Ebay...Sheese!

How hard can it be? You take a few pictures, you post them on a website with the lowest price you're willing to accept for the item, you choose a few variables, you click "upload" and you're off and running as an ebay seller. Someone bids, wins, pays you, you package, ship, and wait for feedback.
Easy as pie! Right?

Wrong! In my opinion, while it's not hard, physical labor, selling on ebay is HARD! Or, maybe that's just the case for a worry wart like me.

The pictures are easy. Time consuming sometimes, but easy. Take the item outside, take a picture. No brainer. Upload said photos to computer, only to find out that some are not as clear as they should be. Take the item back outside and try again. Ok....that works.

Pull up "Auctiva". Start a new listing. Import the photo(s). Remember what you paid for the item, mentally add ebay fees and Paypal fees. Figure out the shipping weight. Decide between parcel post and priority. Choose between flat rate or not. USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Write a glowing description, being chipper and cheery, and/or try to inject a bit of humor.

Have you decided on your return rules? Shipping rules? Do you want a fancy background to showcase the item? Don't forget to add the fees for that to the minimum price! How long is the auction to run? 3 days? 5 days? 10 days? (10 days is more money...add that to the cost)

Upload it to Ebay. Sit back and wait. Is anyone going to even see it? Are they EVER going to bid? Get used to tapping your fingers on the desk.

Wait! Someone bid. Get out calculator and figure out again what it's going to cost you. Did you remember to include the cost of gas to get to the post office? Forget about your time. All of the sudden, it's cost you $1.63 to send off this lovely item to it's new owner. Yes. That's right. You've lost money on this auction. Not only that, but then you have to wait to see if you get good feedback or not....

Is it worth it? I dunno. I just can't decide. I've made some fairly good money on a few things, but have lost money on others....

Guess as long as I don't end up having to declare bankruptcy because of my ebay sales, I'll call it "entertainment"...

Mr. President

I can't stand it anymore.

I didn't vote for him. Had absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin or his gender. Had everything to do with his platform and promises. One man does not change the country. One man who has, as his primary "feature" dark skin, was elected to the presidency of the United States. Regardless, he WAS elected, and in my book, that makes him nothing less than "Mr. President" with full honors. I will support him in his endeavors to make this country a better place to live.

I'm sorry if what I have to say is offensive to some. It's not intended to be, but I fully believe that President Obama was elected because of the color of his skin. (That, and the Republicans couldn't come up with a better canidate)
I can't believe we elected a man, who had as his main topic of his campaign and acceptance speech, "I'm black". Have we forgotten that the man is half WHITE? When has THAT come up as a positive in his bid for election and subsequent press coverage?
Point I am trying to make is this. It shouldn't matter that Barack Obama is black. It shouldn't matter that he's half white. This country elected a man, and unless that man was elected because he was black, it simply shouldn't be an issue. Who CARES what color his skin is? I don't. I care about what he's going to be able to do to save this country from itself. I think that as long as there's the distraction of his skin color, there is not going to be anyone watching what's actually happening in Washington. I think that he's got a wife that is not going to be anymore happy in the White House than she has been all of her life. What idiot let her start a speech at the Democratic Convention with, "For the first time in my life, I am proud of my country!"

Lest you think that I'm against the man for the color of his skin, or because he's not female, please note that I'd be in seventh heaven if Condoleezza Rice would run for the presidency! I really wish she would have....she'd have kicked both Obama's and Clinton's butts in a fair election! ;)

It worries me. It really does. I'll sit back and watch. We'll see if Obama and his followers can put their prejudice behind them. Tell me that they're not prejudiced. His whole acceptance speech was based on the "First BLACK President", and look how far blacks have come. I've heard nothing about how the white side of him made it to the presidency. I've heard nothing about the HALF black man that was elected.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this. Cut the "Black" President thing. Whodahell cares? I don't. And if one is truly not prejudiced, they don't either. All we care about is someone who can run the country effectively. Someone who can do a good job. I honestly believe that as President, Obama MIGHT be able to do just that, but he's going to have to set the color of his skin aside and get busy. There's more to running the country than being black. I've never done it myself, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.

So...all of that aside, I have this to say to Barack Obama.

Dear Mr. President,

Please know that you have my full support, even though you did not have my vote. Please know that my prayers are with you as you start this journey of Presidency, and that my prayers are also with your children, as they give up their father for the next four years.
I will not always agree with your ideas or your actions. I don't believe that bringing the troops home at this time is a good idea. I believe that if we do that, then all of the men and women that have died in the war on terrorism will have died for nothing, and that thought is too much to bear. We need to finish what we've started.
I believe that my right to bear arms needs to be protected. I don't, however, see a need to own an AK47 or any other kind of assult weapon. Gangs need to be treated like the terrorists that they are. Don't consider them to be terrorists? Wanna walk down the street in LA at night? Alone, without the Secret Service? That's what most Americans have to do to go anywhere at night, even if it's just to get to their car.

Please Mr. President. Put the color of your skin behind you and take the Presidency of the United States as simply a man, not as a "black man". Remove the label that someone's slapped on your back. It's unbecoming for a non-racist President.
Sincerely,
Charlee Turner

I've Been Tagged..

My friend, Julie, tagged me. I'm supposed to share, with the world, 7 strange things about myself. Lordy-be! Everything about me is strange, but I'll give it a shot....

Here are the rules:* If you are tagged, you must firstly post the rules:* Write 7 strange characteristics about yourself. They interest us all!* Tag 5 other people at the end of your Post.* Visit everyone that you have tagged and leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they have been tagged.

So....without further ado:

1. I'm painfully shy. I don't do well with strangers in real life, but I love to meet and play with new people on the internet.
2. I hold a grudge. Not just for short times....I'm still holding a grudge for my kindergarten teacher, who I thought hated me. The kids that teased me in Jr. High and High School? I still sometimes plot ways to get back at them, even knowing I'll never see them again.
3. I both love and hate to cook. William actually does most of the cooking.... but I do love to bake and I do love cooking in those dutch ovens.
4. I tend to be obcessive. Right now my obcession is dutch ovens and cast iron cookware. For the past 6 or 7 years it was scrapbooking, altho I still love that!
5. I'm not terribly close to my siblings, probably closest to my brother Corky. I see my sister when she comes to Oregon, and talk to her every couple of weeks. The other sister I haven't talked to since she pissed me off when our mother was dying. The other brother, I love, we just don't talk much.
6. I'm a genealogy buff. I'm fasinated with my ancestors and the lives that they led.
7. I hate camping and being outside. Nature, in all it's glory, is infested with bugs, either too hot or too cold, and has things that will eat you and not feel guilty about it. I go camping every chance I get cuz it's a way to get away...there's usually no cell phone service!

There ya go Miz Julie....as soon as I tag five others, I'll have fullfilled my obligation! ~grin~ I hope I still have friends when they see how weird I am! In turn, I'm going to tag:

1. Peggy (http://www.thewanderlustgirl.blogspot.com/)
2. Latte_Grande, Christi (http://www.createdbycoffee.blogspot.com/ )
3. Laura Jean ( http://laurajeanmiller.blogspot.com/ )
4. Joanne ( http://lifeinatwocowtown.blogspot.com/ )
5. Gina ( http://gab423.blogspot.com/ )

I promise to post again...maybe even tonight...

Are You Tired of Pots Yet?

**ETA** I found out, thanks to Fant, Roger, and DC that these two pots are made by Lodge. Still dunno how old they are, but they tell me that "we" know that they're Lodge because of the "L" shape of the bail handle thingies! ;)

Well...here are the two little pots that I bought the other day. There are no markings, and really didn't excite me at first, but they're good, sound little pots, and I'm happy to have rescued them from that shed where there were most certainly doomed!

The bottom of the "10". The marks are from setting on a rack of some kind and not in the metal itself. The markings are:

10

C0

D

The lid...the "10" is the only mark of any kind. There are no markings or anything substantial inside either of the pots.

Side view of the 10. Doesn't really look any different than the 8, shown below.

The "8". Just above the 8 is a lightly engraved "7".

The bottom of the 8...again the marks are from a rack of some kind. Under the "8" is "C0"

Side view of the 8. Both pots are poorly seasoned....I don't think there's rust on them. Could be wrong, of course, it could be that they oiled rusty pots. We'll find out when I clean them. I don't think either pot has ever been used....

Explaining the Previous Posts of Photos!

You've read my previous post about my new obsession, Dutch oven cooking. A few days ago, a friend told us about a camp oven that was for sale on Craig's list. I went looking...the pot was listed....with a photo showing the original sticker in the bottom of the inside of the pot. I was pretty jazzed when I called the guy and he told me that he did have 3 pots. He was going to leave to go fishing though, and told me to call him the next morning, (yesterday) at about 7. I waited until about 7:20....and called. Answering machine! I left my polite message. I hung up and gritted my teeth, trying to be patient and not imagine the worst.
I called at 8. Answering machine. Didn't leave a message.
I called at 9. Answering machine. Didn't leave a message.
Called at 10. Answering machine. Didn't leave a message...but my panic was starting to mount. What if he'd sold the pots? He'd said they were going to be first come, first serve. For the price he was asking, it was entirely possible. What if he recognised my number and didn't want to deal with a weepy woman sobbing out an "Ok...well thank you then...."
I didn't call again. I remained hopeful, but that was starting to wane...and then it happened. At 12:30, he called. He was back from fishing...had caught a fish...had a couple of bites...yes, he still had all the pots. I put William on the phone to get directions. WHEW! We made arrangements for an hour off work and left to go get MY pots!

It was quite a ways out in the boonies, but we finally pulled into his yard. We did the introductions and hand shaking, and all the while I wanted to scream at him, "You've made me wait long enough, dammit! Where are the pots?"

He stepped away, into an open, lean-to type shed, and started handing out pots. There were four with legs. There was one without. There was a skillet that was Wagner Ware, aluminum maybe? Silver colored exterior, black inside, not heavy at all. I bought the four pots with legs. He threw in a Wagner griddle.

I came home in seventh heaven. Now I have new friends from all over helping me to decide what to do with these pots. I kind of want to keep them, but I want pots I can cook in, and taking the sticker out of the one pot will take away some of the value. I hate to ruin the pot for a true collector, so I won't be using that one.

The other pots that I will clean and season. I'm not at all sure about the two little pots. Have no idea of how old they are or who made them. I'm betting that I have new friends that will help me to find out! :) My most sincere thanks to them!

Oh! And the reason that I posted the previous two posts with just pictures of the pots? Some of the folks trying to help me identify and value these pots couldn't see the photos that I posted in the forums...so I gave them a link to my blog! Thanks so much everyone! :)

Wagner Pot #2

This is the second Wagner, obviously used!

Same message as before...I'll be back later to fill you in!

The Sticker Pot

For those of you that have no idea what this post is about, I'll be back later to fill you in! :)

We Went Scouting Today....

Nope! Nothing to do with Boy or Girl Scouts, altho both are highly admirable organizations! (My oldest son was a Life Scout, and my youngest an Eagle)
We went looking for new campgrounds to try out. Had a great time just hanging out with William and seeing the sights that to be seen when you're in the Newberry Crater area of Oregon. Fasinating place!

William and Jake at the Obsidian flow.

The hillside at the Obsidian flow...hard to see, but there's a LOT of black glass on that hillside!

My goofy, adorable, ever-so-sweet husband, behind a large Obsidian boulder.

William at Paulina Lake.

Jake loved biting at the weeds that were washing up to shore at Paulina Lake! It was hilarious....until we went to get in the car! Dogs have absolutely NO sense of political correctness when they're wet and drippy! NONE!

We went to the top of Paulina Peak, at the rim of the cauldron...What fantastic views!
~happy lil sigh~ Ain't he handsome? :)

Don't panic! It's just a fat girl with a poodle! This is Jake and I at the Deschutes River.

A view of both Paulina Lake and East Lake from Paulina Peak. We'll be camping down there next week! (Note to self: Bring long johns!)

This is the oldest tree in the state of Oregon! They estimate it's age a about 500 years, it's height at 165 feet, it's diameter at 8.6 feet, and board feet at over 25,000! It's got a lot of character, this tree....wish you could see it in real life!

So here's the skinny! We're going camping/fishing at Paulina lake next Tues-Weds. Anyone want to join us? I'll be cooking in the dutch ovens...and hopefully we'll catch a fish or two! The state record for a brown trout came from Paulina Lake...a 28 1/2 pounder caught in 2002...it's time to break that record, I'm thinking! (I'm also thinking that if *I* can be the one to break that record, that William won't let me go fishing anymore with him! NOT necessarily a bad thing!! ~grin~)

Let Me Introduce You to Walton Lake!

Just a few images of the beautiful lake that is nestled in the mountains of Central Oregon. I enjoyed our camping trip here last week. Well...to be more honest about things...I enjoyed cooking in my Dutch ovens during this trip last week....wouldn't you know it? I forgot to take photos of the FOOD AGAIN!!

That dot you see in the lake? That's my sweet hubby doing his fishing thing! He caught a few too!

All of these photos were taken by me standing just outside of our camper in the campground at Walton Lake...absolutely beautiful country!

My New Obsession!

Cast iron! In particular, DUTCH OVENS!



I've cooked with cast iron for years. I learned to cook in cast iron. I love my cast iron! I admit, I allowed myself to be lured away from it for a time....teflon was attractive to me! That whole "no stick, easy wipe LIGHTWEIGHT" allure... Then I discovered that while my cast iron sat unloved in the cabinet, I was spending lotsa dollars on that teflon crap! Had to replace it every year or so... and to top it off, I find out that it's not only not good for you health-wise (did you know that Americans have high levels of teflon in their blood? And it doesn't break down?) our landfills are FULL of the stuff! Microscopic particles of teflon floating around in your home will kill your pet birds if you have them. I have cast iron that is generations old. Would you want to cook in a teflon pan that is from the early 1900's? I wouldn't. And yet, some of the cast iron being used out there today is from the 1800's!

So I went back to my cast iron. I have a skillet that is so well seasoned that I think I could cook an egg in it with no oil...and it wouldn't stick! All of my skillets are now cast iron. No more teflon. Ever. Period. Wouldn't even consider arguing about it.

Then we bought...."The Man Cave". That's what we call the camper trailer. Gonna paint that on the side of it even. Along with "Remember the GUY CODE" on the back of it. But I digress. (And THE GUY CODE is a subject for another post)



Anyway....we bought the man cave. That meant camping. That meant that I was going to have to go out and experience nature. Nature Girl, I'm not. Don't like it. Bugs bug me. Cold is something I don't deal with in a likeable and cheerful manner. So we compromised. I would go camping if we could eat something other than hotdogs and hamburgers. We had a Dutch oven. Let's put it to use!



So out it comes from the back of the cabinet. Into the sink for a good scrubbing, onto the stovetop for a "flame-dry", and then a good coat of Crisco before making it's way to the outside grill for a high temp (500 degree) "bake". (Also known as "seasoning") Let the pot bake for an hour and then cool down again. Another coat of Crisco and back on the grill for another bake!



By the end of the second bake, the pot was black and shiny. It was also non-stick. We went camping and took the precious 12D pot with us. Looked for a recipe prior to going and found Byron's website ( http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/ ). From that website I found an easy recipe for Orange Peach Cobbler. It was YUMMY!!!! We stayed home the next week, but the week after that we were off and running again. This time, we went with not only the ever precious 12D....we also had a new 10 inch pot. Along with taking along the regular kitchen black pots....a legless 10 inch DO, a legless chicken fryer, and a skillet.



Oh my, did we have plans! We invited 3 couples to join us, and one of them brought 3 teenagers! In the afternoon, I started a large pork roast. Took two sets of coals to cook it til it shredded easily. It smelled sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! After it cooled a bit, we shredded it, rolled it with some cheese in flour tortillas, and then smothered it in the green chili and more cheese...baked again for about 45 minutes. LOVED IT! Also baked a berry cobbler in one of the other ovens for desert...along with homemade vanilla icecream. YUM!

Last week, it was a Tex/Mex casserole with a Pina Colada cobbler for desert. Again...it was yummy!

I'm loving this Dutch oven stuff. There are tons of Dutch Oven websites out there...I have a few links...check them out, or Google "Dutch oven cooking". You don't have to camp to use `em! We've even cooked in the backyard with the black pots. Good stuff!

OMG! WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Allow me to lay a bit of groundwork first. We used to go camping when I was a kid. Tomboy....dirt....I was ok with it then.
My ex was an outdoor kinda guy. Hunting, fishing, camping. EVERY weekend. Our freaking honeymoon was a weeklong backpacking trip!
Tents all the way too. As in sleep on the ground, in a tent, rain or shine. As I began to dislike him, I started to resist. I'm not an outside kinda girl. I don't like bugs. I don't like being cold. campfires are ok, BUT I hate the smoke.
Pretty safe to say that I do NOT like camping! Full fledged "don'wanna!" Completely "EWWWWWWWWWW! May I go get a mamography instead?"
Then...yesterday. Ah...yesterday. We went and looked. He liked it. I even thought it was acceptable. It's coming home with us on Saturday. We'll be doing a lot of camping to justify it. I'm thrilled about that aspect, let me tell ya....so excited I could just pee my pants. Except that I don't have to....this has a potty! Let me show you our new aquisition.... she's not new, but she's clean and like new.











Now call me silly, but I'd say that the aquisition of this delightful jewel of campers is a pretty good sign that I love my husband, since he likes me to go with him. And he loves camping and stuff.

I'm nervous about it, as I am anytime I purchase something on time. In another lifetime, I had a few bills that I couldn't pay right away, and that bothers me beyond bothered. I fret about it. I worry about it. I panic if it looks like I'm going to be the slightest bit late with a payment. But there I was, signing my name on that line. It's ours now. And for what it's costing us, WE'RE GOING TO USE IT AND HAVE FUN DAMMIT! ~GRIN~ (Ok...so I'm a LITTLE BIT excited!)

I'm going to make some kind of slipcover for the couches. They're not terrible, but they're that nubby kind of material. Our little dog, Jake, has this tendancy to try to "fluff" his bed before he lays on it. His little nails catch in the fabric and tear it up. I'm going to make new curtains for it too. The ones in it already are ugly. We'll need to purchase a few things for it...but for the most part I already have everything we'll need to put in it.

So there you have it. Our little home away from home. Our retreat. My concession to go camping with the man that I love more than life itself.... Gonna be a good summer... :)

Home again, Home again, Jiggety Jig!

Nine days! Long time to be away from William and home...and while it was a wonderful trip, I'm so glad to be back! I sure missed his hugs and kisses!

Shirley and I decided that we needed to make a trip to Colorado to visit with an elderly cousin of our dad's...she's 85, and we so wanted to spend some time with her! In planning the trip, we decided that I would meet Shirley in Las Vegas, since she lives in San Diego, and I live in Oregon. We would then take off from there in her hubby's truck and drive to Salt Lake City, where we'd explore the Family History Library for a couple of days, and then take off from there to go to Colorado to see "Aunt" Edna. (We were raised to call all adult relatives and close friends by "Aunt" or "Uncle"...so even tho she's technically "Cousin Edna" we call her "Aunt")

VEGAS! GAMBLING!! I love to gamble. Didn't get to. Oh well...a little disappointing, but not the purpose of the trip...right? That first night was a bear. By the time I claimed my luggage, we got to the truck, got a bite to eat it was midnight when I got to the room. We talked a bit and got to bed, since we wanted an early start. Not only was the room at Howard Johnson's filthy, but it was noisy. We heard every door slam, people talking and yelling, car alarms right outside the room... I do NOT recommend this place for anyone staying in Vegas!!

Monday the 14th, we loaded up! What fun! Our adventure was about to start! We stuffed that truck...





We were off and running! After a long day's drive to Salt Lake City, we were exhausted, and dropped into bed after grabbing a quick bite at Subway.





Up the next morning, we headed out to take Shirley's puppy to doggy day care, and then headed for the library. We'd seen a map with a parking lot that wasn't too far to walk, just around the block and across the street from the library. Pulled in there, found a good spot and unloaded our "stuff" that we needed for our research.





The library was awe-inspiring! We sat thru a simple presentation of stuff that we already knew how to do, pretty much a "how to start" video, and then we headed straight for the books. They don't allow photos in the library itself, but they do allow photos in the main lobby. One of the Elders that was there to help direct people took the photo for us in front of the desk. (photo taken the second day)

After a long first day at the library, we looked out the window and saw snow falling. Hard. We headed for the truck, which wasn't far as the crow flies, but about a two block walk if you mind your manners and stay on the sidewalk. Neither of us had brought a coat, and I was wearing a short sleeved sweater that first day. By the time we got back to the truck, the front of my sweater was a beautiful "crystally" white! We went and picked up the puppy at day care and headed back to the motel room. As we came up on the block where the motel was, I looked off to my right. Looking up again and slightly to the left, I saw the motel. Looked back to the right. Sure enough! That was where we'd parked the truck....less than half a block from the motel!! So much for paying attention and being efficient! The next day we parked in a lot closer to the library!

If you're interested in genealogy, and have the opportunity to go, DO NOT PASS this experience up! Millions of books and microfilms...literally. And very well organized! It took us a day to kind of get the hang of things, we didn't find much...and the second day wasn't nearly long enough to find as much as we wanted! It takes some time to find your film numbers in the long rows of drawers....and the same for the books. A week wouldn't be a long enough time to stay there...two weeks wouldn't be long enough either...I think maybe I need to move to Salt Lake to live...so that I could go everyday!

Then we took off for Delta, Colorado where Aunt Edna lives. Along the way we stopped at a rest area where the maintenance man addressed us both as "gorgeous" and was just generally a nice, but slightly myopic, and a little whacked man. He told us that if we had the time, we should go five miles down the road and go to the petroglyphs just past the town of Thompson Springs. We perked up at that...both of us love that kind of stuff!

We went the five miles and took the exit for Thompson Springs, Utah. As we drove through, we discovered that it is little more than a ghost town!

As we drove, Shirley, who is more cautious than I am, asked, "What if he's a serial killer? This is pretty desolate, what if he's waiting for us?" I've lived my life in small towns where we often don't bother to lock the doors...so this never occured to me until she said something, but in this day and age, it was a point to ponder, and it was the start of lots of nervous giggles, along with a decision that if he was there when we got there, we were leaving!

He wasn't there. But the petroglyphs and pictographs were! Along with graffiti, of course...

FASINATING! We both wished that we'd have had more time to wander and hike around a bit, but the road was calling to us, so we hit the dusty once more!

We got into Delta at about 5 pm, and after we checked into the motel, we called Aunt Edna, who at 85, still drives, and came immediately to meet us at the motel. What a cute little woman she is! And so sweet too. We went to dinner, chatted for a bit, and then went back to the room and went to bed. Being in Delta felt like being "home".

Aunt Edna

On Friday, we went to Aunt Edna's, where she had bacon, eggs, and waffles waiting for us for breakfast. YUM! She showed us some of her treaures, things that had belonged to our great grandmother, and things that her hubby, George Ware had gotten for her. We left there and went first to the cemetery where our family is buried, and then on to Hotchkiss, Colorado, where I'd lived for 8 years. There was a bonus there, the place where I order William's Hawaiian shirts is located there, and we stopped in. I took a photo of the girls that work there, that he talks to on the phone when he orders a shirt. Picked up a couple of new shirts for him too, that he'd been drooling over in the catalog. From there, we went to Olathe, Colorado, where I lived when I first moved to Colorado with my family at age 8. Got a photo or two while we were there, and then we went to dinner and back to the motel to try to get some rest.

Didn't get much rest. Cousins from our grandmother's side of the family, Wade and Deb Isham came to see us! We were so excited to meet them...and were so grateful that they drove 6 hours and stayed in our motel just to meet us and share what they had on our family history. Talk about a trusting soul! Since it was late, Wade left us with a large box of photo albums and diaries of his grandmother's, our great grandfather's sister in law. Told us to look to our heart's content while we rested up from our day! Can you imagine leaving that kind of thing with virtual strangers? Wonderful couple! The next morning at breakfast, we shared information and then moved over to a local park to talk more. While we were at the park, my son called to let us know they were in Delta. We told them how to find us, and they were soon pulling up in their car, and a little boy bounced out of that car and ran for me with open arms, yelling "NANA!!!!!" I scooped him up and what a wonderful hug from Scotty that was! The littlest one, Garrett, didn't want much to do with me at first....but he wasn't feeling very good as he gets carsick. It didn't take him long to warm up to me tho, and we all had a grand time together. Such loving little boys...they would walk past me on their way to play and reach out and pat me, telling me, "I love you, Nana".

Shirley tells me that the youngest, Garrett, looks exactly like I did as a baby.

That evening, we went to Aunt Edna's for a little family get together. Aunt Delores was there too, these two being of a like age, are the best of friends. What cuties they are, and Delores, for all of the hard knocks life has handed her, has a wonderful sense of humor! Aunt Edna does too, but hasn't had the life that Delores has had.
Sunday morning we met the kids for breakfast, and then while they took a drive to Hotchkiss so that Ray could show the kids where he lived and went to school, Shirley and I went to Cedaredge and took photos of Mom and Dad's old house. After the kids left, we met Aunt Edna for dinner, and went back to the motel early. We were up early in the morning and headed for home.

The first day, we got as far as Twin Falls, Idaho, where we spent the night. Up early the next morning, we headed for home. It was a long nine days, and it felt so good to come home, but I wouldn't have missed this trip for anything!

GOODNESS!

You know...sometimes a change, no matter what kind, is JUST the thing you need to make your life a bit better. Even when you don't WANT a change, even when you resist it.

I did. I resisted. I did NOT want to change scrapbooking message boards. I was in a comfort zone. Women that I had known for years were there.
Then I got my feelings hurt and I sounded off about it. Got myself banned from that board. BUT! Before that happened, Mikki had told me about another board that she thought looked pretty cool. A board called Tally Scrappers.

I went and looked around for a couple of days. Looked cool. Looked friendly. Looked like somewhere I could be happy....BUT!
You know how you go to a new message board...you post your intro, and while everyone says "Welcome"...no one talks to you after that? You just sorta drift away, feeling a bit like an intruder. (Kind like in high school when the "group" that you'd LIKE to belong to says "hi" when you walk up to them, and then turns their back and talks about the party you are NOT invited to...yeah...I might still have an issue or two about that!)
THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS AT TALLYSCRAPPERS!!!

From the get-go, the women of Tally have been warm and welcoming. They've let me know on no uncertain terms that I'm welcome to hang with them...that my work, whether I feel it's up to par with theirs or not, is worthy of comments and "Tally Points". They laugh with me...they cry with me...they pray for me.... A community doesn't get any better than that! This is a community that decides for themselves who the design team will be each quarter...because the owner, Christine thinks that the members should elect their leaders. Let me tell you, the three DTs that I've seen there have all been ROCKIN' scrappers that I've learned a lot from!

One of the women there, Robin (TQMNurse) made me a featured artist on her blog. I've won prizes. I've made new friends, and I even met an OLD friend again! Ok...so Leah's not old, but I've "known" her for years, met her in person once, and when I joined Tally, guess who sent me a private message, thinking that it was too coincidental that I was Charlee, married to William, that we'd been truckers...just like the people she met at a truckstop several years prior, and asking me if it was just possible that I was that same "Charlee". I was thrilled to hear from her!

Now...what I consider to be one of the greatest honors. Not long ago, Rachel (Tally HO) sent me a message and asked me to be the guest DT for April! I was FLOORED!! And I was incredibly EXCITED! I can recall squealing and calling for William to come read the invitation. He claimed to not be surprised, he loves what I do...then he asked if I needed a plain paper bag to breathe into...~laffin~ (Smart a$$! There are days when he's SO up for adoption!)

Now I ask you...can you think of greater honors than the ones I've been presented with by Robin and by Christine and Rachel? I can't...at least not in my scrappy world!

Thank you Ladies! Thank you Tally Scrappers! For giving me a new home on the net, for making me feel like I belong, for making me a happy scrapper and inspiring me to scrap more than I ever have in the past! :) Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

This is what it's all about...

We went to Christmas Eve services, and Pastor played a video. This was not it...but the message of the video was that Christ's birth was not what was important... it was his death that is what has saved us all... This video just kind of brings that home...THIS is what Christmas is all about! Thanks Brad Paisley and Sara Evens for a beautiful song!

Today...

Would have been my mother's 82nd birthday. She died on May 22, 2006, and I miss her bunches. I wouldn't bring her back to be what she was for all the money in the world, for she was in pain and suffering....but as the Christmas holiday nears I think of her and daddy often.

They wanted so much for us kids. They never really had the means to give it to us. And then there were the other circumstances that kept them from living the dreams that they so wanted to live...

I hope they're together.
I hope they're happy.
I hope that all of the problems that plagued them on this earth have gone and that all that's left is the love they had.

Not all of my siblings share my feelings for our parents. Our parents weren't the best parents in the world, but you have to consider that they didn't have the best role models to work from...

None of it matters now anyway. What is in the past is often best LEFT in the past. Water under the bridge and all of that. Move onward, and hopefully UPward....to better things...a lesson that was taught yet again this week. One I will remember.

Anyway....Happy Birthday Mama...I love you!

Little update on my previous post...

Goodness...within just a couple of hours of posting my previous post, I've been banned from the Shanty!!
Kat called me, let me know that she'd look like a fool if she didn't ban me. Wonder if that's how Jenny felt?

Those girls just don't get it...it's too bad.

I'm pretty much done...

I mentioned in a past post that I was a DT member at the Scrapbook Chalet. When the Chalet transfered to my friend, Kat, I was just automatically dumped as a DT member.
No one talked to me about it...no one asked if I minded, wanted to stay, or told me I wasn't good enough to be on the DT there. It was just assumed that I wouldn't mind being Admin. No one thought about whether or not my feelings would be hurt, but it wasn't important.
Ok...so I'll deal with that. My feelings were hurt, but obviously, Kat's friends Carrie and Kim were more important. I can actually deal with that too....I've learned over the years NOT to put too much importance into internet friendships. They're like the rest of the stuff in our world today...too disposable.
Moving on. I get a call yesterday from Kat, telling me that Carrie and Kim don't want to put me into the product rotation because I hurt Carrie's feelings by "picking on her" when I told her that storms on the US coasts are hurricanes, and when you cross the International dateline they become typhoons. Seems I made her feel stupid by pointing that out. Wasn't my intention, but seems that both Carrie and Kim feel I was dissing Carrie....
Ok...all I can say to that is if the shoe fits, put both of them on! (Who burdens a child with a name like "Calliope" anyway? I'm sure that kid is going to grow up being horibly teased and made fun of..I feel sorry for her, because from what I understand, she's a sweet, loving child...and if she is, her feelings are going to be hurt that much more by the ignorance of her parents in naming her something so easily distorted into nasty names!)

I'm done at the Shanty. It's not worth my time to deal with women who are so petty that they won't even talk about what I've done or give me a chance to apologise for offenses that I wasn't even aware of. I sent PMs to both Carrie and Kim saying that I understood we had a problem and asking if they wanted to talk about it... Neither of them has the intestinal fortitude (the nice way of saying they don't have guts enough) to answer me and tell me first hand what the problem is. They'd rather backstab and whine to Kat behind my back.

So be it. There comes a time, in Minda's (from TS) words, to let go of expectations and accept things the way they are. Wise woman, Minda. I'm having a blast at Tally Scrappers anyway...and Christine has a KILLER inventory in her store...I'm even applying for the DT there...not that I stand a chance of making it, but it's fun to imagine...

Many of my friends are already there. They love it there too, and are loved there. It's a great online community...much like real life communities, with different folks and different personalities and "sub-communities" peacefully co-existing within the bounds of social acceptance. It doesn't matter there that I don't go to church, nor does it matter that I can be a crusty old woman who says what she thinks. I don't know how to explain it. It's just more like "home"....it's more real, warmer, and welcoming than you can imagine....give it a try! :) You'll find it at www.tallyscrappers.com

Keeping your perspective...

My youngest son, Ray, during his first tour of duty in Iraq. The photo isn't a good one, it was taken with a cell phone. I was so thankful to get it tho....I sure miss my kids...*ALL* of them!




Got this in my email today, and loved it!

KEEPING YOUR PERSPECTIVE


Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.


You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache," and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, he keeps moving forward.


You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go
meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.


You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.


You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.


You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.


You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.


You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order
wrong
He does not get to eat today.


Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are
clean.


You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.


You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.


You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.


You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.


You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if
they'll ever meet.


You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government
and remembers why he is fighting.


You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.


You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does what he is told.


You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home,sleep,and eat.


You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by
gun fire.

You pray God will bless your life today.
He prays that God will give him another day of life.

How Cool!

I'm excited! Let me explain....

In June, I made a flying trip to California to help sort thru my mother's belongings. As we went through things, we found a couple of Bibles. One of them was engraved "Lynn Drain", and had a certificate from a VBS for "Sherry Drain". I brought the Bibles home and posted on Ancestry.com in the message boards about them, hoping to be able to make a connection and get these Bibles back to where they rightfully belong.
I made a connection!!! Lynn Drain Jr. posted on the Ancestry board some of his history, and that history includes residence in Delta County, Colorado! Guess where we lived for many years? :) In fact, Mom was a nurse at the hospital there!

I'm positive now, that this Bible belonged to either this guy's dad, or maybe even to Lynn Jr. himself! I can't wait to hear from him, and to get this Bible back to him where it belongs!!!

Saying Goodbye...

We fell SO in love with this little kitten...both of us....even tho William didn't want him to begin with, and I'm allergic to cats and dogs both, we fell head over heels. Such a little love. So playful and funny. His favorite places to be were either on my chest, rubbing his nose on my chin and nose, or on William's lap, just cuddling and sleeping while William absently rubbed his back or side...

He's gone now. We had to say goodbye to our little love. No more kitty-cuddles. No more loud purring at 5am, or licks on the face and neck at the same un-godly hour! No slaps on the cheek in an effort to get someone to feed him at 5:30am.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) took him from us. We'd noticed a fat belly, but thought that was from his eating like a pig! Then he stopped eating like a pig, but still got fatter. We took him to the vet, who diagnosed him with FIP, and regretfully told us there was no cure for it, and that sometime in the next couple of weeks, Chester would die a rather miserable death.

Hardest thing I've ever had to do was to tell the vet to give him the shot. We left work and hurried to the office to say goodbye. I cuddled him against my chest...one of his favorite spots....and he managed a bit of a purr for me. Then while William cuddled him in his arms, the vet gave him the injection. He cheerfully purred away his last moments in William's arms, while we both sobbed our goodbyes and love for him...

It was hard to say it, time to say it...Goodbye...Goodbye....

I'm under orders...

To update my blog! YESSUM MIZ LEAH....I'm gettin' right on it, M'am! ;)

Let's see...what's new? Nothing really. I'm still fighting cellulitis in my left leg. It's starting to look worse all the time. Not only swollen, but red, scaley, nasty! Now it's advanced to hurting. For those of you that don't know me well, I don't feel pain like most people do. Example: When my appendix ruptured, the only reason I had to go to the doctor was because I couldn't keep anything down. I had absolutely NO abdominal pain what-so-ever. I did however, have a white blood cell count over 26,000. (Normal is 4000 to 10000....roughly)

Hey! Really big news! I've smoked ciggarettes since I was 13 years old. At some times in my life, as many as 4 packs a day. more recently, a pack a day. I started taking a pill called Chantix about a month and a half ago. Eight days ago, I put down the smokes. Decided that I was done. Then I decided that, "Damn! What the HELL was I thinking??" and almost went and got a pack. William wouldn't let me. Three days went by and I was snapping and snarling at him somethin' fierce! Then I got smart. I bummed a cigg from one of the guys we work with! I was almost GLEEFUL! I actually giggled as I tucked it away in a little box on my bookcase....you know...to save for later. Except "later" still hasn't come. It's still there. I think that I just didn't want anyone telling me that I couldn't have a cigg, or that I couldn't smoke. NOT that I haven't had moments when I wanted a smoke. Really bad. But they always pass as soon as I think about something else.
I think I'm gonna be ok! I don't think I could have done it without the Chantix. If you're a smoker, and you WANT to quit, it's the "easy" route to take! You might feel a little bit queasy at first. Just make sure that you take it with something in your stomach...after breakfast and after dinner. The other thing....it's expensive. But I was going thru 30 packs of cigs a month, at about 3.76 per pack. That's $112.80 a month I was burning up. Chantix, purchased at Walmart or Fred Meyers, costs about $108 a month. I'm actually saving money with the Chantix. It's so worth it!

Check it out! Am I not just a cutie? :D This photo was taken on my first birthday, and that's my mama hanging onto me. It's been nearly 50 years...my 51st birthday is the 8th. So much water under the bridge. So much....

I Really Should...

Update my blog more often! So much has happened lately that I'm way behind! Let's see...where to start?

That Scrapbook Chalet DT position that I was so proud of? Non-existant now. Laura decided to give the Chalet to Kat, because, (cheer now! :D ) Laura is getting two children to foster, with the possibility of adopting! YEA! I'm so tickled for her!! She's going to be super busy, and didn't think she'd have time for the message boards and gallery, so she handed them over to Kat.
Kat didn't pick me up as a part of her design team, altho she kept me on as admin...I'm not sure how much help I will be to her, but I'll do my best! :) At any rate, the board's been renamed the ScrapShanty, and should remain the same fun place to chat as it was before the switch. Now I just have to decide whether or not to reload my layouts...only two of them made it thru the change-over...the rest got deleted. I hate making people look at and remark again on layouts they've already seen, so most likely won't reload...

Mikki pointed out a "new" (to us) board...a place called "TallyScrappers"! OMG, WHAT A FUN BOARD! I'm still in the process of learning the site and figuring out how to navigate since it's set up like nothing I've see before, but I'm having a blast doing that! :D There's a link on the right side of this page, go check the place out!! I think if you explore it a bit, you'll love it as much as I am right now! You haven't LIVED until you've had some TallyPoints POWER under your belt!! ~grin~

Gotta go for now, will try to get here soon...maybe even today and post more!

Meet Chester D Kitty!

My new baby, Chester (because he likes to sit on my chest) D. (short for...well...you figure it out) Kitty!
He's an adorable, loving, wildly affectionate kitty! Some friends had his sister, and when I met that kitten, I knew I had to bring her brother home. These kittens lost their mother when they were a day or so old, and the son of these friends bottle fed all four kittens.

You can tell, he loves being with "Mom"...and it's rare that an animal or child prefers me to William, so I'm loving it! If you don't put your chin down to his for "kisses" then he'll paw at your face until you do!

A Whirlwind Trip

Well Sportsfans...it was a heck of a week! I left on Monday the 31st of July to San Diego, California, to help my sister sort out our mother's belongings...got there at about 2:00 in the afternoon, and we dug right in. Worked until about midnight, and up again and back to work by 7:30am! Worked outside in the garage where the boxes were stored until about 3:00pm. Man! Was it ever hot! I was totally soaked by the time we finished with THAT part!
Then we started in on another batch that was in the upper garage. These boxes we were able to take into the house to go through. Mom's jewelry and photos. We spent hours going through albums and removing photos from those old magnetic things! I brought the majority of the photos home with me to scan, most of the originals will go back to my sister. I certainly don't mind, as I never scrap with the originals anyway. I can fix the cracks and scratches in the photos and print them in larger sizes so that I have a better than original photo....I'm happy with that!

So many memories flooding so few days. A few tears were shed, but not many. Many more smiles were shared. More than a few giggles.

And Shirley? If you read this....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, BABY!! ~laffin~

WOOHOO!

Check it out!! Laura at the Scrapbook Chalet was kind enough to choose me to be one of her Creative Crew for this new term! I'm so excited about it, and so jazzed to think that with the positive attitudes of this new team that we'll be able to promote the site and Laura's store and kit club to new levels!

I think, that if you'll surf on over to The Scrapbook Chalet and check out the friendly, "No Snarks Allowed" atmosphere you'll like what you find. It's a place to talk about scrapping, to play, to share our lives with others that have the same interests. It's a safe haven where you can play and post and know that no one is going to make fun of you or look down on you. The whole purpose of the Chalet is to promote FUN in scrapbooking. And it's good to know too, that the store is right there, and that Laura will be able to provide you with products that will inspire you to create some happy pages!

Please come play with us...we'd love to have you!

Have you ever...?

Just drawn a blank at what to post on your blog? Seems like I'm busier than ever, but what do I have to say that would be interesting?

My sub to Ancestry.com runs out next month, and I don't think I'll be renewing it for awhile...I need to catch up on the research that I've already done first. Get it all typed into my program, and then get some little books printed up for William's family. They're all interested, they just don't want to do the research!

On a more positive genealogical note, I've found a woman that has one branch of my family researched all the way back to the pilgrims!! How totally cool is that? I'm so excited to research them, and the era in which they lived! I do love history, and genealogy just makes it "personal"...kwim?

NOW for some REALLY exciting news!! Remember I told you about the Scrapbook Chalet and what a cool place it is to hang out for scrappers? Laura has issued a call for her bi-annual DT search!! If you make the DT, you qualify for discounts at her store, store GC's, and get a free kit every month! I do believe that I'm going to try for it, although there are some seriously AWESOME scrappers entering...if you're reading this and you haven't already applied, you certainly SHOULD! Come to think about it, if you're reading this and you haven't checked out the Scrapbook Chalet you really ought to go visit! The women there are super friendly, caring, and fun! Let me share some examples with you, and these are just a FEW of the wonderful people you'll find there:

Laura: The owner of the Chalet...and an ACTIVE owner at that! You'll love her. (This is would be a definate suck-up here...but it's also my TRUE and HONEST opinion...if you bother to get to know me better, you'll find out that I don't say things like that that I don't mean!)
Kat: This little Texan will keep you in stitches! Honestly!
MamaTam (Tammy): One of the sweetest women you'll ever meet! (And only slightly corrupt these days...but it's all Kat's fault....honest! ;) )
Jozzie: OMG! You're gonna LOVE Joz...she's our resident wino and spell checker! Need a recommendation for a good red to go with your spaghetti? Need to know how to SPELL "spaghetti"? This is your girl! :D
Becky: She's right up there with MamaTam in the "sweet" department! Highly pubbed scrapper too....you'll love her as much as I do!
Dawn: She's an incredibly talented woman, who is famous for her "chat about nothing or everything" daily posts.

That's just a few of the terrific women you're going to find at the Chalet. By no means is it everyone...nor does it include the celebrities that you'll find popping in from time to time...sometimes to post, sometimes for a scheduled chat. Nor does it include the incredible talent that you're going to find in the gallery! OMG! TO DIE FOR!!

Go check it out, I promise you won't be sorry!

Awwwww...C'mon....

Really now! Does the "Anon" poster that left a comment on my previous post honestly think that I'm going to be impressed with their opinion? I left it, because everyone is entitled to an opinon, and because I honestly don't care what someone who is too cowardly to let me know who they are thinks!

I *WILL* respond to it tho, because like I've said many times in the past, I truely enjoy messing around with the minds of mental midgets!

As for the War in Iraq. I fully support it. Period. Did I say I thought it was cool? Nah. Did I jump up and down for joy when it started? Nope. Did, and do I think it's necessary? Yep. It's kind of like taking out the garbage. Ain't pleasant, no one WANTS to, but it's gotta be done. Is anyone going to change my mind on the issue? Not likely, and definately not by leaving an anon post.

As for "couple dressing"? Does "Anon" honestly think I'm going to care what he/she thinks about it? Gimme a break! We don't do it often, but we DO like to dress in matching shirts on occasion. If I cared what anyone else thought about it, I'd have asked the world before we bought the shirts! If I was in my teens or twenties, I might get all upset that someone in this world might not like me for "couples dressing"...I'm well beyond that age and stage of life tho. I seldom bow to peer pressure. I really don't give a rip who might think I'm weird, or a nerd, other than my own best friend and husband.

So tell me Anon, knowing what you know now...what did you accomplish with your comment?

Family Matters....

Awwwwwwwwwww....matching shirts...aren't they cute? We actually LIKE to match when we go out. It lets everyone know that we're together. We like everyone knowing that! This was taken at my niece's 25th anniversary party.

Yesterday we found out that William's Uncle Jimmie died last week. Now we didn't know Uncle Jimmie, because of family stuff, William never met him. (at least not as an adult) We found out when a cousin that I've been emailing wrote and told me that he was disappointed that he didn't get to meet us at Jimmie's funeral. I had to write back and tell him that we had no idea, that no one called us to let us know!

Yes, we'd have gone to the funeral. At the very least, if we couldn't have traveled for the funeral, we'd have sent flowers. We weren't given the opportunity, and I let William's stepmom know that I wasn't happy about it. Nicely, but I let her know.

There's a silver lining tho. Jimmie's daughter, Freda, used to call us when we first got married 8 years ago. Then we lost touch. I went to the funeral home website to read Uncle Jimmie's obit, and there was a guestbook. In that guestbook was a message from Freda, and all of her information! I called her this afternoon. She was so excited to hear from us, that she called back FOUR times! She was so cute....trying to catch us up on all her news. I think she may have thought at first that we were just another part of the family after her "newfound" money. It seems that she spent a year in the hospital after she was hit by an eighteen wheeler owned by Coors. She was given a 2 million dollar settlement. She made mention that she suddenly had lots of friendly family and friends. I let her know toot-sweet that 1. I had no idea that she'd be in an accident and had gotten a settlement. and 2. I don't want her money! After she realized that, there was no more talk of money....just family stuff that no one else in the family seems to think we need to know about!

It was good to talk to Freda. It's good that there are those in the family that will welcome us with open arms. I wish so much that we could have the same relationship with William's dad and stepmom, but I don't think it'll ever happen. I'm going to keep trying tho!

~sigh~

Good Sunday to You!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful, peaceful, happy Sunday.
Isn't this photo beautiful? My Sweet William, walking on the beach at Brookings, Oregon. I love it. There's such a sense of peacefulness to it. Even with listening to the waves crashing in the background, it just made my soul sing...

There's nothing quite like the beach to me. I love it. I want so badly to live there. To be able to walk on the beach in the mornings and evenings. To watch the sun set reflecting on the water. To find tiny treasures that the ocean has relinquished to the sandy beach. To smell the salt air. ~sigh~ There's nothing in this world like it, and I can't wait to be able to go again. Probably for our anniversary on May 30th. We'll have a 3 day weekend that week.

I so want to take my kids there. I want the boys to be able to go fishing with Dad on the Ocean. I want the girls to be able to play on the beach with the kids. I want to be able to take a TON of photos!

Someday....maybe. Someday......

Oh how I fought it!

The color blue! For years I refused to admit that my favorite color was blue. I'd answer whomever asked, "Green!" "Purple!" Anything but BLUE!
I had to be different, and it seemed EVERYONE'S favorite color was blue!
I've always loved color, and if asked would tell anyone in a heartbeat that I hated orange and yellow, (I still do) and that cooler colors were my thing. (they still are) I can finally admit it tho, I love blue. I love the calm of it. It's the color of my favorite place to be...the ocean. It's the color of a warm summer sky. It's the color of William's eyes. It's the color that dominates in my life and in my home.

It's my favorite color. Imagine that. Blue. Whodda thunk it?

Another one of my older layouts. We had such fun in Las Vegas when we were there a few years ago...I really want to go back. The journaling on this layout reads:

What a Man!

My husband... When I saw an opportunity to have a photo of him with real Vegas Showgirls, I asked him to go pose with them. Did this man of mine balk? Did he hesitate? Did he pout? Nope! Obedient husband that he is, he trotted right over to wrap an arm around each of them and pose! SUCH a good man! Poor guy, after the picture was taken, he came back to me, gave me a kiss and said, "Not much to hang onto there..." and then added, "No boobies, either!" He is SO abused!

(end quote) ~laffin~ He's so cute! He never fails to make me laugh, and he goes out of his way to make me happy. I found a true treasure when I found this man...or rather, when he found me. It took me a long time to figure out when he wasn't happy with me...he very seldom says anything...he simply doesn't do things that he normally does...like dishes...or he'll leave my laundry for me to wash. Stuff like that. Then I know to suck up a bit and try to figure out what I did to upset him.

The reason I'm dedicating this post to him, our love and friendship is because I made a cake for our niece's 25th wedding anniversary. He was not only behind me every step of the way, he helped to ice the cake, and he did a wonderful job of transporting it (loading it in the car, unloading it at Shirley's house) and of helping me to set it up. It just reminds me of what a wonderful guy he is, and why I love him so much!

Scrapbook Chalet: Have I mentioned how awesome this site is for scrappers? Let me tell you what's been going on there lately. There have been contests galore...and Laura just posted a new one, Designing Like a Star. You can read about it here: http://www.scrapbookchalet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2953

The other thing I need to tell you about these ladies that hang out there is about their wonderful, generous hearts! We have a member, Tracey, who has a little girl that is absolutely precious. Little Miz Gabi was born with some health problems that have caused her parents much worry. She just recently had her sixth surgery to try to correct some of these problems. The ladies of the Chalet not only made and donated for auction some lovely items, but are now in the process of bidding their hearts out to help raise some $$ for Gabi's bills. The auction ends tonight...check it out if you get a chance....and bid!! :)

Grandpa, Tell Me `Bout the Good Old Days...

I so wish I could sit down with my grandfather and find out what he knew about our ancestors. Can't happen. The one that you see pictured died when I was 8. He was my mother's dad. My father's dad died 2 years before I was born.

I've missed so many opportunities! I've only been interested in genealogy for the past couple of years, and when I think of everyone that I could have asked about my ancestors, the ones that are gone now, I could kick myself! My Auntie Evelyn, the oldest of my dad's siblings, who could have told me so many stories, and in fact tried to, but I wouldn't listen. My great grandmother, who didn't pass until she was 102 years old, when I was 28. Other aunts, uncles, cousins. People that KNEW the very ancestors that I quest for information about.

I guess what I'm trying to share here, by relating my own bad example, is to TALK to your elders! Auntie Yoohoo can tell you about her grandparents. She'll share the story that her grandmother told her. She'll help you to bring your family's past to life.

You might think that you're not interested now. And you may never really be interested. But you might. And on the chance that you might be interested in the future, ask the questions now. Write the stories down. Even if you aren't interested, do it for your kids, or for your grandchildren.

It's important.

It really is.

I promise.

What makes a good site to hang out at?

I love this photo! Well...mostly. I hate that it shows how fat I really am, but I love that it shows me with my best friend in the whole world, William. :)

Anyway...on to the subject at hand. Internet communities. Interesting places, each with a dynamic of it's own.
Started at "Our Creative Companion". Let's just say that it didn't work out and leave it at that. There are still some hard feelings, I think, on both sides.
Kat started the Scrapbook Jungle, and it was home for 4 years. Was a wonderful community, until it got close to the end, and people started leaving. We tried so hard to revive it, and ended up getting burned out. Of course, we didn't have any help at all from the owner...Abby (long story, but she got the place from Kat..FREE). Water under the bridge.
So I ventured over to Scrap That Moment. Looked like a friendly, wonderful place to hang out. And it was, for awhile. Until it came to light that the owner is slightly narcissistic. Well...maybe a bit more than "slightly". And maybe just a tad.... well...nuff said. It turned out to not be the place for me, even tho there are still people there that I like, very much! Can't recommend hanging out there tho.

My new hangout? Scrapbook Chalet! Check it out. Many of the ladies that I met at STM are now there at the Chalet. I LOVE IT! It's fun, it's friendly, and it's fast paced. I'm a bit embarrassed to post any of my layouts tho...that gallery is simply intimidating! The talent there ROCKS, and my slapped together layouts just don't measure up. You can't ask for better inspiration tho, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot from these awesome scrappers!

Also need to say that it's good to be hooked up with Kat again! :) We have such fun together!

Just way cool...

Meet Deputy Joye and...uhmmmm...I forgot the other human's name, but I'd like to introduce to Deputy Missy and Deputy Narc as well. (I promise I'll find out the man's name as soon as possible....I'm rather embarrassed!) If you can detect from Deputy Narc's name, these dogs are drug sniffers. They're both pretty good at the jobs they do too, as are their handlers.

I was amazed at how playful and friendly these two canine officers were! Missy, the lab, was super hyper and Deputy Joye told me about how the dogs are really playing games in their own minds. Said even the police dogs that you see attacking perps are just playing tug o' war! I learned a lot today about them when they came to the facility that I work at and trained. It was totally cool, and I can't wait to watch them the next time they come! I was welcomed to take photos, talk, throw things at or for the dogs...so they could train them to keep working thru the distractions. Amazing! I really appreciate the job these deputies do. I don't have much use for druggies...they're leaches on society. I'm all for doing what can be done to help them clean up, and I'm all for doing what can be done to stop them from selling and using drugs in our communities! I happily told the deputies that they are welcome on our property at any time, day or night to train!

Let me share a few more photos...



Find it Missy!









Good Girl!!




Your turn Narc! Find it Buddy!!











*sniff, sniff,* This was taken just before he found the dope. GOOD DOG!!

Sweet dogs, very nice handlers. Our facility was a training haven for them, and I'm sure they'll be back soon! I hope so! I need MORE pictures! :)