Fun Monday, A Day Late

Alison (RDH Mom) was so gracious to host Fun Monday on a holiday - and guess who is late? Sigh. I think I need the "Bad Blogger" award, if there is one.

She wanted to know our favorite vacation - and I have to be honest, my favorite one so far was my trip to Washington D. C. last year. And it was a trip that didn't include my husband or daughter - which might seem strange, but I learned so much that I have to chalk it up as the best.

I have shared so much about this trip in other posts, but I have to share some NEW news! A photograph that I took during the trip and uploaded to flickr was recently selected for inclusion in the Schmap East Coast Guide, and can be seen here, though I find the site tough to upload. Here is the photograph, and in honor of Memorial Day, I think it will be the only one I post.Now go find out where your fellow Fun Mondayers like to vacation!

Oh Kila, Forgive Me!

You have no idea what a lousy blogger I have been - just the WORST. That's why I am not even sure I should accept this award from Kila, which she gave me back in APRIL. In blogger time? I have committed a SIN. I know she is too kind and forgiving and nice and not a meanie and saintly to give me hell on the 'net, so I'm wallowing in a self-made crap-bath, riddled with guilt for not acknowledging her gift sooner.

I honestly don't know what has happened with me in the blogging world, but I can see that I'm not alone. She of the Hobo Carts, My Real Friend IRL, and Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee are on hiatus. (The Snarky Aussie had a brief fake hiatus, but just did it to scare everyone and get comments for his ego.)

So, major thanks to Kila for giving me this honor...hope I can post it in my sidebar without feeling too much guilt!

I have a REAL excuse for not blogging lately - and that is the fact that my husband is not well. He is having horrible abdominal pains, can't eat, and well...you can imagine the rest. We went to the ER last Friday night, and his bloodwork, CT scan, etc. came back normal. Blood pressure was 198/110, which is NOT good! However, pain can cause that. Four days later, and he's not better. Ultrasound showed no gall stones...but he may have a nonfunctioning gall bladder. We meet with the surgeon today at 1:30. Pray for us...and I will be back to the blogging world as soon as I am able.

Fun Monday Collections

Fun Monday's hostess this week is Mariposa, who wants to see our collections! Since you have all seen my house, I'm hoping you don't show up in the middle of the night and steal mine...and no, it's not toenail clippings. I collect hand-blown glass egg paperweights.

Yeah, I know, WEIRD. And all I remember is that my mother sent me one for a present one year, and I was hooked. Most of my eggs are from the Glass Eye Studios in California. A very few are not, including a monster egg on the bottom shelf of my display case...which I'm not gonna tell you about. Nope. Can't. Because there ARE wacky people on the 'net who might look it up, find it here, and break into my house to steal it.

I used to have a lot of them on lightstands, so that colored lights would shine up thru them and illuminate the colors. Right now, I haven't even finished unpacking them all - so here is what we have displayed so far:
I have also developed an interest in other types of handblown glass, including The Planets, but I only have "The Black Hole" and "Pluto" so far. I got Pluto soon after the scientific powers that be decided it was no longer a planet. I figure the studios will stop including it in their collection, so I snatched one up. Here are a couple of my glass vases that sit on our dining room table:Now go check out some other collections at Mariposa's!

Fun Monday Jerkdom

What a great topic for Fun Monday, as given to us by Sauntering Soul! She wanted to know what kinds of things we do that make us JERKS! Well, I have a list - but most of the "jerky" things I do are unintentional.

1. I don't write thank you notes. I know, horrible. All the time, people do things that are special to me, and I think, "Hey, I should send them a thank-you note - right this minute!" And then I don't. The thought counts, right? Nah, I'm a jerk.

2. I drive like a jerk. Well, not the kind you need a cannon mounted on top of your car for, but the kind who does NOT abide slower drivers. Plus, The Offspring and I LOVE MUSIC IN THE CAR. So, those annoying jerks that pull up next to you, bass blasting as they scream along? Yeah, that's us.

3. And to be perfectly honest, I don't clean the cat box. Ever. Never. We have owned a cat of one kind or another since The Offspring was three years old, and I retched horribly the first time I tried to clean the cat box. And refused thereafter to go anywhere near it. So Roger has been the sole cat-box-cleaner, and I have continued to be a jerk in ignoring it. BUT...guess who has had the task these last two weeks? Yeah, I'm a double-jerk, b/c I could care less that Roger has passed the task on to The Offspring. She even has to wear a surgical mask to get thru it. HA! At least it's not me, the JERK!

Now, go visit the Sauntering Soul, and find out what jerks your fellow bloggers are!

Fun Monday Superhero

Kitten was this week's Fun Monday hostess, and she wanted to know who we look up to in our lives...our 'superhero,' of sorts. Only one person popped into my mind, immediately. The Offspring.Now, you may think it's odd that I picked a 14-year old girl, but let me tell you, my daughter has taught me more about life than anyone else in my world. She has taught me the usual things a child can teach you - patience, understanding, love, etc. But more than that, she grounds me. She has the ability to make sense of me, and calls me out when she thinks I'm drifting away from my true self. She is also an incredible inspiration, not only musically, but in the way she lives her life. She knows herself much better than I did at her age, and she continues to teach me what is worth laughing about, what is worth crying over, and what is worth keeping. She is astute beyond her years, and I can't wait until my "formal" Mommy period is over - for the time when we will be the best of friends.

(BTW, the "DECAY" in that photo is something she added for some artistic flair on a myspace account. Just part of her artfulness.)

She continues to grow into the most fabulous young lady I've ever encountered. And I hope she will teach me for the rest of my life.

Now go to Kitten's, and check out all the heroes in bloggers' lives!

Exhausted...But Happy

As you can imagine, our experience hosting our Filipino friend was amazing, fun, tiring, and VERY educational! The Offspring had her friend, Alyssa (pictured above), with us for a good portion of Kryz's visit...and they behaved well. As you can see, The Offspring is NOT the most mischevious one in this photo! It was a lot of fun learning about the Phillipines, and you would think that the gender gap between us and the 25-year old Kryz would be an issue - but, NO! We all got along splendidly, and she didn't even seem bothered by Roger's weird expressions!Kat (pictured on the left) ended up bunking with us for two nights - so we had two Filipino houseguests for the last part of their stay. Peachy (on the right) just decided to hang out with our family for a good portion of the trip, so do you think Roger was in heaven? He was enjoying having all the cuties at his house...so many women, so little time!I really enjoyed learning about their culture and how it differs from ours. Over the last six days, I feel as if my eyes were opened to how small our world really is. They were familiar with our popular music, which surprised me. Their housemaids wash all their clothes by hand - over a 7-hour shift. There are over 7,000 islands that make up the Phillipines, and I can't buy one b/c I'm not a Filipino. The language (Tagalog)is fascinating. We had a cookout for the Rotary Club one night, and then the next? A party with local Filipinos, some of whom I had never met before. I had never hosted a big party at the new house, so I was anxious. But, it all turned out GREAT! And only one broken beer bottle - amazing, huh?I will miss my new friends, and I want to go visit them in the Phillipines. After this past week, I think I'll fit in just fine.

Fun Monday is Tiggerless

I can't believe it - but it's only the first Fun Monday since this whole she-bang started that has no Tiggerlane participation. Actually, I've already done my blog duty, since I've shared the intimate details of my dental work (see posts below). However, I have been VERY busy, since we have a Filipino guest in our home this week! Our Rotary club is hosting a Group Study Exchange team until this Thursday, so we have Kryz staying with us, and no one from our family has made her head for the hills. Yet. Can you imagine, staying in our home for a week? The insanity of The Offspring and her friends? Or our friends? Let's just say that we had extra overnight guests her first night here, and she is STILL alive. Not to mention that we didn't go to bed that first night/morning until 3:00AM. Can you guess which one she is?Happy Fun Monday to you all, and say a little prayer for Kryz!

The Saga of Dan

Some of you REALLY want me to go see Dan. I admit, I'm tempted. Even though I prefer Melissa's suggestion that I go with a few El Presidente Margaritas in me first.

But, as the universe has seen fit, I think Dan feels my pain - and is now appealing to me. Calling to me. Yearning for my teeth.

Why, just this week? In the local paper? Dan got BRAVE. Just read this.
Now, isn't this just like a "Desperately Seeking Susan" event in the world of Tiggerlane?

How can I NOT go present my gold crown now?

HE WANTS MY TOOTH. Can you feel it?

Drive By Turned Drive Thru

I've been driving by this sign for weeks, chuckling to myself. Actually guffawing, LOL to the MAX! Only in a little town like this, here in Arkansas, is there a place where you can sell your gold teeth. My friends and I have all noticed this sign and pondered what types of people sell their gold teeth.

Can't you just see them? Some old family member passes away, and there's this bright idea...

"Hey, Zeb, I'll bet Paw has a few of dem there gold teeth in his head!"

"Well, golly, you sure about that Zeke? Why, I wonder if they know that down there at that funeral home?"

"I think dem places are open 24 hours or somethin' - figure we could sneak in and pry a few of dem suckers out? I hear Dan down there at that pawn shop would give us some beer money for 'em - whaddya think?"

"Shoot, let's go!"

Or...maybe there is some poor soul who can't afford a tank of gas, squinching his eyes up in the bathroom mirror, trying to dissolve the adhesive with a homemade concoction, jerking like hell on that one gold tooth that is his ticket to the state line to buy a case of beer.

Well, let's consider another scenario:
Let's consider that one fine upstanding young lady in this fair town has had a gold crown for the past 14 years. And let's also consider that this jewel popped out of said lady's mouth in the middle of a fine Mexican dinner. Let's also consider that her dentist has decided that too much of her tooth has broken off in said crown for it to be replaced.

Methinks the crown didn't appreciate my sense of humor and wanted to go live with Dan.

Fun Monday Accomplishments

I'm SO GLAD that Southern Doll is hosting this week's Fun Monday. I have been out of town at a conference all weekend, and wasn't sure I'd have the strength left to blog. However, she had a GREAT assignment. She wanted to know: "What have you done in your life that was worth doing? I want to know the moments in your life that you hope will be the ones to pass through your mind when your time comes."

I'm exhausted and FEEL near death, so this might be a good time to brainstorm. Let's see, in no particular order:

Giving birth to The Offspring. Having a daughter, and committing my life to raising her well, has to be the most important thing I will ever do - now or in the future.

Being fulfilled as a person, by virtue of truly feeling like I KNOW myself. Or at least the person I've become up until this point.

Having a successful and loving marriage.

Going back to school and obtaining my Master's Degree.

Having the courage to buy my own company, and the strength to power through the tough times.

Maintaining a good relationship with my parents.

Spending time devoting myself in service to others through Rotary International.

There are so many more things I could list - but I feel that by living my life to its fullest, I am fulfilling my purpose. There is so much left for me to do, and so much left to give - I hope to create MANY more moments to be deemed worthy!

Have fun visiting all the Fun Monday participants!

Just in Time for the Season

You know, there are some friends in my life that I just CANNOT do without. One of those is the inimitable Brent. He recently sent me some GREAT shoe rules, and as you all know, I'm a shoe whore to the MAX. But these are PERFECT for the season - enjoy!

Just a friendly reminder, it's that time of the year again. Please raise your BIG TOE and repeat after me, as a member of the Faux Paux Sisterhood, I pledge to follow The Rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:

1. I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs, the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

2. I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free, I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

3. I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

4. I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

5. I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

6. If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put, I will get my shoe fixed or toss it. No matter how much it hurts.

7. I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.

8. I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat, and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

9. I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

10. I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes look like they've been dragged behind her car on the way to work and no sandal in the world is going to make her feet look good.

11. I promise if I wear flip flops , that I will ensure they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

12. I will promise to go to my local beauty school at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15 and worth EVERY penny). I say spend another $15.00 and get a even better one.

And finally...
13. I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear...nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals...

You go, Brent - LOVE YOUR HAIR, HOPE YOU WIN!

Fun Monday - and Five Words

The Nekked Lizard Clan is hosting this week's Fun Monday, which means we had to come up with five photos, and five words to describe each one. You will be happy to know that I totally followed the rules!

Dawg Tired on the Couch.
Always Ready for Some Football.
Snowman Hydrant Needs a Face.
Birds No Read So Good.
Baby Girl is Growing Up.Go visit the Lizards, and all the participants!

To Grind, or Not To Grind?

As a new owner of a garbage disposal unit, I am tempted to stuff everything down inside, including small pets who tend to meow loudly, late at night. I have had to retrain the other occupants of our home, so that they put their food scraps down the disposal, instead of tossing them in the trash.

Then, several friends told me horror stories about what NOT to put in a disposal. Including small bones - thereby negating any murderous plot I may have against the resident feline.

So, this got me to thinking - what IS acceptable to put in the disposal? What do YOU put in your disposal? Any horror stories?

Wordless Wednesday - Fire and Ice

A bonfire at our home...
The view from our front porch, during the last snow...

Fun Monday Crushes

This was a TOUGH Fun Monday for me! Jo Beaufoix (who is rockin' a new web design - you GO, Girl!) wanted to know about our youthful celebrity crushes. Unlike most girls, my walls were NOT plastered with the hotties from Teen Beat, but with photos of hot cars. My dad and I used to go to car auctions on the weekends in the Houston Astrodome...and I fell in love with the automobile. So, my first REAL crush is a car. However, I did have to buy the albums of this cutie:Yes, Shaun Cassidy. Me and 1,000,000 other girls my age pined for him. Not the most talented singer, but can you imagine running your fingers thru that hair? Sigh.

Next, I had a crush on Tommy Shaw from Styx, mostly due to his photo in the inside of the "Paradise Theater" album (bottom left):I like his voice a lot, too - it was kinda lispy. Remember the song "Too Much Time on My Hands?" Or maybe you were a fan of "Renegade?" Well, my husband took me to a Styx concert in Fort Smith a few years ago...and I was shocked that Tommy now looks like this:Uh, yeah - he isn't a kid anymore? I was surprised, as I stood not ten feet from the man, that he had aged. NOT POSSIBLE! But, still a cool guy, who still rocks and sends people like me e-cards at Christmas.

My first REAL crush?The 1969 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Roadster Series. Yeah, baby. Something tells me it won't age a BIT!

Now go visit Jo and see the other participants!

Are You Twitterpated?

Like I needed ANYTHING ELSE to play with, I discover Twitter. Instant gratification. Instant blogging from my cell phone. Instant addiction.

Perfect for those times that I am at home, and The Offspring is hogging the computer. Perfect for when I am nowhere NEAR a computer. I can do this FROM MY CELL PHONE and it UPDATES ON MY BLOG. Did you get that? CELL PHONE TO BLOG. In one easy step. Look at that sidebar - GENIUS!

I am so enamored with this new capability that if you gave me a choice between a lifetime without chocolate and a lifetime without Twitter? You'd be getting some really PMS-laced Twitter responses.

140 character snippets. Snippets of life. Like anyone cares? Oh, but they do.

I'm twittering, and jittering. As if text messaging didn't keep my hands occupied, now there is Twitter. Yeah, I'm late to the party. Yeah, I'm behind the times. Twitter has been with the world for almost two years - but hey, I'm a Neophyte, remember? I am the late arrival to ANY techno party that isn't playing thumpin' music.

Speaking to a live person, IN person, is the "old way" of communication. Are we all so self-absorbed that this is the new us? Updating everyone, at a moment's notice, with the minute details of our lives? I thought blogging was a bit narcissistic (which is why it is a good medium for me), but Twitter? It goes over the edge and beyond. Now, you can keep up with my latest Twitters in the sidebar. As if you really cared.

Are you twittering? If so, wanna follow?

Fun Monday Quotables

The beautiful Robin at Penseive is this week's hostess for Fun Monday - and if you've never checked her "history of Fun Monday" section, do it today! Robin wanted us to share our favorite quotes.

One that I have been working to assimilate into my life is, "It is better to be kind than right." Tough, for a Virgo like me - one who is critical and intently self-critical. I tried to find the origin of this quote, and the best I can come up with is Ernie Harwell, whose granddaughter sells the quotation as a printed wall hanging.

Another quote I try to embody in my daily life is Rotary International's "Four Way Test," and though it's not really a quote, per se, it is a motto worth striving for.

It is the "Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do..."

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all CONCERNED?
Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

I try so hard to ask myself these questions before opening my mouth. It is more difficult than you would imagine.

Now, go check out some more fabulous and inspirational quotes from this week's participants!

Still Finishing a Meme

You know you're a bad blogger when you take over THREE MONTHS to finish ONE MEME. The Lovely Karina tagged me a long time ago to repost five previous posts, and how many do I have done? Even I lost count. Plus, I still haven't commented on all the Fun Monday participants. Am I still allowed to call myself a blogger?

But I'm catching up, and maybe Karina will forgive me. I know some of you may have seen this, but as I have friends on their second tour of Iraq, I felt this was appropriate as a "repost." Originally from December of 2006, here is a "Shout Out to VAW-116."

My inbox is riddled with "forwards," and I often receive the same thing twice within an hour. Every now and again, I get a gem. This is another one from Spence, and it made me smile.

Have you ever REALLY imagined living on an aircraft carrier during a time of war? These guys make it seem easy:

Too funny! I have a friend named Seth in the National Guard, who is back in Iraq for his second tour (PLEASE do not click the link to his name, unless you are not offended by graphic nudity and disgusting things that young men these days think are funny!!! His site is NOT for the weak and/or strongly religious!). The guy in the middle of the video, rapping as others enter the hallway, reminded me of him. Here is another, for your enjoyment:


Truly Americans - wouldn't you say?
Also, check out the profile comments from fellow soldiers on YouTube. They say it all.

Fun Monday *UPDATED FOR MY PEEPS!*

Well, The Lovely Swampy is this week's hostess for Fun Monday! She had a GREAT topic, but when I found out she was hosting? There was NO WAY I was playing by the rules! She almost always participates in Fun Monday, but almost NEVER plays by the rules. Still, she is one of my most-favorite bloggers, so in honor of her, I'm shucking the rules, and bring you the holiday tradition of "Peep Torture:"
Also, if you are VERY brave, check out this video instead....but be warned, it is NOT safe for kids! Just look behind the reporter...
Now go see how many rule-abiding participants are out there this Fun Monday!

Watching Idol

I know, I've been a bad blogger. Negligent. But as a bonus, you will finally get to see the "Peep Tradition" video sometime in the next 7 days. Dismembering Peeps...remember that? Oh, just wait until you hear them scream.

Until then, let's discuss another topic - American Idol. Do you watch? Do you like? Do you care? Being a musician myself, and having a musical family - I am drawn to this show like a light-blinded moth. I've not embraced any of the contestants as fervently as I did Taylor Hicks. I'm still waiting for another one to be "special" and "non-commercial."

During the past two weeks, the contestants have been trying songs by The Beatles. Oh. My. Gawd. You can either do it well, or totally suck at it, I've witnessed. There is no in between.

None of the contestants thrill me, though I tend to pull for the underdogs. Chikezie is on that list, and shocked the heck out of me this week by doing a bluegrass take on a Beatles song, that somehow worked for me. David Cook is another good singer - even better than Daughtry, though not as visually appealing. Now, it remains to be seen if the teeny-bopper David Archuleta can be stopped. No underdog, he. Luckily, there are three contestants that I have slated to "disappear" in the upcoming weeks, if I were judging.

So, who do you like? Dislike?