. Previously, they were haphazardly shoved into the area between the washer and dryer.

This newly designed space has received good reviews from the non-female members of the household. Kyle said that I really "pimped out the laundry room". And that's good. That room needed a good pimping.

J. Dangle and Fuzzy

2009-01-24T01:08:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks, these two kitties--J. Dangle and Fuzzy--have made their presence known on our street. They live two houses from us, but they have made themselves known to at least three families that I know of. The neighborhood children have become quite captivated with J. Dangle and Fuzzy. And they are just eating up the attention.

J. Dangle is always sitting on this rock in front of his house, keeping watch over the neighborhood. He seems to do better police work than his namesake. The only time he leaves his post is to walk a beat.

Fuzzy likes letting herself into our garage. Here, she has made herself at home on the trunk of the car. Jango and Fuzzy have had a few visual confrontations. For the time being, I have been able to keep a window or screen door between them.

I have a feeling that Fuzzy and J. Dangle will become regular blog material.