I must be on a roll

Because I have posted more in 4 days than I have the past 4 months I think.
I must say since I have decided t do this 365 Days CTMH style.. it's pretty fun. Thansk Liane!! I just got my order yesterday from CTMH & I went through some of the stuff. Holy crap!!- I have sooo been missing out on the fun stuff CTMH has now. It's like Christmas all over. I'm so digging it. I have been out of the CTMH loop since I opened the store. So now I feel good about being back in it. I'm working of my 365 for the last week. I am waiting on the photos I had to order. I really need to get some ink for my printer to print them at home. It's making me crazy!

The beginning of my 365!!

So thought just

drop a line to say Happy New Year to all & I survived 2008. I only hope that 2009 is better. Though thinking on the financial end of things- we'll be in the same boat. It sucks.. but better than no boat at all. I really missed doing some scrap booking in 2008. I know- I own a store & THAT is the problem. you NEVER have time for doing your own. Closing the store the end of the month. I'm fine with it. Just the way thing go & I have to move on. Will I miss it?? yes & no.
Anyhoo- Christmas was good. Saw my family. It was great to see them & spend time with them. It snowed so much in the Seattle area it was unbelievable. We did get stuck once.. or twice?? Anyhoo- I'm sure those of you on the East coast heard him. Not my fault! We made it back & then after the New Year he rain has been coming. It's horrible. Cam didn't go to school today because of some flooding in the area.
Im doing the 365 days of pictures. Based on the Becky Higgins idea- but doing it Close To My Heart style! So far I ahve taken photos everyday. I'm waiting on my order from CTMH to start-- can't wait to share!! Anyhoo- above are a few that I have taken! Happy New Year!!

Winter not so Wonderland

Not even winter yet though. Anyhoo-Oregon & Washington are having what the news calls an "Arctic Blast"- sounds like something Dairy Queen would have on the menu. So in the Portland & surrounding areas- the kids look like they get a 3 week winter break. Kids here had Monday off & 2 hours late yesterday. Cam came home saying- teachers are thinking no school tomorrow! And this is because the news reported another storm was coming in. However- to Cams disappointment- school was on time & in full swing! So being we live at the beach & at sea level- we get robbed of the snow sledding days. So make myself feel better about no sledding snow thought I'd post these funny Calvin & Hobbs.. I so do miss him in the daily funnies.

Thought I fell off the face of the earth too!

I haven't. But let me say it's just been no time for me blog. I have many issues to discuss. But I won't. What's the point now? The first thing though.... Life since moving back to Oregon has sort of sucked. We were perfectly happy in Arizona. Though who is to say that the same sort of crap wouldn't have happened in Arizona? I admit to meeting some wonderful people though- and I can't trade that for anything. I have a great home... great family- but I'm just not a happy camper. So I'm closing the store in January. Going back to work full-time. Cam in a sweet way is happy about it all. In the mean time we have lost our asses in our retirement. So have a lot of other people I know I know. I'm pissed off about the government bailing out the BIG companies & then sweeping us little people under the rug.. oh so sorry- too bad we can't help you. I have called & tried. But it's no use unless I am some BIG freakin' corporation. Okay that was my vent on that. As for closing the store. It's been like a card game. And I have to know when to fold them & know when to walk away. It's time to do just that. We have to close for more than 1 reason. The company that brought us back here isn't doing all that well either. And Dan could be let go in a heartbeat. With a house & all.. we can't afford it. Just neither of us wants to be caught with our pants down. Insurance is an issue now as well. Dan will find another job in the area. I have one already & it's with an alarm company that I have done work in the past. The owners have been waiting for me to work full-time with them. So when I asked.. they jumped on it. Anyhoo- saying that. I am okay with the closing. I feel bad in a lot of ways.. but what do you do?

Cameron struggled last quarter with school. He is just being a lazy butt & not handing in work. I realize the transition between 6th & 7th grade isn't easy. Though he was in middle school last year- it's still a huge thing. Going from hardly any homework to a butt-load of it! He has a few tough teachers. Doesn't like one. I am so thankful though to have the math teacher he has. Karma is the best. She really working with us & helping Cam. Now if we can just get him to actually hand in the homework & do his reports-- we are good. I just wanna strangle the tweenie bopkid.

Thanksgiving was a little tough this year. The first year we lost my dad Thanksgiving & his birthday feel on the same day. It did this year & part of me just wanted to go away & forget the whole Thanksgiving thing. But- Terry & Sandy thought I should cook... LOL So I did. Dan gave the Turkey a big bath in hot oil & I made the stuffing & the trimmings. Terry- Sandy- Hal- Dale Mom Edie & Dad Dale all joined us at our house. It was a bit boring for Cam... no kids. But it was nice. It made the day a little easier. Thanksgiving is still a tough one. It gets easier but it's still not the same.. and never will be for me. I told Dan next year I just want to do nothing.. let me watch A Christmas Story & Elf all day long. Order Pizza!! LOL Okay we all know that will never happen. But I can think it at the moment.
We will be heading to Seattle for Christmas this year! Cam & I are excited! We will be with my family & see Stephanie (Dan's younger sister) Steve & Nic on Christmas Day & they will all have dinner with my family. Still no word from my MIL.. oh so sad I am ::insert evil grin::
I have shopping pretty much done. A few this & that. I am making a few things. that is the way Christmas is this year. I'm sure for a lot of you. Guess this is it. I will try to stay on top. I promise. Just I had no happy tales to tell. still don't but hey.. at least I'm telling now!

Pondering

I have no more time to ponder around the blogging world like I would like too. Seems you can always find some pretty funny - fun and interesting people out & about in the blogging world. Plus some real weirdos.. and some really angry people. Geesh. So I ponder these things.. cheated & have seen them before.. but hey ya gotta wonder & wonder & ponder the pondering of these things. Have a great weekend!


1. Why are there locks on the door of stores that are open 24/7 365 days a year?

2. If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn?

3. Why are there braille dots on a drive-through ATM keypad?

4. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?

5. Is there another word for synonym?

6. If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

7. If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?

8. Why is the fear of long words hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?

9. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

10. WalMart is lowering prices daily, why is nothing in the store is free yet?

11. If a turtle loses its shell is it naked or homeless?

12. Why don't psychics predict the winning lottery numbers and retire?

13. What happens if you drive at the speed of light and turn your head lights on?

14. If a mime is arrested, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

15. Why do they sterilize the needles for lethal injections?

16. Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway?

17. If sunflower oil is made of sunflowers, what is baby oil made of???

18. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

19. If you spin an oriental man, does he become disoriented?

20. If a penny costs 2.3 cents to make, why is it still only worth a penny?

21. When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say?

22. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

23. Why isn't 11 pronounced onety-one?

24. If you throw a cat out your car window does it become kitty litter?

25. Who sits around and ponders of things to ponder?

A day

It was just that- a day. I was never on my game today. But what else is new?
The weekend was fun. went with the Donovan's in Portland to see the Starlight Parade. It was a fun unplanned thing to do. We ate dinner at the food vendors. Its' a street with about 5 or so street vendors- German- Russian- Mexican- Greek- Thia - and some others. The boys were happy campers. We came across a deli that served beer- yeah. AND they had a bathroom- YEAH YEAH! We watched the parade & it was fun seeing the marching bands and some floats. No- I didn't take my camera. I didn't want to haul it around. We rode the light rail transit back to the Donovan's home. It was so full. I had a panic attack. I had to have all of get off. I felt better though. It 's just a long ride. But worth it not to have to park downtown. We had a really good time. Nice to see them all. We don't do it enough.
I am behind once again terribly on scrapping. Terry found this information postcard for a place on Widbey Island- which is in Washington state. I emailed the gal & I REALLY want to go this fall. Just get away. If you ask me now what I want for my birthday- Christmas whatever- I'll tell you- a weekend to scrapbook. With the store I have no time to do what I love with my own stuff. The other place I found is in Yahats Oregon.. on the coast- just a different part of the coast. It's by the Scrappy Chicks. Click on the retreat center to the left.. you can see the floor plan.
So anyhoo- time to say goodnight to Cameron. He is on the countdown to no school & being a 7th grader! Hugs to all. Thank you Liane for sharing the siggy thing.. well I saw yours & clicked.. too fun.

Defination of a Crop

The Definiton of Crop
This is the dictionary definition of "crop":
Crop: 1.a. Cultivated agricultural plants as grain, vegetables, or fruit. b. the total yield of agricultural produce in a given season or place. 2. A group, quantity or supply appearing at one time (a crop of presidential candidates) 3. A short haircut 4. An earmark on an animal 5.a. A short whip with a loop serving as a lash, used in horseback riding b. The stock of a whip 6.a. A pouch-like enlargement of a birds' esophagus in which food is stored or partially digested. b. A similar organ in earthworms insects, and other invertebrates. 1.v. To cut off stems or top of a plant 2. To cut very short 3. To clip 4. To reap, harvest 5. To cause to grow or yield a crop or crops 6. To plant or to grow.

However, as scrapbookers we have an entirely different definition, so this is what should appear in the scraptionary (if one is ever invented):

To Crop: 1. To cultivate an abundance of photos in such a way that it appears aesthetically pleasing to other croppers. 2.a. A recent addiction, in which the addict convinces their spouse that it is a necessity of life, which without it all domicile harmony will be jeopardized. 2b . a subconscious way by spouses to finally acquire more tools than their spouses. 3. A ploy by those companies whose sticker stands, formerly located at the end of card aisles, to sell more stickers and turn a small enterprise into a major section at department stores (i.e. Michaels) 4. An additional ploy by magazine owners to produce yet another line of magazines for another subculture. 5. Spousal stress reliever (as in "Honey, I'm going to crop") this in turn relieves stress in the spouse knowing the loved one will be occupied for at least 5-6 hours (min). 6. sim. To stay away, back off. (as in "Kids, I'm going to crop") meaning stay away and ask Dad (or Mom) if you want anything. 7. an attempt to convince children that cropping is more cool than power tools. (yeah, right!)