Goodbye 2007!

2007 has been a very challenging year, to say the least! Here are 10 things I have learned (and blogged about) this year: 10. How to deal with a Toxic Boss. 9. The damage that a microwave can inflict upon your sponge. 8. Taking Claritin D equates to some of the old days in high school. ;o) 7. Just how cold (and HOT) it can get on a motorcycle in the desert! 6. Finding out your hubby is in jail feels like being on candid camera (without the laughs)! 5. How to put together the many pieces of a very complicated secret-marriage puzzle. 4. Rogue waves in Virginia can cause serious injuries! 3. People will not steal your SlimFast from the company fridge if they are wrapped with creamed corn labels! 2. I look HOT in chaps! :o) 1. I am so blessed to have such a great husband, family and friends! Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2008 is more interesting, and maybe a bit less challenging! ;o)

Good Move, NFL!

I'm glad that everyone will be able to see my New England Patriots become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season! If you don't read the article, the best line is: "Last week, two prominent members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Goodell threatening to reconsider the league's antitrust exemption. " This is serious stuff! I have to say, I'm a bit surprised, but I probably shouldn't be. Anyway, I will be watching the game tomorrow night. I hope everyone has a great weekend, and a very healthy, happy new year!

Birthday Shout-Out!!!!

To my oldest and bestest friend in the whole world! I love you, Donna, and I can't wait to see you in a few short weeks! I miss you so much.

You are truly the best friend I have ever had, and I think we've known each other for 24 years, now, is that right? God, we're OLD!!! LOL!

Hope you have a wonderful birthday! And don't hate me for posting the pics! I love you!!

(Sorry, the picture quality sucks...these are OLD pics!)

Smoking cigarettes on the hood of Chuck's car.

In my parents' cottage...flipping off the camera - again

You were such a Rock Star!

A Special Birthday Shout-Out!

Happy birthday to the best man in the world!

My husband Daryl is 44 today. That means, if I wasn't happy with him, it would be time to trade him in for two 22-year-olds! ;o) Thankfully, I'm very happy with him...can't imagine life without him!

Babe, I hope you have a great day, and I know you're going to love your gifts!! ILY!

Birthday Shout-Out!

A very happy birthday to The Champ, whose very entertaining blog can be found here. Kim is the one who inspired me to start my blog! Kim, I hope your day is great and you get everything you want! Have a wonderful birthday!

My Total Irritation Today

There's nothing quite like being left in the lurch and then thrown under the bus! My mantra: I love my job! Merry Christmas. Bah Humbug!

If They Can Get Along...Anyone Can!

Meet Rascal and Kitty. When they first met 3 years ago, Kitty sliced Rascal's nose wide open. It was an ugly scene. It was open warfare in our house for at least a month!

Tonight, I fed Kitty, but apparently Rascal's food was better, so they shared his food! They sleep together on Rascal's bed, and if one isn't feeling well the other is always trying to comfort the one that doesn't feel well.

If these two sworn enemies, my cat and my dog, can get along...I think we, as human adults can learn to get along.

A Healthy Level of Sanity

Contributed by my BFF Donna in Mississippi. I can't wait to see you in 37 more days!! How to maintain a healthy level of sanity: 1. At lunch time, sit in your parked ar with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down. 2. Page yourself over the intercom at work. Don't disguise your voice! 3. End every sentence with, "In accordance with the prophecy." 3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that. 4. Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addiction, switch to espresso. 5. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for marijuana" 6. Skip down the hall ratherthan walk and see how many looks you get. 7. Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face. 8. Specify that your drive-thru order is "to go". 9. Sing along at the opera. 10. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you have a headache. 11. When the money comes out of the ATM, screm, "I won! I won!" 12. When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run for your lives! They're loose!" 13. Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the state of the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go." I think the last one is my personal favorite...though the diet water one is great, too.

My Little Christmas Tree

Today Vicki's school 'theme' was dress like a Christmas tree. She wore brown pants (for the stump) a green shirt (the only one she had) and we put garland (beads) and ornaments and a stocking on her. We topped her off with a Santa hat and a candy cane in her stocking!

Hubby's Christmas Party - Updated with Pics

So, D's company's party is tomorrow night. We're going to dinner at The Fox and the Hound, and then to a bar. So, Daryl said that he wanted to take the bike. I told him, we'll see how cold it is on Saturday.

Well, tonight, we went out to dinner at Top Shelf (great Mexican food!) and on the way home, I noticed it was freaking cold out! When we got home, I turned on the heat and threw a blanket over me. D said, "So are we taking the bike tomorrow night?" I could not believe he had to ask me. I was freezing just sitting in the house! I told him this, and he says, "Why don't you try on my chaps to see if they fit you."

So he brings them in from somewhere (I didn't pay attention to where he went) and drops them in my lap...they were freeeeeeezzzzzing! Hello? So then I tell him that they will probably be too short (yes, D is about an inch shorter than me). He tells me they might be ok, and to just try them. He got pretty insistent, so I agreed.

Now, please understand that I have never owned a pair of chaps in my life, so it took me a few moments to figure out how the hell to get them on. So, I struggle with getting them on the right way. I'm thinking, these are really heavy. I don't remember his chaps being this heavy. So I get them on properly and buckle them up. Then I realize that the length is perfect. I look at D, and he's smiling and shaking his head. That's when it finally dawned on me that these were my chaps! I was concentrating so hard on getting them on, I didn't even realize they weren't his! They are very nice insulated chaps, so now I won't freeze tomorrow night!

And while I did ask for chaps for Christmas this year, I didn't think I would get them until January, because they're pretty pricey. So I couldn't be more surprised, and thrilled! Thanks, Babe! ILY!

Note: I will update this post on Sunday with pictures!

Which Reindeer Are You?

You Are Blitzen

Always in good spirits, you're the reindeer who loves to party down with Santa. Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying! Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Sounds like me, doesn't it? ;o)

I took this from Ruth Ann, thank you!

Hot Rod Lincoln

I know it's not exactly Jay-Z, Aerosmith, or Toby Keith, but as a child, this was one of my favorite songs. When it came on the radio, I used to sing it with my Dad...oh, the memories!

How Proud Am I?

Last night while drying Vicki's hair, Britney's new song came on the radio. Vicki asked me if I thought Britney deserved to have her kids. (These 9-year-olds really keep up with celebrities!) So I explained that she no longer has custody of her kids, and a little of the 'why' without going into a long explanation. Then, Vicki looked at me with a very serious expression on her face, and said, "Yeah, Mom, she made some really bad choices. I hope she's learning from her mistakes." OMG! Something I said got through??? YAY!!!!!!

Why God Made Moms

I received this in an email the other day, and it totally cracked me up. So, I thought I would share it with all of you. WHY GOD MADE MOMS Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions: Why did God make mothers? 1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born. How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts. What ingredients are mothers made of? 1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think. Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom? 1. We're related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me. What kind of little girl was your Mom? 1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice. What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him? 1. His last name. 2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? 3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores? Why did your Mom marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on. Who's the boss at your house? 1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball. 2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad. What's the difference between moms & dads? 1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work. 2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. 4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine. What does your Mom do in her spare time? 1. Mothers don't do spare time. 2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long. What would it take to make your Mom perfect? 1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. 2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue. If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be? 1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that. 2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me. 3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head. I think my favorite answer is "God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean." My mother said, "You wouldn't be a good mother without one dab of mean." She's a great mom!!!! :o)

Biker or Bank Robber?

Yesterday, we bought Big D some new insulated leather gloves and a zippered face-mask for his trek into work each day at 4:30 a.m. Since he rides his motorcycle 365 days a year, he needed new gear, desperately. So I had him put it on for a picture (for the blog, naturally), and noticed that his gloves have little zippered pockets.









Upon further inspection of said pockets, I found these nylon quasi-mittens! I'm pretty sure they're to go over the gloves in case of rain, but I think that would make it too slippery to operate a motorcycle with those nylon mittens on!

Dear Me...

No, seriously. I have been tagged by Simply Curious Girl to write a letter to my 13-year-old self. Normally, I wouldn't dream of doing something like this, but after I read hers, I have been thinking about the advice I would give myself (and how my 13-year-old self wouldn't take it!). So here's my letter. Dear Ann: This letter is from you, yes you, in the distant future. I'm a much older and wiser you, so listen up! I know you think you've had it pretty tough these last few years, but you wouldn't know a struggle if it hit you over the head! TRUST ME! There will be times when you think you can't go on, but you will. Let me go into some specifics for you: when you're 16, you'll start dating a guy you just recently met through Chris. His name is Bob (yeah, you know who I'm talking about) and he's got a fast car and he really likes you. He'll treat you like gold until you marry him. Then it all goes down hill quickly. But make sure you still marry him, because you'll learn a lot through those terrible experiences, and you'll be a stronger person when it's over. And you'll meet your true soulmate after it's all over. Your friend George introduces you to him. He's wonderful, and he's got 3 beautiful kids that will love you instantly! He is definitely the man of your dreams - no question about that. Make sure you spend a lot of time with Dad. He won't be around forever, and you'll cherish those memories of him when he's gone. I know he can sometimes be a bit overbearing, but he loves you so much - you cannot even begin to understand it! Forget Colleen and Nancy - they are true bitches and you will have no contact with them after junior year anyway. Kathy is the only friend from high school that you will keep in touch with in your later years. And when there's a 'Barn Party' at Christine's house - make sure you go and have a great time - but don't leave your purse near the stairs, because someone pukes all over it towards the end of the night - and it will be a total loss! I know you're reading this and thinking, "This is crazy - why should I take this seriously? This can't be real." I'm here to tell you it's real. I know that Dad had to shoot Candy because it was a holiday weekend and the vet wouldn't be open until Tuesday when she got hit by a car on a Saturday. (Now they have 24 hour emergency animal hospitals.) My final words of advice to you (and I strongly suggest you take these words to heart!): Things are not always as they seem, and times are not as tough as you think they are. Don't ever pass up a chance to live life on your terms. You'll be a lot happier that way. It is, after all, YOUR life! And don't ever forget to work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody's watching. Love, Me/You

More Laughs

I just got off the phone with my sister Christine in Massachusetts. We had the following conversation: Chris: We were just talking about you last night. Me: This can't be good. Chris: Do you remember playing the violin when you were little? Me: Yeah, I was in the 4th grade. Chris: I can remember you practicing, and telling Dad to make you stop! Me: (Laughing) No, I don't remember that, but maybe that's why I quit! Chris: Nobody remembers that! I'm the only one! I remember Dad saying, "That's enough, Ann." We had a really good laugh. I can just hear my Dad saying, "That's enough, Ann." She said I used to practice very close to the TV. I told her it was probably because my Mom made me take the violin lessons - I did not choose to take them. If I was annoyed, everyone was going to be annoyed! Thanks for the laugh, Chris!

Are We Getting Old?

I can remember my parents sitting in the den after dinner at night, laughing so hard they were almost crying. Not every night, mind you, but on certain nights. I remember asking what was so funny, and they were laughing so hard they couldn't respond to me. I just thought they were old, and maybe didn't know what they were laughing at. Fast forward to a few nights ago, Daryl and I were in the family room after dinner, and there was a hysterical commercial on TV. I cracked up...I was almost in tears. Daryl was laughing very hard, too. Vicki came into the family room and asked what was so funny. I couldn't speak. Daryl, however, pointed to the dog and mumbled something. At this point, I realized that we were not even laughing at the same thing, and I started laughing even harder. You know, the kind of laugh where you can't even breathe? Yeah, I looked and sounded like an idiot. Daryl started laughing harder, too, but he still thought we were both laughing at the dog, which made me laugh even harder! I guess when my laughter kicked into high gear, he thought that maybe I wasn't laughing at the dog. He finally pulled himself together enough to ask, "What are you laughing at?" I still couldn't speak, so I pointed to the TV. This is when he realized that he was the only one laughing at the dog. Now he's laughing as hard as I am. If Vicki was a little older, she would have called the funny bus for us...we really did look and sound like we were ready for the straight-jackets and rubber-padded rooms. When I'm finally able to breathe, I tell Daryl that I was laughing at the TV commercial. He tells me that he was laughing at the dog. We both start laughing again, but nothing like before. Side note: I don't remember what TV commercial it was that made me laugh so hard. I wish I could! That was when it occurred to me that Vicki must have thought we were old, and maybe we didn't know what we were laughing at. Well, I guess she was right - we each didn't know what the other was laughing at. Does that mean we're old? Don't answer that!

A Pindow On My Window?

One morning last week while warming up the car to take Vicki to school, we noticed an unusual pattern in the condensation on the window. It looked funny to us, and Vicki said it looked like something from Dr. Seuss, and asked me to take a picture of it. Later that day, we looked online, and we found that it looked most like Yertle the Turtle.



While researching Dr. Seuss online, memories flooded back to me. Do you remember these characters?

• Horton the Elephant
• Gertrude McFuzz
• The Lorax
• The Grinch & his dog Max
• Things One and Two
• Thidwick the Moose

I used to have all the Dr. Seuss books as a child. Vicki had many, but they're long gone now. We used to spend hours reading those books. I think I'm going to buy them for my grandchildren, now.

The Queens of Jenga

Last weekend, Vicki and I decided to break out the Jenga game. I used to be the Queen of Jenga, but that was a long time ago! Vicki has proven herself to be the up and coming Queen of Jenga. I took this picture because I just KNEW it was going to fall over on the next turn...and it did!

A New Family Tradition?

This elf yourself thing is really catching on! This is my son Rex, his wife Deja and their friend Jason. Rexxy, I love your picture...you look so HAPPY! ;o) So here's the link. Jennann, sorry, but it's still brought to you by OfficeMax!

Big Daddy's Shirt

How great is this? I actually found a shirt with hubby's nickname on it! I love 50% off days at Goodwill!!!