Northend Nique

Interesting...

2007-03-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

What is it that you're looking for?

Let's Play Tag

2006-12-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

You're IT!!

You can only answer with one word. No explanations.

Yourself: aching
Your partner: sleeping
Your hair: wreck
Your Mother: gone
Your Father: reading
Your Favorite Item: bathtub
Your dream last night: none
Your Favorite Drink: coffee
Your Dream Car: Volvo
Your Dream Home: modern
The Room You Are In: computer
Your Ex: sweet
Your fear: death
Where you Want to be in Ten Years? secure
Who you hung out with last night: family
What You're Not: dressed
Muffins: blueberry
One of Your Wish List Items: slippers
Time: out
The Last Thing You Did: type
What You Are Wearing: jammies

Winter

2006-11-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Ummm, it's fucking cold outside. It's supposed to be only 16 degrees tonight and the high tomorrow only 27 degrees. Yah, it's fucking cold outside. :(

The Business

2006-11-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Just had to post... Bacon posted an iPod meme. It rocked, so I had to oblige. Here you go, rules and all...
Here's how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that's playing
5. new question-- press the next button
6. don't lie and try to pretend you're cool

opening credits:
Ms Grier – Groove Collective / Groove Collective

waking up:
The Long Way Home – Norah Jones / Feels Like Home

first day at school:
Sunrise – Norah Jones / Feels Like Home
(sheesh, how did I get TWO from the same artist & album in a row?)

falling in love:
I Can't Take You Anywhere – Toby Keith / Pull My Chain

breaking up:
Battleship – Red Hot Chili Peppers / Freaky Styley

prom:
Country Comes To Town – Toby Keith / Greatest Hits 2

life's okay:
Mr. Mom – Lonestar / Let's Be Us Again

mental breakdown:
Homewrecker – Gretchen Wilson / Here For The Party

driving:
Superman – Eminem / The Eminem Show

flashback:
Shield of Faith - Alison Krauss & Union Station / Everytime You Say Goodbye

getting back together:
Don't Ruin It For The Rest Of Us – Mark Chesnutt / Savin' The Honky Tonk

wedding:
Hello Mr. Heartache – Dixie Chicks / Fly

birth of child:
Lodi Dodi – Snoop Dogg / Doggystyle

final battle:
Now Mary – The White Stripes / White Blood Cells

death scene:
By Myself – Linkin Park / Hybrid Theory

funeral song:
Just A Girl – No Doubt / Tragic Kingdom

end credits:
Cab Of My Truck – Dierks Bentley / Modern Day Drifter

Thank you Amy!! I haven't laughed that hard in a VERY long time. This was rad!
Brian, I am expecting you to follow suit. You are the music man. If anyone else does the same, let me know. I can't get over how funny some of these are.
Anyhoots, tomorrow night is the St. Mary's Ball (Dinner Dance in past years). Can't wait to see all the good, uptight, "perfect" parents stumbling drunk. Best night of the year I tell ya!

Weekends?

2006-11-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what weekends mean to all of you but to me I have a few ideas. My weekends usually consist of loafing around not cleaning my house and then complaining because my house isn't clean. Thus requiring me to frantically clean because I can't stand it anymore. Knitting, which I continually put aside to clean. Extra long walks with the dog, now that one doesn't change. Shopping with my mom since we both are avoiding cleaning. And making an attempt at catching up on some missed phone calls which, for those of you that know me, I am exceedingly bad at. Ending with a Sunday night wondering where my weekend went and needing to know why there isn't more clean laundry and my floor is still dirty. Then THIS weekend rolled around. The annual PTO Christmas Bazaar was this weekend at Bailey's school. Bailey's dance group was the FORTUNATE recipient of the proceeds from the bake sale. Now, normally this sale is held by other church groups but none wanted it this year. Enter St. Mary's Mexican Folklorico Dance Group. This event is an awesome opportunity to raise some $$ for us. We have been borrowing costumes from another group and it is certainly time for us to have our own. The only problem with having a bake sale is volunteering for a bake sale! Thankfully the kind women of our parish made all the baked goods. We never had to lift a finger in our own kitchens! Good thing too because it would have been hard to bake when you spent 9 hours a day at the school volunteering for the damned bake sale! Now, I am so grateful because we did raise $600 but I managed to spend 21 hours at the school this weekend. Where did my weekend go? Don't remind me! Thankfully Bailey had the day off of school today and I get to stay home and relax a bit.
On another school related note I did manage to take the class art project to the framers last night for the Ball on Saturday. This has been a weight on my shoulders for weeks now and I am soooooo happy for it to finally be out of my hands! I'll take a picture of it as soon as it's completed.
Man, a nap sounds excellent right now...

Elections

2006-11-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

Another election day and another term of the Republican Boot up my ass.
I HATE being a red state.

Bubba's Departure

2006-10-28T10:52:00.000-06:00

Bubba is off to some awesome new adventures! We wish him safe journeys and we will miss him immensely...
Crazy with the knife

Parkin' it

Hanging around even when Bailey farts

Game Night

Christmas mornings at mom's house

Thanksgiving

The Alley Hangout

Last minute camping trips and my shootin' buddy

You are loved and will be missed my friend!

Damn the Obligations!

2006-10-25T13:55:00.000-06:00

Why do I succumb to these?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four jobs I’ve had:

* Wife
* Mother
* Lifeguard
* Random Desk Jobs

Four movies I can watch over and over:

* White Christmas
* The Piano
* Heathers
* Mommy Dearest

Four television shows I love to watch:

* Heroes
* Monk
* Globe Trekker
* Independent Lens

Four of my favorite dishes:

* Pizza-The good stuff on Whole Wheat from Flying Pie
* Sticky Rice-I could LIVE on this stuff
* In-n-Out Burger-I'd be happy with ANYTHING from there.
* Manicotti-My mom makes the BEST!

Four websites I visit daily:

* flickr.com
* dailymumps.com
* news.bbc.co.uk
* ikea.com

Four places I would rather be right now:

* Hawaii (ok, anywhere beachy and warm, it's FREEZING here)
* Shopping
* Drinking beer with my friends
* Surfing with Bailey

Four bloggers I am tagging:

* Amy
* Devlyn
* Brian
* Sara

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright guys... get on it.

Oh the questions they ask...

2006-10-24T12:24:00.000-06:00

My dorky friend, Brian, posted some valid questions on his blog recently. I have no good answer other than these folks are just completely ignorant (and intolerant). Anybody else have any answers or feelings on this topic??

Blech.

2006-10-05T13:49:00.000-06:00

Am I ever coming back? I don't know. What I do know is that piling things on my sleeping dog cracks me up... so I WILL continue! :p

I'm Dead.

2006-07-21T23:49:00.000-06:00

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

No really, did you know IKEA is less than 3 miles from my house? Yeah, um, went there today. Now, how am I going to get all this stuff back to Boise? The Queen asked if we could go back tomorrow. I said "OF COURSE" but I'm thinking I should really rethink that. :p

Home

2006-07-19T12:02:00.000-06:00

We made it. Actually, it was VERY smooth sailing as far as our actual flights went. Even got into Oakland 15 minutes early! Who ever heard of such a thing?! Ok, that really just tacked on another 15 minutes to our hour long wait between flights but hey, it was EARLY! You know, I cannot stand the Oakland airport. You land at gate 47 and have to get to gate 10 before your flight takes off. What? You have to go to the bathroom? We'll never make it!! AAAACCCCKKKK!!! The hallways are sooo narrow with a billion people trying to get through. The worst part is I ALWAYS, and I do mean ALWAYS, get stuck behind the family with 8 kids under the age of 8. Where the kids insist on pulling their wheeled luggage on their own and weave figure 8's through this fucking narrow hallway (sooo damned narrow and crap, 20 more gates to go). The parents constantly stop in the middle of said narrow hallway and realize that they are walking too fast (they aren't, trust me) and 6 of their 8 children are way back there (right infront of me). The look on my face says "move these fucking children or I am going to start punting them from here to my gate which is STILL 20 GATES AWAY!!!" So now the massive procreators are going back, against the flow of traffic, to release their precious babies from my grip of certain death. I literally stop and put my hands over my face. In the mean time, The Queen has moved on. The crazy children have now pissed her off and since she's a kid herself she's figured she can just push her way through them and give them dirty looks when they run straight into her (going the wrong way of course) and almost knock her down and all will be just fine. God, I love her! She ended up way ahead of me and having to wait. What a good girl! We finally made it to the moving sidewalk!! I love this part. It's like walking X3. Guess what? Everyone is just standing on it, chatting. AARGH! Stand on the right, walk on the left. Ever heard of that concept? Christ people are so lazy now get the hell out of my way because I'm trying to beat the crazy family with too many children since my luck states that they will be joining me on my same flight (they did too). We made it to San Diego. YAY! Now let's hurry and get off this plane so we aren't behind these devil spawn again! The luggage took a bit to make it but it was part of the first set on the turnstile thingy. Outside. Ahhhh, home. The humid air, the salty smell, the cranky people. I do belong.
Haven't done much since we got here yesterday afternoon. Came home to an empty house, which is really odd. No one else will be here until my sister comes in on the 25th. Suzie will be here on the 29th and I have no idea when my brother will be home. Spent quite a bit of time in the pool. Cleaned cat boxes and swept and mopped. I'm sure you all didn't come here to hear about my weird cleaning habits so I'll leave that for another day.

This is it.

2006-07-17T09:07:00.000-06:00

In less than 24 hours The Queen and I will be gone. We are going to San Diego for the next 5 weeks. The Queen has surf camp and marine science camp plus a dance group. We've been planning this for what seems like forever but I can't believe that the time is here. I'm finished with all the laundry but the packing is another story. Most is already in the suitcases but DAMN, I have a ton of crap! I still have a bunch of essentials to pack, plus swim team practice and a meet this afternoon/night so I'm a bit frazzled today. I try and start this stuff early but I always seem to be up most of the night before still packing. GAH, I hate this part.
Dan's pretty bummed. I'm going to miss him so much. He says it's different with us leaving. He's not used to having to be at the house so much all alone. Usually it's him that is going away for such long periods of time and not us. I'm not exactly sure how to feel. I am excited though. I love going home! All the time I want at the beach, fruit that I just can't get here, FRESH seafood... YAY!! I even get to see my old friend Chrissy who moved from here to there not too long ago! This will be a great trip!
Last night we drove to Ontario and saw our puppy again! She's soooo cute! Seven weeks old now and just a ball of fun and love. I can't wait til we get home to see her again. Dan is going to Utah the last week of July and when he gets back he will be picking her up to finally come home. We picked her out when she was just 1 week old and she has changed so much already. That girl is going to be a terror here pretty soon. Puppy school here we come.
Ok, I cannot procrastinate any longer. Sorry for the choppy post but I'm sure I mentioned the frazzled-ness that I am feeling. Wish me luck!

No One Was Looking

2006-06-26T13:21:00.000-06:00

It's official. I am alone. Dan is off to Denver and The Queen in McCall for Y Camp. I think I might be in a state of shock. I don't think I've been left alone like this for 10 years. There has always been at least one of them around. Weird.
I haven't really figured out what the hell I'm going to do with myself yet. I need to start cleaning the house since it's been like a MONTH (at least). My last day at work was Thursday so now I'm here all week, by myself, in the dirty house. I think I'll start that job tomorrow. Yah, take a day off Dom! I think I'll start by taking a nap. :)

Boo-Boos

2006-06-25T18:19:00.000-06:00

I'm thinking of changing this blog. Apparently I will only be posting pictures of The Queen's icky wounds.

Ok, so I won't be changing things. However, I WILL begin posting more. I promise.

YUMMY.

2006-04-27T19:56:00.000-06:00

I mean EWWWW.

Sometimes I can't even believe myself.

2006-04-06T21:53:00.000-06:00

The last time we chatted I happened to mention something about applying for a job at the Y. They called. I'm happy. Now they aren't the only ones who called. My old boss at Boise State called the same day. He was wondering if I would be able to come back to work to help fill in part-time. I agreed to go in and chat with him but damnit, I had demands this time. See, I'm not so good at making demands when it comes to work. Kinda like I should just be lucky I'm working (for years I was the breadwinner while Dan stayed home with The Queen and finished school). Well not anymore. I went it with my terms and came out with a job. I feel like I need one of those Staples Buttons... "That was easy!" I worked a week, took a week off (Spring Break), and today finished up my second week. No fridays for this girl! I have quite a bit to learn since it's not the job I left behind, thankfully. I'm actually having a great time! I thought it would be nice to be doing something again but I didn't think I would enjoy it this much. I get to work with my best friend again and that's a huge plus!
Now if I can change the mindset of my family, especially in the mornings, things would be just about perfect. Here comes the rant... I get up an hour (at least) earlier than anyone else in this house. There's lunches to make, breakfast, getting clothes together for everyone for the day, ironing, cleaning the kitchen, making sure everyone else is up on time and getting their shit taken care of... now I have to add in my own shower, clothes for work (lest we forget I live to take The Queen to school while in my pj's), an extra breakfast and lunch so I get something to eat... did I mention that we only have ONE BATHROOM???? Yeah. Sucks. Needless to say it takes me a bit longer to get ready than the two crazy people that live here with me. My fabulous husband asked me the other morning why I wasn't ready yet. He was ready to go and well, I wasn't. I envisioned myself at that moment pulling a gun from the bathroom drawer and blowing his head off. Nah, it didn't happen really... How do I know? Because then he told me to "hurry up." No shit. Thank God I don't really store any guns in the bathroom drawers. For some reason it doesn't seem to bother anyone that I have to get up EXTRA early and get everyone's crap together and now my own. I'm wondering why I have to do this all by myself. Why the hell can't Dan get up earlier and split some of these chores? Well, according to him... he works! Yep, he said it. 'Cause apparently all I do is jack shit. I'm waiting for the day that I get to see him get up at the butt crack of dawn, do all the morning housework, then GO to work, drive from work to The Queen's school for the after school pick-up, home for homework, start dinner, pick-up him up from work (or in this fantasy case, me), home to eat, off to either softball or dance, home to bathe spawn, put to bed, you think I'm done?, start some laundry, clean other rooms in house, garbage duty, dishes, how about grocery shopping?, I usually go between 9 and 11 pm, check email, finally make it to bed at some ungodly hour and then start again being the first one up... Seriously, I think he would die. Can someone remind me why we have husbands? I seem to have forgotton... and don't tell me it's for the sex, we've been married almost 10 years! Because seriously, I don't need anymore work.
Hey, you are still here? You haven't run away screaming and pulling your hair out? Internet, I love you! :*
It's 10:35 p.m., I still need to sweep. *YAWN*

People are IDIOTS.

2006-03-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm cranky. Maybe I should just leave things at that. Really c'mon now, there's no way in hell that's gonna happen anytime soon.
This morning I have been gagging over our local rag, the Idaho Statesman. Most of the time I find this newspaper... well, dumb. Today? Nauseating. As I had recently posted, our priest (hell's bells the girl is catholic, hard to imagine, I understand) wrote a letter on gay marriage. Read it, most of you that I know will be glad you did. Now, it's taken awhile but there is finally beginning to be a bit of backlash about said article. Sheesh, took waaay longer than I thought it would. Anyhoots, in today's opinion page there were two letters. No the paper isn't THAT small. Just two about what Father Faucher had commented on. One of them is from a teacher at The Queen's school. "Dear Mrs. Kathy Yribar... what a closed minded bitch you are. I am so glad that you will retire before my child makes it to your classroom." Wow! I am cranky aren't I? Oh, well life moves on. I, of course, had to fire off a letter to combat her crap. Keep an eye out, hopefully it will show up here.
In other HAPPY news... it's snowing again!!!! To much dismay to Devlyn and Bacon surely (insert evil laugh here). Snow makes me happy! DAMNIT! BE HAPPY! EVERYBODY!
P.S. My laziness has hit an all time high and I cannot take it anymore. I have applied for a part-time job at the Y. I figure I spend enough time there I really should be paid for it. Wish me luck!

SNOW!!

2006-03-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

Time Out

2006-03-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

Well, Dan's gone once more. For only two weeks this time. You know, I was really looking forward to this time. Don't get me wrong, it does suck when he's gone (i.e. I have no one to stick my icy nighttime feet on when I climb into bed), but there IS good to him being away on business. Such as only having to clean up after one child, not having to have dinner ready at a specific time, not having to ask a kazillon times for someone to have to take out the garbage. YAY! So after finally getting him packed up (which required him removing everything he owns from the closet and depositing it on the living room divan) the Queen and I set out for a relaxing day. It was divine! I didn't clean ANYTHING! There's crap EVERYWHERE! And I didn't give a shit! YEEHAW! Of course later that night all hell breaks loose. I get a call from my sister-in-law saying that Dan's grandmother is in the ER and it doesn't look good... CRAP! I stay up half the night waiting to hear some news. Call Dan a few times. He says "Ummmm, Dom, you know that I cannot come home right?" Yah, I knew, but shit I wasn't expecting to spend my two-week-vacation-away-from-my-husband with the family! It is now essentially Thursday and Dan's shit is still in the front room, the Queen's puzzle from Monday has fallen off the bar and there are puzzle pieces all over the damn floor, there is laundry seeping out from the bathroom and I spend all my time in the hospital. AAAAACCCCCKKKKKK! I'm moving on. I am going back to my normal routine (no matter what anyone says). Tomorrow is Thursday and that's my Coffee-Date-With-Dawn day and I'm keeping it! I would like to say that afterwards I will come home and clean this filthy house up but I'm sure I will procrastinate on Flickr for an eternity. I'm gonna try though. Wish me luck! Sweetney said to me that she is trying to be Ms. Brightside. I'm going to try and follow her lead.
I have to go now... I went to mass for Ash Wednesday this morning and the ashes are sliding down my greasy-ass forehead and burning my eyes. Today Rocks!
P.S. Can I just mention that I adore our Priest? 'Cause I do. And you should to.

I'll do it if You do it!

2006-02-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Try it out. VERY SHORT wasn't an option.

The Damned Seven

2006-02-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Devlyn has tagged me for a meme. The rules state that you must list the seven songs you are most into right now. As per Devlyn "no matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to." I am dubbing it the Damned Seven. Only because I have no idea what the hell I'm listening to lately (although it's all country I'm sure) and SEVEN FRIENDS? Do I even have seven friends? Crap I need to do a little research.

1. Jetsons Theme Song
Just watched all of season I of the Jetsons and quite frankly I CANNOT get that theme song out of my head.

2. "Cowboy Take Me Away"
Dixie Chicks
On my ipod and in the truck. One of my all time favorite songs and I think I can't go one day without hearing it.

3. "When I Get Where I'm Going"
Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton
I can't really explain this one. I just really enjoy this song. For some odd reason it's relaxing.

4. "Boondocks"
Little Big Town
Sometimes I feel like they are talking about Boise. Although small and a bit backwards I really do love it here.

5. "Mud On The Tires"
Brad Paisley
Another must hear each day. Always makes me smile.

6. "Fast Cars And Freedom"
Rascall Flats
Shouldn't we all feel this way?

7. "Walkin' After Midnight"
Patsy Cline
Heard this song again for the first time in a long time last week and now it has gone into the daily rotation.

I'm sure there is plenty of other stuff that I have been listening to but honestly I can't think of anything else. Now, I'm tagging... hmmmm, let's see... Hillbilly Mom, Miss Kim, Bacon, Miss Kellie, Cupcake, My Sister Sara, My Brother Erin. For those of you who use myspace please post your Damned Seven in your blog area so I can read them.

Happy Birthday Cupcake

2006-02-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely evening with Cupcake and Miss Kellie celebrating his birthday. Didn't take many pictures but there are a few.

Time

2006-02-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been gone. I know. I think I'm back now. Maybe. Anyhoots, so the big news is that I'm back in the pool! For those of you who don't know... I had my shoulder replaced in June. One of my biggest loves is swimming and the only way I was going to be able to get back in the pool (as per my ortho surgeon) was to get this shoulder thing taken care of. I orginally hurt my shoulder playing soccer and volleyball as a freshman/sophomore in high school. Had a full soft tissue repair at 15 and at 25 my 10 year warranty ran out. It dislocated again, while doing NOTHING, and after the horrid experience of that nasty, 6 hour surgery I vowed never to do that again. I lasted 5 years. It begun happening more frequently and well, there I was back in surgery but this time a bit more intensive. My mother, God love her, said this was going to be a breeze since birthing the demon spawn and she was right. It went fabulously and although I spent a giant portion of the summer sweating to death in this uncomfortable contraption...

... I'm SO GLAD I got it all taken care of. P.S. The big plastic part wrapped around my torso and my arm sat on that arm rest thing with the handle. IT WAS HOT! BLECH! I had to wear it 24 hours a day and it was awful.
Ok, I know I have strayed... I started swimming again 3(?) weeks ago. I'm soooo happy again. I think I was starting to wither away without that chlorie pumping through my veins. Now I'm swimming 5 days a week again and water fitness 3 days a week. So those of you that have wondered where I have been now you know. I think I live at the YMCA and perpetually smell of chlorinated water. Life is good!
I have been feeling really down lately and I think I am finally seeing the light again. Nothing bad has been going on just a general feeling of crappiness. This cold, wet winter we've had so far hasn't added to my happiness factor either. SUMMER, I MISS YOU! There have been some great things going on. The Queen had her First Reconciliation and basketball is in full swing. We are now occupied with First Communion, Mexican Dance and basketball. Needless to say we've had our hands full lately.
I wish I had more for you internet friends but I have gotta get outta here and get some laps in before I pick up the Queen!

Tired

2006-01-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am sooo glad Christmas and New Years are over. This holiday season has definitely begun to get to me. Not that it wasn't wonderful, it was. It just has gone on entirely too long. I'm beat, I'm stressed, and I'm tired. I'm not feeling like writing anything either. I did post the obligatory holiday pictures. Hopefully I will be in the mood to post sooner rather than later. Sorry.

Went to IHS today...

2005-12-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

... and now I am sad. :(
I MUST HAVE THIS PUPPY!

Phew!

2005-12-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, it is all over!

The Pictures Do Exist

2005-12-20T17:39:00.001-07:00

The tree, excuse me, the PERFECT tree pictures are up.

The Perfect Tree

2005-12-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

I know it's been forever since I posted and quite frankly I'm very surprised that Kellie hasn't mentioned it yet. We've been busy... I was sick, the Queen is currently sick, and if you hadn't noticed... it's almost Christmas. I've got to say I think I'm ready for this holiday season to be over. Last year Dan was gone for almost all of December. He left the Monday after Thanksgiving and didn't come home until the week of Christmas. Luckily he wasn't going to be gone like that this year. He was out of town the second week of December but only for a week! We got our Christmas tree a week early so that he could participate. Now, since the tree has been up for two weeks it should be Christmas. We don't usually put up a tree until two weeks prior to Christmas. And damnit, it's not Christmas yet. I think I'm tired of all of this already. I'm not done shopping yet and if you are I hate you so don't even tell me. Usually by this time I only have a few small things to gather up but this year... ugh. I still have important gifts yet to buy. Dan, my mother, Lib... I'm sure they are expecting something. Nothing fabulous, it's from me of course! I have to get some things for my step-mom, brother and sister too. Seeing as how it's pretty much too late to send it I'll get on that ball after all this crap is done. New Year's presents for ALL!!!
We attended our annual Clifford Family Christmas Party (CFCP) on Saturday. Had a great time. Everyone seems well. The Queen got to see her cousin that she doesn't see often enough and they ran around chasing the 2 year old cousin most of the night. Biggest joy of the evening was the gift of a tree from Dan's grandmother (paternal side). A SILVER aluminum tree! It also came with the original color wheel and spinning tree stand! I do realize that most of you are currently puking wondering why the hell I would want such an item. Well, honestly, I've wanted one of these beautiful silver trees for as long as I can remember. I vividly remember being six and going across the street to our elderly neighbors house and seeing this spectacle and deciding that we NEEDED a tree like that. My mother, of course, found it entirely too hideous and said no way. I've NEEDED one ever since. The first year Dan and I were married we went to his grandmother's house (maternal side) and yep, she had one. Hers is gold, I just couldn't live with that, and no spinning base. It's lovely but not what I NEEDED. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's willed to someone else already. Since we've been attending the CFCP there hasn't been any tree. The house is always festive but no tree. When Grandma Clifford haphazardly mentioned this tree I just about fell off my chair. I quickly glanced at Dan and his face immediately dropped. SHIT, HE'D KNOWN ABOUT THIS TREE HIS ENTIRE LIFE! He knew he was beat and that tree was/is MINE! We packed it home and put it up near the green one the next day. He decided he actually liked it. It really does go well with our new living room style. He later went to Bubba's and came home and said, "Hey, you know what would be the coolest? If that tree spun. You know like if it had a base that turned?" I promptly picked up a box that read 'Rotating Base' and said, "Like this?" He turned into a giggly school girl after that and is a giant fan of my obscene tree. My mom has even turned into a fan. She cracks me up. I totally remembering her hating those trees and now she thinks that it's perfect. As my green tree is rapidly browning and is a major fire hazard already I'm looking forward to future years of my silver tree!
P.S. I have taken pictures and will post them later today!

A Week Off

2005-12-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well, Dan's left for Idaho Falls for a week or so for work. It kinda bums me out a bit when he leaves this time of year. This year is so much better than last year though. Last year he left the Monday after Thanksgiving and didn't come home til the week of Christmas. The Queen and I had to buy and decorate the tree by ourselves. Oh, and buy and wrap all the presents. I know he enjoys doing that stuff. Normally we don't decorate or anything until two weeks before Christmas. Boo to you who do it the day after Turkey Day. We decided to start a little early this year so Dan could participate. Got the tree taken care of Sunday. It's lovely. I will take a picture this evening and post. By the way, I have to mention, I am so tired of being raped by these tree sales lots. We know the guy that owns the lot where we buy ours each year and thankfully he gives us a nice discount. But MAN! The folks ahead of us spent $130 on a tree and it wasn't even that big. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't small, but $130 worth? I don't think so. Ours is just a touch smaller and we paid $55. That's one hell of a markup people! I will let it go at that.
It was snowing here this past week. Friends were calling remarking on how giddy I was. I am definitely a summer person but I've gotta tell you, I LOVE the snow. I got a little crazy that first morning it snowed and took some dorky pictures.

We barely had any snow last year so I've been very excited to say the least.
I have posted some new pictures today for your viewing pleasure (or boredom).
1. The Infamous Dinner Dance Art Project (see entry)
2. Snow Day
3. Kappa Sig Karaoke
4. The Queen and Kellie
5. Updated Random Queen Shots with some new pictures too.
I'm looking forward to this week with Dan being gone. Don't get me wrong, I miss him horribly when he is gone but it's also so nice. Just a breather you know. I'm looking forward to tackling a few things around the house and getting some shopping done (although not today as I have yet to make it out of my pajamas). We may have Ramen and Diet Coke for dinner (the Queen will of course have her favorite drink of water or Silk, her choice). Yea to not having to make a full dinner for a least a week!! I'm off to lay in bed for a little bit and not feel guilty about it!

Kellie's Tree

2005-11-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Kellie, was this the tree you were looking for? I found it here.

It's Over and I'm Cold.

2005-11-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

It's 20 degrees outside and I am freezing. It did manage to snow some and being as it's still so freakin' cold out we still have a little bit, places where the sun doesn't really hit. Man, I hate the cold but I love snow. Hey, at least when there's snow on the ground you've got something to show for all this cold icky weather.
Anyway, it's finally over, the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope everyone had a good day. Mine turned out pretty well. This year it was decided, without my knowledge of course, that I would be hosting the pigging-out party. Thanks go out to my mother and Bubba for deeming me (and my house) ready for these family functions. I've never been one for the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Don't get me wrong, I like the togetherness (cheezy, I know) but the actual meal itself I could live without. One of the things I'm thankful for is that we only do this once a year. We have a Christmas breakfast instead of dinner. WOOHOO! That I love!
Now, for those of you who don't know, my family is quite small. There's Dan and I plus the Queen. My mom and dad live next door so I see them a few times a week. My husbands best friend, Bubba, who is like a brother to me (we have been known to throw food at each other at family gatherings) and attends ALL family functions, yes, even Christmas morning festivities, lives next door to my parents. The only other family is my Grandmother, Mimi, and although she lives on the other side of town I still see her about once a week. So getting everyone together is really no big thing since we all see each other so often. It's a typical family... my mother is neurotic (me? never!). My dad is so laid back you have to check if he's still breathing. Bubba is actually my ex-boyfriend, the best man at our wedding, and I'm his only ex that he's still friends with. Mimi, my mother's mother... see above comment about neurotic mother now multiply by 10. The Queen is CRAZY INSANE. I mean the girl bounces off the walls most of the time. Dan, well, he has a knack for being missing until the last minute, hiding out from my family I'm sure. Me? I'm fabulous and how can anyone compete with that? Sorry, had to pick myself up off the floor from that comment!
Anyway, since my new kitchen/living room is pretty much finished the decision to have me make everything apparently came easy. I now have the largest kitchen. Well, really the most countertop. Mom said, upon finally informing me, "I will buy all the food if you cook it all!" She seemed so excited. She said she really wanted to show off all the handy work that my dad, Dan and Bubba did. Ok, does that seem weird to anyone else? Who exactly are we showing all this off too? We've all been watching this damned project for like A YEAR! There's no one in our family that hasn't seen this shack before. I really think she wanted to have it here because I have a dishwasher. I agreed. Crap, what we do to make our families happy (and have a free meal).
I have had this peculiar habit at Thanksgiving for a few years now and this year I had to nip it in the bud. The first year Dan and I were married my mother conned me into cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving. The night before I proceeded to go out with my friends and get trashed. Mind you, I had to get up at like 6 a.m. to put that freakin' turkey in the oven. I did make it up at the proper time. I felt like the Dunkin' Donuts guy... "gotta make the turkey." Hung over like a wet sweater on the shower rod, I opened the refrigerator door to get that nasty thing out and blood poured out all over the floor and onto my bare feet. I was sooo disgusted. I ran to the bedroom, woke Dan up and pleaded with him to help me. I couldn't do this job I had signed up for. I showered while Dan made the turkey that year. Mom never asked me to make the bird again. Did I mention I'm really not fond of turkey? Thankfully I could go out Thanksgiving Eve with my friends, drink as much as I wanted and never have to see a raw turkey again, at least for the next 9 years. I swore this year, since I was on bird duty once again, that I wouldn't repeat my habits of years past and I would stay home sans alcohol so I wouldn't have to #1 wake Dan at some ungodly hour to help my stupid ass out and #2 so I wouldn't feel like I was going to ruin EVERYONE'S meal by yakking on the bird.
Thanksgiving morn, I woke, right on time I might add, no hangover, ready for finally doin' right! I opened the fridge and DAMNIT! the blood waterfall all over again! I have realized that being hungover doesn't really matter when it comes this phenomenon. It's nasty no matter what! WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME? P.S. Don't tell me to put it in a pan next time... I know already and I'm NOT DOING THE FUCKING TURKEY AGAIN! There is nothing like standing in your pj's with turkey spooge, blood and random liquids all over your feet and clothes you were hoping to jump back into bed in after this was all over. You should be happy to know that I did manage to get it all completed though with only minimal help from a cranky Dan. I mean, c'mon how the hell am I supposed to get that humongous turkey into that stupid plastic bag all by myself? It weighed 26 pounds for christsakes!
After all that the rest of the preparations went decently well. Even the mashed potato incident, where I was trying to point at Bubba while holding the mixer, that was running, in the potato pot, flinging mashed potatoes EVERYWHERE. People filtered in and out (since we all live on the same block) snacking, drinking and chatting. It all came together pretty damn well if I say so myself. We sat down to eat only 1/2 an hour late. Can we all notice that Dom's got a time management problem? :) There wasn't even any food throwing. The Queen was smart and put us at separate tables.
Mom was so happy that it all went so well and she was ecstatic to be able to put the dishes in the dishwasher she got right to it as soon as folks were done eating. She managed to scrape the dishes into the wrong side of the sink. I looked in there as the filthy water swirled around and said, "You know mom, the disposal is on the other side of sink." "It will be fine." she says and continues on. I ran that load of dishes while we all hooted and hollered over a few rousing games of Uno. Yes, beer played prominently in that game. Some of us were laughing so hard we were crying! Then, it being time for everyone's post-Thanksgiving coma, my house was empty again. Whew!
When I came out of my own coma I decided I should finish up the kitchen. Wait! Why the hell isn't any water draining out of the sink? Yep, drain is clogged. "It will be fine" my ass! I plunge until I hear water pouring out on the floor from somewhere in the bathroom. We work on it for awhile... pour some junk down it and decide to wait til morning. The next morning we get started and now not only is water coming out in the bathroom it is now coming up and leaking out of the dishwasher. AAAAACK! Thanks mom... let's do it again next year, shall we?
Did I also mention that the day after Thanksgiving was Dan's birthday? Man, this time of year kills me.

Am I Really?

2005-11-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Seriously? I knew I was a dork but geeeeez....

Wicked

2005-11-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

I found this quite poignant...
"'But they believe in evil still,' said Galinda with a yawn. 'Isn't that funny, that deity is passe but the attributes and implications of deity linger-'"
~Wicked-The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West~
Gregory Maguire

The End of Eventuallys

2005-11-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

I keep saying that I will be posting soon... eventually. I've even put off posting all the new pictures I have taken (from DC to Dinner Dance). Eventually I will get to them all I tell myself. Well folks, eventually is today!

DC TRIP

Suzie and I had a great time. The flight was really long but it was worth it! We couldn't have asked for better weather (unseasonably warm) and the conference was dandy. There were 30,000 others attending the Conference so things seemed pretty hectic at times. It really just a shitload of people attempting to cram into one area all at the same time. Quite comical at times. There was a TON of information. We found that the poster on 'Cocaine Self-Administration for Mice" to be quite informative. Ok, really it gave us new ways to chuckle about mice trying to hook up on street corners looking to score and teeny hypo needles. Really,what's not funny about mice trying to shoot up?! We did some touristy stuff but we seemed to mostly just take in the sights in a relaxing manner. We liked taking the obscure tour of things and realized we are both truely big dorks... I mean who else loves NPR so much that they are truly stoked to take pictures of the Building?

We didn't do a lot of museums and such but we did hit the Spy Museum which was VERY COOL!!!! I would soo go back and do that again. We also found the Albert Einstein Memorial hidden by the State Department. That was a surprise and made us glad we walked the wrong way.

This was our first child-free trip together and I have to say that I can't wait to get to go traveling again with Suzie! Watch out world here we come! All DC pictures live HERE.

DINNER DANCE 2005

It's that time of year again. The time when we get all dressed up and embarrass our husbands by drinking too much and then dancing! We wait all year for this and this year was, I think, the best year. Kellie and I slacked in preparation. We didn't have dresses til the last minute. We did find some and I have got to say I think they were the best yet. No fortunes were spent either! My dress was only $20! Kellie's? $15! We seriously scored! P.S. While on the great dress search I found THESE!!!!

There were some firsts this year too. Kellie had a date! WOOHOO! Her boyfriend, Eric, was foolish enough to agree to join us. He may rethink that choice next year! Really, he is a very sweet boy and I am thrilled for Kellie! It was a great night. Can't wait for next year ladies! Anyone else that wants to go... I'll have a table for 10. Let me know before next November! :)
All Dinner Dance pictures are HERE.

I have also posted a few new pictures in Random Queen Shots. That girl is a kook I tell you!

Crap, it's sooo early.

2005-11-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

Adios. I am outta here. See you in 5 days.
P.S. Kellie, I fell asleep around 10:45. Sorry. I'll call you tonight!

On My Way

2005-11-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Posted the 'ol bowling pics for a few friends that have been asking... There you go, now we can all be embarrassed! Anyway, leaving tomorrow morning for the conference in DC! I'm super excited although you wouldn't know it by how much I've prepared. The Queen told me this morning that I was leaving tomorrow and that I should probably get packing! I just about had a panic attack. How could I forget? I swear, I have lost my concept of time since I started staying at home. I'm such a dork. I have soooo much to do and currently I'm accomplishing NOTHING! Oh well, I'm sure I'll get it done at some point. Hee. Wish me luck.
In the meantime I leave you with this... I have a REALLY ginormous truck. If you pull up behind me really close in a small car I CANNOT see you! If you start waving frantically I still CANNOT see you. So don't get all butt-hurt about the fact that you were behind me and I didn't see you flailing at me.

Almost Forgot

2005-11-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

VOTE! PLEASE don't forget. If you live in Boise and are planning on voting for Brandi Swindell then get the hell out of here quick before I jump through your computer screen and throttle you, you idiot! Thank you.

Something Like The Weather

2005-11-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Today is the day! Today is the day I am happy! Just yesterday Kellie and I were discussing how icky it is outside. It's been quite cold and very wet. Now, I'm totally a summer person. I cannot stand to be cold. But there is one thing I do like and that is SNOW! I love being able to look out and see all this clean, bright, beautiful snow. Oh, and it's so quiet when it snows. Even when cars drive by it's quite peaceful. Anyway, back to my point... I woke up at 4 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I decided to get up at 5 and quit trying to pretend that I was going to fall back to sleep. When what to my wondering eyes should appear? But a little red sleigh and eight tiny reindeer! Nah, SNOW!!! Might as well have been 'ol Kris Kringle I was so excited! It was lovely. Nope, none of it stuck and it is currently raining again. But I tell you, that glimpse of snow was enough to keep me going this far today!!!
HAPPY SNOW DAYS!!

8 Inches My Ass!

2005-11-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

You MUST read this!

Snore

2005-11-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am tired. I haven't been able to sleep well for the past 2 nights. Now, those of you who know me already know I've had much trouble sleeping in the past. Since my last surgery though I've slept better than I have in 10 years. What the hell? Why now? I am cranky, to say the very least. Oh, and the Today Show is boring as all get out today. I have some weird addiction to the Today Show that I have no explanation for. But today, I might just be over it. I am sorry, but I don't give a rat's ass about Rockefeller Center (which the entire show is based on this morning).
Moving on... Halloween was fine. We did the trick-or-treat thing with The Queen. I'm not a big fan of this particular event. I like the walking and the costumes but there's just something about the acquiring of candy that I don't really care for. There is always complaining, costume issues and too many people. I am appalled at how many people we talked to that drove in from other neighborhoods just to bring their children to our neighborhood. I love my area and am not trying to be elitist or anything but damnit, all you extra people annoy me. Why don't you show a little support for your own area making it nice and a safe place for your children. Don't just ignore it, abandon it, and pretend it doesn't exist. So many parents said that the people here are so nice, unlike in their neighborhood, they just had to bring their spawn here. Well, why don't you just stay home and keep being nice and set an example for your children and all those cranky neighbors of yours? P.S. There are cranky people in the Northend too... i.e. ME! But I digress, The Queen eventually had a good time. We have a TON of candy. I tried to get DD to take some to work but he said that he wouldn't because he would just eat it. What does he think is going to happen to it here? As far as the costume, it went over REALLY well! Of course, all the adults got it but NONE of the kids. I guess I was a bit surprised. Not that many kids should know much about Greek mythology... oh, I don't know, maybe it was a bigger thing when I was a kid. Or maybe it has to do with DD's history fascination. Oh well. Wonder what she'll decide on for next year.

Clickity Click

2005-10-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Added a few older pictures...
Dinner Dance 2003
Dinner Dance 2004
Halloween 2002-2004
and added a bunch to Oldies...

Candy is Dandy, but Liquor is Quicker

2005-10-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

As I sit here eating ANOTHER ReeseSticks I keep thinking that I need decide on something to make for dinner. I'll tell you, the Queen had her Halloween party at school on Friday night and I'm not sure I've eaten anything except candy since then. I'm feeling a bit nauseous and yet I CONTINUE TO EAT THE DAMN CANDY! Anyway, I've posted the party pics for those who would like to see.
Halloween. Hrmmm, what to say... Okay, here at the Clifford house we have rules... Ok, we have rule. The only rule I have is that you have to be something scary. We haven't had that many costumes since I emphatically said that I will NOT take a child out to trick-or-treat unless they can walk the distance on their own. I REFUSED (and still object) to either push a stroller or carry said devilspawn to acquire candy. Nope, you gotta do that on your own. So, the Queen has been... a tornado (age 4), a giant eyeball (age 5), dead-bloated Elvis (age 6), the Rat Queen (age 7), and this year? Medusa (age 8). The Queen is pretty damn decent at picking out what she wants to be by sometime in September... but not this year. Poor girl just couldn't decide. Was two weeks before the event by the time the final decision was made. Now, for most people that might be just enough time. Well, not me. I'm a bit too lazy for that apparently. Ok, maybe I was busy or something. I don't know/remember. What I do know now is that I will never wait til the last minute again (yeah right). I had to find all these snakes and guess what? Boise is snakeless this time of year. Really any time of the year. I went EVERYWHERE. And I do mean EVERYWHERE. Even the dreaded store that I will NOT go into. Yes folks, I went to Wal-Mart. Shit, the things we do for our children. The Queen actually didn't believe me when I said I had gone there. I told her I had and she countered with "Mommy, you know that place is killing our country!" Ahhh, all our brainwashing has finally set in. I then informed her that her party was the next night and she just might have to pick something else. That didn't go over well. The next morning I thought of one last place and lo-and-behold THEY HAD SNAKES! I bought them all out and again vowed this would never happen (that really is a funny statement). Check the pictures... She looked pretty good.
The trunk-or-treat party at the school went really well. Well, we had a great time. Thank you Sandee!!!! You gotta love it when you can let your kids loose and not even wonder where they are for quite some time. The kids went from vehicle to vehicle (then down to the school basement) while the parents tailgated. Now THAT'S the way kids parties should be! I'm sure there are some (at the party even) who would disagree but oh well, we are the troublemaker parents of the school. And quite frankly, we love it that way!
So, if you see a group of children out trick-or-treating and wonder where their parents are... we are following somewhere closely behind sitting on our tailgates drinking beer!

Kellie is Pushy

2005-10-26T20:28:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know it has been awhile... and no, I'm not sorry.
My birthday has come and gone. I think it was nice. Problem is, I waited too long to post anything (shut it Kellie) and now I can't exactly remember what the hell we did. OH WAIT. I think that was frat party night. Oh yeah. So Kellie and I went out for some drinks which was nice. Plus there was that SERIOUSLY HOT GUY that, of course, we ran into while we were leaving. We left to meet up with her boyfriend, Eric, at his frat party. All I could think of was that I had just turned 31 not 21. THIRTY-ONE! Don't worry though, it was short lived... my cousin (who is also a Kappa Sig) was there and he whisked me away to another bar. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't having a bad time. Got to talk to Eric a bit more. He's a really nice boy. And my cousin's roommate was pretty cool too. But really, it just wasn't my kind of scene. Thanks Mike, I had a great time!
Bubba, DD, Kellie and I went to the Big and Rich concert. Was very cool. Minus the chick vomiting in the bushes. For christsakes lady, can't you control yourself? You are in your 30's and you have to go and do something stupid like that? Shit, this was before the concert even. People in Idaho are so strange sometimes. Yeah, there was this guy there wearing Rod Stewart hair, sunglasses (it was night) and a pink with black stripes zoot suit. Chains and all. Was soooo weird! Kellie and I wanted to get a picture of him. Seriously, he was that crazy looking. We tried... but just couldn't get him. Then there was the two ladies in front of us with mullets. Yes, I did say mullets. SCARY! I thought Dan and Bubs were going to die when they figured out what was going on with their hair. Those two are so childish. I guess that's why we like them so much though... they are just like us. I wonder when we will ever grow up. Put all 4 of us together and there is usually much giggling going on. Farts still get us everytime! Moving on...
I took a week off from my biweekly torture, some call it physical therapy. Went back today and I swear that man is going kill me. Was oddly nice to be back though. Ok, weird thing happened though... As I'm finishing up with a particularly nasty exercise my high school counselor walks in. He remembered my name, first and last even! My lord, I graduated from high school 14 years ago. How could he remember? Ok, I wasn't the greatest kid in school. I did some things that I CERTAINLY wouldn't want the Queen to partake in. I hung out in the SRO's office weekly but not because I was in trouble, because it was an excuse to not be in class. Besides, Officer Lords loved me. Good thing he never caught me doing anything. Shit, I might have actually had to go to class. I can't figure out what made me memorable to this man. I never got in trouble (at least never got caught). I got good grades. It wasn't really in question whether or not I was going to college. Honestly, the only time I remember being in his office was when he asked me which colleges I had been accepted to and which one I really wanted to go to. I wasn't the top of the heap either. I was no Merit Scholar. Just your average student, I would say. Why my name? Worst part? I cannot for the life of me remember his. I do remember him being superb though. What an interesting thing to say about someone... superb? Oh well.
Had an interesting evening with Kellie the other night. We photographed my death. More news later when I have some pictures to post.
But really folks, I haven't been doing much lately. Working on an obscenely easy knitting pattern that is taking me WAY too long to complete. Reading Confessions of a Tax Collector, which is interesting by the way (although probably because of Dan). Making the meals, doing laundry, volunteering at the school, desperately needing a mop so I can quit scrubbing the floor by hand... Ahhh, the life of the homemaking slave!

Again with the damn pictures?

2005-10-15T18:44:00.000-06:00

Added a few more vacation pics... cause I know you all can't get enough of my child and you love seeing me in all my dorkiness.
Anyway, I know I should talk about my birthday (which was Wednesday) but I just haven't gotten around to it yet... sorry.

Picture Update

2005-10-13T16:02:00.000-06:00

There is a new set and added a few to the Queen's Set.

God and Gambling

2005-10-10T16:59:00.000-06:00

Kellie and I ventured to Twin Falls on Saturday for a wedding. Ok, so it was Kellie and I so... we ventured to Twin Falls for a wedding reception. Really now, who can expect US to be on time to ANYTHING? Was a good drive, had lots to chat about. Seems weird that we don't work with each other anymore. Kinda like I've lost the second half of myself. Don't get me wrong, I get to see her tons. For christsakes we are neighbors and all! But I do still miss the everyday thing! Anyway, the wedding... it was one of those weddings where you KNOW that these two will be together FOREVER! Her first real boyfriend and his first girlfriend. Met through Campus Crusades for Christ. Haven't yet dated a year. But this is IT for them (and I HONESTLY believe that is true). Keri and Jeremy have to be two of the nicest, sweetest people on the face of the earth. Incredibly genuine. Their receiving line took longer than their reception and wedding combined because they took time to greet each guest individually. Seriously wonderful folks man. The trip there took a downhill turn when Kellie looked over at me and said, "Did you realize that these two are going to lose their virginity tonight?" IIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! It was bound to happen. One of us was going to mention that. And I believe it haunted us the entire time. Every time we saw them kiss that was all we could think of. I know, I know, dirty minds. I'm glad I have gotten a chance to know these two, they are definitely a light in the world.
Well, all the uber-Christianity and super sweetness drove us straight to Jackpot... literally. We decided we needed to temper all that loveliness with a bit of alcohol and gambling! WOOHOO!!!! Someone we worked with at Boise State changed careers and is currently working as a floor manager at a certain casino in Jackpot. We stopped in and got to see him. Was very cool. I have got to say casinos are such a surreal place to me. No windows, scary people, women who look like the chairs they are sitting in (odd, but really happened), old people, people, literally, hooked up to the machines they are playing. Guess I never really noticed the people so much in Reno but I suppose that would be because it's bigger there. This place was pretty small. We had fun though, drank a little, gambled, at some pretty damn decent dinner, gambled some more, came home with more than I started with. Good trip. I am still kicking myself though that I didn't bring the camera. What the hell was I thinking? We changed our clothes in the car, in the parking lot even, now that would have been a GREAT picture! Ok Kellie, we must go again... and this time with a camera!

Books

2005-10-03T23:23:00.000-06:00

This has got to be the coolest thing ever... YEA!

All that is required

2005-10-03T19:21:00.000-06:00

I'm currently reading The Speckled Monster - A Historical Tale of Battling Smallpox. It's okay I suppose but it is getting better. I've just read a passage that I find amusing enough to add to this little journal...
"'What is so wrong with Skeffington?' asked Lady Kingston, setting her cup down with a definitive click. 'Consider the best marriages from one end of town to the other: You will find very few women in love with their husbands, I assure you. Yet many are happy.'
Kingston rose. 'There, madam, I must agree with you. Thankfully, your equation works equally well the other way round.' He bowed and strode from the room.
'You see?' cried Lady Kingston. 'Civility is all that is required.'"

"That's just my mom, she's crazy."

2005-09-27T09:19:00.000-06:00

I guess I'll move on from the pajama wearing. I think the Queen actually beat me at my own game. We rode to school this morning (me in my pj's, of course) and she asked me to come into her classroom with her. Gotta find something new... gotta find something new.

Smile, your mom isn't wearing PJ's

2005-09-26T08:31:00.000-06:00

Well, it happened, I broke the trend today. I actually GOT DRESSED this morning before taking the Queen to school. Don't worry though fellow readers, I have not given up on embarrassing my child. I did make sure to give her an extra long hug in front of her classmates this morning. She hugged me back, for just as long. I am happy!

Cake tastes good.

2005-09-25T19:03:00.000-06:00

So today I feel like a bad mother. Not because I haven't done the laundry today (I haven't) or because my family has eaten leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner (they have). Nope, really it's because in 3 days it will be the Queen's 8th birthday. I have not planned a party, discussed birthday crap with family, special dinner? who knows. Seriously, I don't even know what the hell to get the girl. What the hell kind of mother doesn't know what to get her own daughter for her birthday? Apparently this mother. I asked her what she wanted tonight and she ran down the list for me... " I want a motorcycle, make sure it's the dirt bike kind and not the street kind."
Seriously long pause because she has completed her birthday wants so I proceed... "Ok, ANYTHING else? A motorcycle is a pretty big order."
"Yeah, a dog, a motorcycle helmet, a new bicycle, oh yeah, and a car!"
Are you shitting me? The Queen is, well, the Queen. Asking for things a Queen should have I suppose. Nothing I can afford of course.
"Wait, back up... A CAR? You are only going to be EIGHT!"
"Yeah, I guess that can wait til later... but I do want a convertible like Grandma's!"
So now I'm back in the same boat not knowing what to get that girl. Honestly the only thing she really needs is socks and a new uniform skirt. How sad is that? I suppose it's not sad at all that she doesn't really need anything but I really did think about getting her those things for her birthday. Who wants that kind of stuff for their special day? Ugh.
Anyway, it's really kinda too late to plan a party. And, quite frankly, I really don't feel like having one. Who really wants to take care of an entire room full of other people's children. Lordy, I've barely made it this long trying to take care of just the one. I feel more inclined to go out with all MY friends, drink beer and toast to the fact that it's been 8 years and I have managed to keep her alive (probably not sane though). I'm thinking that this is more of an amazing feat of motherhood than a childhood accomplishment.

Appliance Mania

2005-09-21T09:14:00.000-06:00

Does anyone else (other than me, of course) have this BURNING DESIRE to go out and buy the coolest pink refrigerator ever? Hrmmm.... how can I fit this into the new color scheme of my kitchen?

New Kitchen and Such

2005-09-20T10:46:00.000-06:00

Well, I've posted the new kitchen pictures this morning. There's still a little bit of work to do but it should all be completed by this weekend! YEA! I was soooo happy this morning I made eggs and toast for breakfast for the Queen and then baked this pie.
Now the big question I know you all are wondering.... did I wear my pajamas to drop the Queen off at school? Yep. Today was the best too! We pulled up on our bikes at the rack and then she promptly jumped off her bike, threw her helmet at me and ran inside! I calmly locked her bike and rode home giggling the entire way. That went so well, and she hasn't said anything yet I'm thinking maybe I should stick with the pj theme when I volunteer Tues-Wed... Nah, I don't think I could convince myself of that one. Anyone with anymore fun ideas for embarrassing my Queen? FUN is the key here, not damaging!

Glasses

2005-09-19T21:16:00.000-06:00

The Queen B's new specs and crazy hair.

Beach

2005-09-19T17:27:00.000-06:00

I know it's been like a month coming, but I will be posting the vacation pictures VERY SOON!!

Pajama Update

2005-09-15T11:40:00.000-06:00

So I thought I would break the cycle today and FINALLY get dressed to take the Queen to school today. Yeah, um, nope. I REALLY DID TRY THOUGH!!!! I SWEAR! So, the deal is, my best friend asks me for a "huge favor" the other day. The issue at hand was that she was going to go meet this boy for his birthday and seeing as how it was his birthday all his frat buddies were going to be there and she didn't want to be the only girl in this sea of boys. Problem is that it's on Wednesday night and she understands that it's the middle of the week and I have obligations and all. C'mon I have GOT to get up early in the morning and embarrass my child at school. I started thinking about it and decided it would be A LOT more embarrassing to have your hungover mother (in her pajamas) dropping you off at school as opposed to just your unkempt mother (in her pajamas) dropping you off at school. Right?? Yeah, I thought so too, so bars, here we come. We get to the first bar, which I have got to say, seemed like it was filled with teenagers (I felt really old although the birthday boy was turning 27) and have one drink and move to the next. Have a few there and move on to the third, and final, arena. Just had one drink there and decide to stop it there since I, you know, didn't want to not get up in the morning at all, therefore not get the chance to fully embarrass the Queen. Oh wait, had one more shot... oh well. Anyway, I finally make it home at like 3 a.m. and decide that I'm not really gonna be THAT hungover so I should do something like leave all my eye makeup on so that I look REALLY FABULOUS when I take her to school. I set my alarm and hit the sack for the few precious hours of sleep that I will get before the fucking alarm that annoys the piss out of me will start going off and then annoyingly remind me that nobody else in the house will get up if I don't. Ok, so now I'm cranky and tired and roll over and sleep that fabulous sleep that you can only get when you've had the PERFECT amount to drink. Not too much, not too little, juuuuust right! I'm not much of a sleeper really so after a bit I wake up and look at the clock, thinking it's been like an hour or so, and the damn thing says SEVEN FUCKING O'CLOCK! Hell, damn, fart. I had set the wrong alarm (stupid dual alarm clocks) which wasn't due to go off until 2:30 p.m. Yes, that is the official napping alarm. Dan's alarm hadn't gone off, and holy shit I just remembered that I was supposed to have coffee with a bunch of the other mom's!!!!! I was PLANNING on breaking the PJ dress code because of the whole coffee date and all but now I have woken up late, my mouth tastes like ass, and although not really hungover at all, the last thing I really want to get out of bed to do is make lunches. Needless to say, I DID wear my pajamas again AND yelled at her in front of everyone "WAIT!!! I didn't get a kiss!" Teehee, I rock! I love this job! Well, I still had to go to coffee and decided that the ladies would enjoy the whole chain of events entirely too much and kept the pajamas on for our child-free coffee date! They loved it! You will be happy to know that I did brush my teeth before I went though.
Days I have taken my child to school in anything other than PJ's: 0

Pictures are Up

2005-09-14T00:14:00.000-06:00

Silver Creek, Idaho
Labor Day 2005

The Queen's Mother

2005-09-12T20:14:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I'm wondering... at what point will the Queen B finally be embarrassed by her mother? I know it's going to happen soon. Every morning I get up, awake all others in the household, make breakfast and lunches, then take the Queen to school. I've always said how much I LOVE Bailey's school, and don't get me wrong, I still totally adore that place. BUT... there's always a but isn't there?! Anyway, back to the embarassing part, the Queen always wants to ride her bike so of course I indulge (c'mon, we live like 4 blocks from the school). Well, I ride with her IN MY PAJAMAS. Yes, you heard me clearly, my jammies. Now, it's not like I'm wearing some frilly nightgown or something, usually some sort of yoga pant and (thank god for the onset of morning coldness around here) a sweatshirt, cause we all know the Queen's mother cannot be bothered with putting on a bra in the a.m. Seriously, she's lucky I pull my bedraggled hair back into a hairtie before we actually push off. Now, none of this seems really too terribly bad except that my lovely, brilliant, super cool, bitchy-at-home second grader goes to this great private, Catholic school where every mom (and MANY dads) volunteer, and/or don't work outside of the home. So every morning I drop off the Queen there are these 20 or so mothers outside chatting with each other, dressed up to move on with their day and here I am completely unkempt and honestly, I haven't brushed my teeth yet at this point. She sees them, she sees me. Then within a split second she RUNS into the building. Maybe she has noticed and she's just not saying anything.
P.S. Will post weird weekend stuff tomorrow maybe.

Labor Day

2005-09-06T10:44:00.000-06:00

Well, we've made it through another holiday weekend! We left to Silver Creek on Friday and lordy it was beautiful. Will post pics soon. I hate the preparation of camping but damn I love it when I get there. It was the 3 of us, Bubba, Lib, and Kellie (for Fri and Sat-poor girl, damn homework). Seems to be our regular crew these days. The girls were great, only towards the end did they display the sibling in-fighting that they seem to do. Funny they aren't sisters, but they sure do act like it most of the time. The Queen B has been pretty bitchy lately. The last three trips we've had together (S.F./Oakland, San Diego, Camping @ Silver Creek) have taught me a new level of self control. There are just times in your life where you cannot believe that you didn't whip around and whap that kid upside the head for what was just said or done. Sometimes it's hard to talk to a 7 year old about why you are so upset about what just happened. Her new thing is a TOTAL lack of respect to the parental units. After her last bout, yesterday, I think I may have gotten this one nipped in the bud. She's currently grounded and was thouroughly embarassed when her friend finally told her "Hey, be nice to your mom." WOOHOO for the kid down the street!! Peer pressure at it's finest.
I cannot believe how unmotivated I am today. I've washed two blankets from the trip and quite frankly, that's it. The smell of campfire eminating from the living room has only pushed me to shut my door so it will quit wafting in while I lay around. I'm thinking about having some cookies but sheesh, then I would be reminded of what I need to be doing. Ick. I did manage to ride my bike with The Queen to school this morning. Albeit I did it in my pajamas. And of course this is the day when the parents want to hang around and chat. Damn, I was beautiful. Pajamas, glasses, I did throw on a sweatshirt since I apparently couldn't be bothered to put on a bra, PLUS I hadn't brushed my teeth yet. AND THEY WANT TO CHAT!!!! I have got to get myself together. I'm such a dork! I do have to say that I have managed to spend an hour rearranging my Netflix queue. Cause you know that HAD to be done. Thank to ms chan AKA Bacon for that enjoyable time and for loving the same dorky movies that I do! Ok, off for cookies and laundry... maybe.

I just can't stop myself

2005-09-02T14:11:00.000-06:00

Who voted for these ridiculous people anyway? Politics and Tragedy

The Storm

2005-09-02T12:29:00.000-06:00

My question is... Why can the news teams get in there and help the folks in these flood/hurricane affected towns and the police and rescue teams cannot? Does that make sense to anyone? They keep saying "oh, we can't get in there to rescue these people" but the news people seem to be getting in quite easily. This is all so insane. Damnit, help those suffering people!
My mother posed an interesting question yesterday... "Would this be happening if all those people were white?" Good question.
HELP

Today's Idaho Statesman

2005-09-02T10:01:00.001-06:00

Community members question Salvation Army over shelter

Brad Hem

The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 09-02-2005

About 250 North End residents packed the Lowell Elementary School gym Thursday evening to give Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and city and Salvation Army officials an earful about plans to turn a shelter traditionally used for teenage mothers at 24th and Bella streets into a homeless shelter for families and single parents.

Most of the neighbors at the meeting said they are not happy about the change. They fear increased crime. They expect to see more loitering in their yards and nearby parks because the shelter residents are required to leave the site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. They are worried about the safety of their children playing in the area. They are worried that men acquainted with women at the shelter will loiter in the neighborhood. Some said they have already seen more problems since the Salvation Army started housing homeless families at the Booth Family Care Center two weeks ago.

Salvation Army spokesman Rick Hempsmyer tried to assuage concerns by telling residents the organization provides strict case management for its clients, leaving them little time to cause problems in the neighborhood. Some shelter residents will have cars to take them where they need to go; others will be dependent on bus service. If they loiter in the neighborhood, they will be kicked out of the shelter, he said.

Dominique Naegele-Clifford said she has seen problems directly related to the Booth shelter.

"They're not allowed to drink on the property, so what they do is go and buy their alcohol and then they come into our yards and drink," she said.

Part of the reason neighbors are fired up is that the Salvation Army changed the purpose of the facility without getting input from them or approval from the city. Several residents complained they first learned of the plan in the newspaper. And they don't think a shelter belongs in their residential neighborhood.

"We're going from a residential care center ... to a transient care center," said neighbor Garth Newman, who helped organize the meeting. "Our big issue is this is not an appropriate change or an appropriate use for the Booth home."

Some people at the meeting said the neighborhood is obligated to provide help for the families, who otherwise would have no place to go. They didn't get as much applause as those who oppose the shelter, but there was some dissent among the group.

"Not everyone in this neighborhood proposes throwing families out on the street," said Gary Reedy.

Hempsmyer said the Salvation Army believes it already has the necessary permits for the shelter because it used the site as a shelter 30 years ago. The city has given the Salvation Army until today to prove it has the necessary permits, or the city could take corrective action, including stopping the shelter from continuing.

The Salvation Army decided to start using those rooms for moms and children, dads and children, or parents who are still together and have children. The agency plans to have a total of 70 beds in the shelter by Oct. 1, including 14 beds in an adjacent building for single women.

The Salvation Army finished the first phase of expanding Booth Family Care Center two weeks ago. Housing for pregnant teens and teens with children was eliminated because the Salvation Army said fewer teens used those rooms each year. The need for a family shelter was created by the city's plans to stop operating the Community House shelter at 13th and River streets.

Additional Information:

Is the shelter allowed under existing permits?

The Salvation Army has until today to show city planning and development services officials proof that using the Booth Family Care Center to house homeless families is allowed under its existing permits. Failure to prove that would mean the Salvation Army has been operating the shelter illegally for the past two weeks, and the city could take corrective action, including stopping the shelter from operating.

Meeting with the Mayor of Boise

2005-09-01T22:30:00.000-06:00

Honestly I cannot tell you what happened tonight. I'm a bit too angry. The mayor is on the side of the Salvation Army because they are taking the homeless problem off of the hands of the city. I have no idea what is going to happen. I'm really cranky now. Look for my words in the Idaho Statesman (tomorrow maybe) I've been quoted. Wish it was for a better reason. I'm going to pack for our trip and go to bed.

Oh Gawd!

2005-08-31T00:10:00.000-06:00

Read this headline from CNN!
Man, I hate that store. I feel soooo terrible for what is happening to those thousands of people. I can't even imagine what they are going through. I wish they would close those stores here though.

Booth Meeting

2005-08-29T14:27:00.000-06:00

I just received this letter about the proposed Homeless Shelter in the Northend. Please join us Sept. 1st and show your support for the northend. Whether or not you are currently residing in the northend doesn't matter. This issue affects us all! More Info

Dear Neighbors:

Please join me in a neighborhood discussion of the Salvation Army's proposed plans for their 26th Street property and your concerns Thursday, September 1st, 6:00 p.m.

Originally, I requested this meeting take place on the Salvation Army property in order to allow on-site tours. Because the meeting time conflicts with the dinner time and the returning time of the residents, I will hold the meeting in the gym at Lowell Elementary School, 1507 N. 28th St.

I am hopeful we can use this time to have a candid discussion about the needs and concerns of our neighborhoods and reach an understanding that will benefit the entire community.

Mayor David Bieter
City of Boise

The Dalai Lama of Tibet

2005-08-15T15:54:00.000-06:00

So I have recently found out that I am attending the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington DC this November!!! It's the mother of all science conferences. I am soooo excited. I have never been to WDC and I can't wait to stay on Capitol Hill. There are so many museums and monuments to see. And oh god PLEASE don't let me see too many of the politicians that I have a tendency to verbally massacre on the television/radio. I'm not taking any dangerous weapons but this mouth of mine is usually likely to get me into some trouble! :) I'm going with my favorite Dr., my step-mom, Susie. Calling Dr. Susie to save Dom from this life of servitude known as 'homemaking'. The interesting part is that The Dalai Lama is giving a lecture and I am going!!!! I can't believe my luck. Ooooh, and the whole thing is controversial since some of the Chinese scientists don't think that he has any place in the line-up of "serious" scientists. The Dalai Lama AND controversy? Traveling sans child with my favorite person in the world? I'm so fucking excited! READ READ READ

Northend News

2005-08-14T22:26:00.000-06:00

My television debut on Channel 2 tonight!!! Let's keep our neighborhood SAFE!!!!
Please read our website... Booth Neighbors

August 14, 2005

North End Neighbors Oppose Salvation Army Expansion

By Michelle DeGrand

BOISE -

Neighbors complain about the Salvation Army's effort to accommodate more people at its North End campus. Shelter officials say with Boise's Community House closing, there's an even greater need for homeless services. However, neighbors say the Salvation Army's attempts to help the homeless are hurting homeowners.

Neighbors say they're already seeing problems as a result of the shelter's expansion, and they recently had a meeting to express their concerns. The meeting between neighbors, Salvation Army officers, and Boise city officials on Friday attracted nearly a hundred people. Residents were upset over the recent increase in shelter space which they say has subsequently brought more homeless to the area.

"They bring their beer they come sit on our lawn and they drink. That's definitely a problem, that's not something I want to open my door and let my child go out and play to that." said Dominique Naegele-Clifford, a mother who lives right across the street from the facility.

Clifford grew up in the neighborhood and says the problems have gotten worse as the facility across the street turned from a school for pregnant teens to emergency shelter for women and families. She said litter and parking problems are most frequent, but her main concern is the safety of the area's many children.

The Salvation Army has agreed to offer more capacity to, in part, make up for the loss of emergency shelter in Community House, which the city wants to get rid of. The North End facility hopes to have 70 beds available by October, and what makes many nearby homeowners so upset is that they say no one told them of the changes.

"I did not know, and none of the neighbors knew, that was the big wow," said Garth Newman, who lives two blocks from the campus. So they called the meeting, which some say offered little resolution.

"We felt that we had more questions after the meeting than we had before the meeting," said Newman. Others were a bit more hopeful that the meeting would eventually yield results.

"I think the meeting was productive. I think it showed the Salvation Army that we were concerned about what happened, but I think that it was more productive in getting us, as neighbors, together with a common voice," said Naegele-Clifford. However, the Salvation Army is one of the city's main solutions to a growing homeless problem, and without its space the homeless have few options.

"These people need a place to go, absolutely, that is a huge concern for us, we all feel that nobody should be homeless," said Clifford, "But at the same time, this is a residential neighborhood."

"We're not just saying, 'no, no, no,' what we have to portray is that we can come up with suggestions that will benefit everybody," said Newman.

Salvation Army officers could not be reached for comment Sunday, but did say previously the services are needed. They said the North End campus would hold a larger population than Community House currently holds once their expansion efforts are complete. Meanwhile, the neighbors will be meeting again tonight to search for solutions to their concerns. Newman said they are beginning an investigation into the Zoning and Conditional Use of the campus.

My Mother

2005-07-18T00:09:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I get this phone call from my mother tonight... "Dom? I noticed the other morning on my way to work that your front window was open."
"Yes mother, it gets very hot in the house if it's not."
"Well can't you shut it when you guys go to bed at night? You never know what could happen."
"Mom, it would be like 100 degrees in this house! Oh and you know those 95 boxes of cabinets and furniture that are propped up in front of that window? I'm sure that would be pretty noisy if someone decided to jump through the window that is only open 4 inches because it is stuck there and won't go any higher."
"Well, there are some strange people across the street you know!"
"They may be strange but I can guarantee that they are wider than 4 inches. Didn't I just say that my window doesn't open any further than that?"
"They could probably think of a way to open it and get in you know."
"I've lived here for 8 years and cannot get that damn window open any more than 4 inches. It's old and it's loud and it's STUCK."
"I'm just worried about you guys."
"Thanks mom, I'll think about it!"
click.
Sometimes I SWEAR my mother is crazy. I am 30 years old and I apparently do not know when to close the windows on my own house! Are you fucking serious? What a bizarre conversation. Living next door to your mother can be a complete blessing (I really do love her dearly), but sometimes it's a complete fucking nightmare.

Home

2005-07-17T23:20:00.000-06:00

Well I'm home. Been home since Monday and honestly I can't for the life of me tell you what the hell I have done for the past 3 days. Although I guess there has been an inordinate amount of time watching Six Feet Under, going to my surgeon's office and physical therapy. Oh, and I did scrub the kitchen and living room floor by hand today. I may have gotten a bit carried away with the Pine Sol though. I did get on my bike and trek down for a bottle of water and when I opened the door to the shack the overwhelming scent of my favorite cleaner smacked me square in the face. No shit, my eyes started to water. Dan did happen to mention that he was grateful that I didn't have an obsession with ammonia cleaning products.
My vacation, albeit short, was very nice. I had a very nice time at the wedding and even pulled off my unrehearsed reading of the responsorial psalm without a hitch. Everything was lovely. Fifi cracks me up and I am so glad I got to go to see the great event. The reception was quite fantastic also although I have to admit it was like 100 degrees and my fabulous silk Ann Taylor was begging me to put it out of it's misery. Thank the lord I remembered to pack extra clothes. Fifi and Adam couldn't have picked a better place for the reception though as there was a sprinker park right there in the same place. The kids were GRATEFUL, to say the least, and as time wore on so were the adults! Zach and Karen left early as Zach was afraid Karen would melt in the heat leaving me to my own vices with my husband's family, minus my husband I might add. Thank God for my sister-in-law, Rachel! I think she had had her fill as much as I had and yet she was staying in the same hotel as most of them. I don't know how she does it. I think I was wise in choosing to stay over an hour away, I should have taken Rachel and the boys with me!
The day previous to the wedding Zach, Bailey and I went to Six Flags. Everyone said 10 a.m. and knowing the fam there is no way in hell they would make it before 1 p.m. So, the three of us decided to go ahead and go and just meet them all there. Another good decision since they didn't make it there til AFTER 2:00 p.m. We had a great time and then left! WOOHOO! Staying with the Hattons was fabulous! I felt like I had taken a 10 day vacation instead of just 5 days. Everything was just comfortable and relaxing. The Queen B is still there and won't be flying home til Saturday night. Zach and Karen may need a whole 'nother vacation after this. They all seem to be having a great time though.
Wednesday was our (Dan and I) NINE year wedding anniversary. I cannot believe that it has been nine years already. I swear it's only been like 2 years tops and I have no idea where this 7 year old child that lives in our house and calls us Mommy and DD came from! For those of you who don't know, our anniversary always seems to be a rocky time for us. We have decided that either one of us should either be out of the state, which is usually where I am, or ignore that day completely. Trust us, it's just better that way. We seem to have a great anniversary when I'm in San Diego and he's in Boise.This year I was actually home and we decided we would do something... dinner and a movie. Harmless enough. It went off without a hitch... minus the movie. GOD, PLEASE DON'T SEE THE DEVIL'S REJECTS! We desperately tried to find SOME redeeming quality in it and just couldn't. Although, we did have some good laughs trying to figure one out. I have got to say I had a really good time! YEA!!!
Anyway, I am glad to be home and am looking forward to the Queen B coming home. Shit, I haven't talked to her in TWO days!!!! I may lose my mind if I don't hear from her by tomorrow!!!

Blah

2005-07-16T22:22:00.000-06:00

Blah, blah, blah... Sorry, feeling a bit...hrmmm... blah. Funny, for once in my life I don't even have that much to say. Things are going ok I suppose. Leaving Thursday for Oakland/San Francisco. The wedding of Bailey's godmother and hanging out with Zach. I've been really excited to go but now I'm not even that so much. Wonder what's up.
Anyway, for those of you that have been calling and I've been failing to call you back (yes, I know I'm REALLY bad about that)... my shoulder is EXCELLENT! I can't believe it's been just over a month and it's doing so well... ahhh the miracle of medicine and technology. I swear sometimes I can feel all that artificial crap in there though... ew. Anyway, the house is sooooo close to being done. All the furniture and cabinets came finally. Dan and Zeke put them all together and it sounds like they should be totally completed when I get back from California. Don't ask about countertops, that has been a nightmare! Oh, and yes, I did quit my job. Been going to the pool everyday and not much else! YEA! Gonna be a few more months before I can actually get in it but hey at least I get to go. Bailey is great... I think she finally found her sport. She decided to join the swim team this year and has now decided to do it year round. Damn, the girl is fabulous! Every meet she has she amazes me! I can't believe all the ribbons she's getting! Phew, ok so that's what is going on here. I know this was a bit boring but at least now everyone knows all the details.