Friday, May 29, 2009

My Version of 20 Wishes

So I don't know whether or not wishes is the right word. I finished reading Debbie Macaumber's book "Twenty Wishes" a couple of weeks ago. I really liked it. In the book a group of women of varying ages made a list of 20 wishes, things they wanted to do. There was no time line it was just putting some dreams or ideas down on paper.

I decided that I would do the same thing for summer. They will be in no particular order and I will edit to add as I come up with more.

  1. I want to go to Applebees with LouAnn and only order desserts, maybe an appetizer but probably just desserts. There is a list of four that we need to try.
  2. I'd like to make the boys and even K, Rachel and probably Cindy, maybe even Mom and Dad if they want, go to San Jacinto Monument.
  3. I'd like to get my scrapbook room organized and my pictures and kits ready to go.
  4. Complete 20+ scrapbooking pages
  5. Make atleast 7 pieces of jewelry (wanted to say 10 but changed my mind)
  6. To be continued

Cruisin' Pics

So, finally, I have figured out this blogger image thing and have uploaded some cruise pictures.


The boat has just taken off from New Orleans and this is a picture of Jeremy with his phone. I'm sure he's texting K because he's already worried about leaving. This is a brand new phone that doesn't look the same when we get home as it did when we left, but that's a whole nuther story.

Shortly after getting on the boat and exploring we realized that we needed a meeting place. Everyone was going to want to go do different things but if we had a set spot then we'd be able to touch base. (This was my idea although I don't know if they'll admit it. I was the cruise guru, I had a green journal with all kinds of cruise information, most we didn't us. They made fun of me. Shame on them.) Who would have known how much we would use this spot. It was in the gorgeous atrium, which is in the center of the boat, right by a coffee/drink bar. Mark, the boys and I had all purchased a soda pass for unlimited soda, before we got ton the boat. Who knew how handy that would come in. Well worth the $40 or so bucks per. Dad eventually got one, too. It was so easy to get drinks. The nice people at the coffee/drink bar got to know us by name. I must say we were a little possessive of our spot, but we used it the most.

This picture is out of place it should be after Costa Maya, but I couldn't figure out how to change it, so, anywho. . . When the boat started to dock in Santo Tomas, Mark went to one side of the boat and this is what he first saw.
I went to the other side of the boat and this is what I saw. It was breathtaking. Who got the better view, eh?

Now back to Costa Maya. It is a little spot made for the Cruise lines. Lots of little junk. Doesn't Dad look cute in his sombrero.

Just call us the Monkey Family. As we walked into Costa Maya, there was a native dressed as a pirate with a monkey. For $5 he took pictures of you with the monkey. Jeremy, who never wants to take pictures, wanted these taken. It was well worth it.


This is a picture of my boys in Costa Maya.





We took a trolley tour in Santo Tomas. Other than squished knees, the tour was excellent. This is a picture of our wonderful tour guide unlike the tour guide we had in Belize, I won't even go there. . . .



Here is a picture of the above the ground cemetery. I took a bunch of pictures.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and let me assure you that this one is speaking volumes. The look on Cindy's face totally sums up our entire experience. It was a tour from Hades. But mom wanted to see some ruins and see them we did. Of course in our infinite wisdom we decided we should take the city tour, too. It was on a chartered bus. Of course the chartered bus had a non working air conditioner and a not working well. People were told not to go number 2 in the bathroom, but they didn't listen and we were in the back. It wasn't good. Then it took forever to go through the city and it was very hot. Then we had to go 44 curves in like 22 miles. When we finally got there after this ride from Hades, we were given a bottle of lukewarm water. The entire time we were there all I could think about was the fact that we had to do those same 44 curves again.

These were the tall steps that I would have liked to throw someone off of.

This is how Jeremy and Rusty toured the Ruins. When asked what they were doing Jeremy said, "They came, they built, they died. What more do I really need to know?" Point taken.




Mom "climbed" the ruins. It seemed necessary to get a picture of her on the ruins because it was her idea after all.
Mark climbed the ruins, too.

His were just a little bit taller, though.


On the trip back, Rachel got sick. There were no towels on the bus. Mom thought she could wash it away with a bottle of water. Really Mom, we're on an enclosed bus, where do you think it's going to go. I'll tell you, it's gonna slosh right back where it started. Luckily, for them, Rusty and Nate sat closer to the front. Unluckily, for the rest of us, we didn't. At the ruins there were allspice trees, many people picked up some of the leaves. They came in very handy. You saw a lot of allspice leaves being sniffed on the way back. We, unfortunately, didn't pick any up. People were tearing their's in half and sharing. Noone shared with us.... What's that about? Go figure.

Not only did we have a memorable (noone said all memories have to be good, and in our family on vacations, we always have to have atleast one story like this) trip back, we still had to tender back to the ship. We get on a very large boat, relieved it's over. Somehow we managed to get the ONLY seats on the boat that got wet. By this time all we could do is laugh. I laughed so hard I was crying, no need to worry about mascara running, I was getting wet anyway. Dad just decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Make the best of a bad situation.


Here's a picture of our boat when we docked in Cozumel. I have to say this was my favorite stop. All I did was shop. I got separated from everyone, but I was on a mission. Just let me shop people, that's all I wanted. Jeremy and Nathan took a carriage tour. The boys hadn't made it to breakfast so they were hungry, we found a Burger King and I paid about $25 for them to eat. Color me unhappy. What did you expect it was a Burger King in Mexico. Jeremy got a henna tatoo with K's name on it and some other trinkets. Nate got some boots and I just got


Rusty thought he needed to get his hair braided. Cindy stayed with him while I ran to the boat, not even joking, with Rachel to get the underwater cameras and her bathing suit on. Dad, Rusty and Rachel were going snorkeling. Thankfully, Dad took some pictures while they were on the boat because Rusty decided, almost immediately, that he didn't like his $27 braids and took them out. Atleast I got pictures. By the time I got everyone where they needed to be, I was exhausted, but not too exhausted to shop.


Here's Mom and Dad on the boat. Aren't they sweet?

Sunset at sea. Isn't it gorgeous?


Time for some random boat pictures.
On the last day, I made the kids go all around the boat and let me take pictures. We basically hadn't seen the boys for the entire week because when we were on the ship, they were with their new friends. They had to promise to let me do this in exchange for not hanging with us. This is the steps in the gorgeous atrium.



This is Jeremy on the steps acting like Jeremy anywhere else.



This is Jeremy pretending to bite the dragon's ear (he got that from his dad, not dragon's ears but dog's ears) with Rusty looking on and laughing and Rachel right before she fell off of the dragon (apparently he didn't like his ears being bit.)

This is Mark and his mom, Linda, when we went to dinner in one of the main dining rooms. Enough said.

Here's Rachel in our meeting spot eating the popcorn her wonderful Aunt Missy snagged for her.

Here's the whole gang, minus me cause I'm taking the picture and Dad, Linda and Nate cause they're getting the trucks, glad to be back.

And yep, all this luggage is ours.

Bonnini Strikes Again

I don't know what is going on with Miss Bonnie the Breakout Puppy. A couple of weeks ago she figured out how to move the doggy gate enough to let herself and Ringo out. She noses it away from the wall and they slip out leaving poor Boonie behind.

The first time I noticed her doing it was a Saturday morning. I could hear little feet pitter pattering on the floor outside of my door and thought the boys were up. I bellowed for them to let the puppies out and they just ignored me. That didn't make me happy because it was a little after 7 and the last thing I wanted to do was get up. Well, pups kept scratching on my door and I tried invain to ignore them. Even tried yelling for the boys again.

Finally, against my better judgement and with a real mad on, I got up to let them out and to have a gripefest at the boy-os. To my utter shock and amazement they were both still asleep. Well, that let them out, and I knew I didn't do it so it must be hubby's fault, right, I mean I have to blame it on someone. Luckily, before I put my foot in my mouth (a rare occasion I assure you), I headed into the kitchen 'cause I realized Boonie wasn't around. He was still laying on the blanket looking at me in exasperation. Then I noticed the gate pushed open a bit. It clicked in my brain, seeing as how I am sharper than a tack, Bonnie Marie had become an escape artist after I went to bed the night before.

I have to admit, I found it a bit funny and actually was a teeny tiny bit in awe of her amazing abilities. That changed that night when I put them up. I talked to her about the importance of staying in the right area and she looked at me with such smart doggie eyes I knew she understood. Yeah, right, she's a dog, albeit a smart one, but a dog none the less. I get myself comfy and go to bed (now mind you this was the weekend after the wreck and I was quite achey).

Not five minutes after I've gone to bed did I hear the telltale sound of little doggy feet and I swear I could hear doggy giggles. Really, I'm not kidding. Seriously. Anywho, I got my achey body up and griped at the pups and put them back up. With Boonie looking on in exasperation, yet again, he was trying to sleep after all, I put pups back up, put a box full of books in front of the gate to dissuade her exiting again and in my best stern teacher voice said, "Bonnie Marie, you better stop that nonsense and go to sleep."

I just knew that would take care of it, I've stopped many a kid in their tracks with that same voice, surely it would work on a dog, right? As I headed to my room, I chanced a look back and there she was smirking at me, who knew a dog could smirk, but I'm here to tell you, that is what she was doing. Anyway, I climb my achey bones back into bed and get comfy and start reading my book. Five minutes pass and I hear nothing. "Yes!" I think to myself, "I did it!"

Guess you know where this is going, eh? Next thing I know right after I turn out my light and close my eyes I hear little doggy feet. I swear to you, they waited for the light to go out and thought they'd play. Once again, with my ire on the rise, I climb out of my comfy bed with my achey body and go to the door where they are sitting there waiting for me. Now they aren't just smirking they are giggling like they were so cute! I was NOT HAPPY! My books nor my teacher voice worked to contain these little hellions.

Took them to the room for the second time and added 2 two liter bottles to the mix. Now I had her! In my toughest teacher voice, reserved only for the most dire cases, I gave her the whatfor. Ringo appeared to be shaking in his fur but Bonnini just looked at me with this "Bring it on" look. I grabbed a third 2 liter bottle and added it to the mix. Dusting off my hands I headed to my comfy zone only this time I chose not to look back. You know those looks your kids give you that just send you into orbit? I figured that was what she was doing and it would be better for us both if I took the high road and just kept going.

Finally, my weary body is in bed and my eyes are shut and I am almost asleep, you know that special place you go to right before you start with the REMs? Yeah, that's where I was. Clickclack. Clickclack. Clickclack. No telling how long this went on because I had my earplugs in but finally the noise made it into my special place. I'd like to say I popped out of bed but I told you I was achey so I actually creaked out of bad just as mad as I could be. I opened that door and there she was sitting right outside my door staring at me and belly laughing, I tell you, she was basically rolling on the floor. Mind you, Ringo was smart enough to stay in this time. That was the LAST STRAW! I scooped her up, took her through the kitchen, and tossed her (said for effect, I just simply placed her with a tiny bit of frustration) into the laundry room and shut the door. "Take that you mongrel! Who's laughing now?" And I stomped (well, a quiet stomp cause it was like 2 a.m. and the rest of the house was sleeping) back to my room and went to sleep.

Third time's a charm. (I am the champion, my friend, and I'll keep on trying til the end [channeling Queen])

For the last two weeks she left the gate alone. She was waiting for me to let down my guard. I'd reached the point where I just put the box of books and forgot about the 2 liters. Last night she escaped twice but the second time I spanked her heinie and reminded her of the Laundry room. She stayed put, atleast until the morning when she needed to go potty. Atleast she made it through the night!

"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Prov. 13:24

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

American Idol Finale and others

So, I wonder who will win?

Hoping it's Kris although I think it may be just as good for the number 2 and even many of the others because I don't think they have to share their winnings with American Idol.

As I look at the crowd, I'm amazed at all the celebrities.

How bout Kara smashing "Bikini Girl" in the song. Go Kara.

I like the Idol finale.

Who am I kidding, I like almost all reality show and there are alot of finales this week and last and I'll share my two cents cause I can:

America's Next Top Model: Not my pick, I wanted Alison.

Dancing with the Stars: Any of the three would have made me happy. I really thought it would be Gilles and he was my top choice only because of Cheryl, love Cheryl. Shawn won and I was happy with that.

Survivor: JT rocks and was the perfect choice, he totally sealed the deal when he took Shawn with him and not Allison.

Amazing Race: Would have preferred the mom and deaf son, can't remember the name but the lawyers were okay.

American Idol: Ten more minutes, but I'm giving Rus the computer so . . . .


Edited to add: OMG Kris won!!!!! Didn't they all look shocked, including him. Way to go Kris.
I also forgot to mention Hell's Kitchen. I totally didn't want Danny to win, I think he's a bit of a wimp but could be cause I was Team Paula.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

I Have Will Power! Who Knew?

Well, Sonic isn't my favorite food place, but I just can't pass up their Happy Hour! Today when I went I decided to also get a caramel shake. I've thought about it for awhile but I have these weird texture issues and Sonic's shakes have always been a bit grainy. Weird, I know, but that's me.

Today when I ordered that milkshake it was smooth and nummy. The nummiest milkshake I've had in probably forever. I finished it and knew I was driving by another Sonic so I really wanted to stop and get a large one. I know, I know, bad Missy! But I overcame it and passed on by.

Now that's will power. Who knew?

Besides, there's always tomorrow! :)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Did you know that when deployed air bags stink?

Well, neither did I until last Wednesday. Somebody decided that they wanted to turn left from the middle lane. I was in the left lane and it wasn't a turn only lane. I wanted to go straight. It was at a green light that was headed to the highway. They turned, I continued straight right into them.

When air bags deploy they emit white powder. I don't know if it was the white powder of what, but it burned my wrist, my chin and my forehead. I think it got my back, too. Not bad burns, but little blisters popped up. The air bags also smoke and stink. I thought something was on fire.

My right ankle hurts a bit from slamming on my brakes, my wrists and fingers hurt from holding on to the wheel so tight. The seat belt bruised my chest and my ribs. The pain in the ribs is the worst, still can't bend without pain, but it'll be okay, I'm not seriously injured.

I was in a daze. There were a lot of cops. Don't know if driver was hurt. It was a new Explorer, if so wasn't major. Wasn't my fault. Think they got a ticket. Don't know if they have insurance. Know accidents happen but not happy that my car will probably be totaled. It had a new tire, fresh oil and a full tank of gas. Funny what you think about at a time like that. Really want my gas.

Bottom line, I'm alive. My angel was protecting me. My God was with me as he always is.

Blessings,
Missy
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11