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December 31, 2006
My resolutions begin today
Why wait until tomorrow? I'm very good at procrastinating - it is time to start new habits.
So, thanks to a fellow blogger, Amy (who also does a lot of great blog design work and is a very good read each day), I now have a very shiny sink. And better yet, a guide.
And no, this is not an advertisement - in fact, I looked at the things the site sells and found a timer and the 100% waffle weave towels at Wal-Mart for much less than they are sold at FlyLady.net.
But those feather dusters ... I might have to splurge for them.
Here's to a simpler, less cluttered life!
Posted by Beth at 3:32 PM | Comments (0)
ackk
What is wrong with people like this guy?
He is all concerned that Saddam did not receive a fair trial.
Does he have any concern at all for the thousands upon thousands of Saddam's victims?
Posted by Beth at 8:13 AM | Comments (0)
So long, 2006, it's been a year
Gosh, I can't believe another year is over. The older I get, the faster time goes.
Personally, I did accomplish some things this year - I replaced the kitchen floor and painted the walls and some of the furniture. I still need to figure out how to treat the cabinets - new kitchen cabinets are completely out of the question - I'd rather spend the money on something more fun.
John and I built our garden shed - that was quite the learning experience! We bought a nail gun after John hammered in something like 73 nails and his joints were killing him. Wow, that made things easier - if you are going to be building or remodeling anything, a nail gun is definitely worth the price.
I have managed to lose some weight - I'm trying hard to be more active, less sedentary. I tend towards depression (I think it's my personality type or something - I've always been this way), and it is way too easy for me to do absolutely nothing. When I do move around, I feel more upbeat and have more energy.
My knees feel a ton better. Going thru physical therapy made one heckuva difference for me, and I have found that getting massages helps tremendously, also.
And this is stupid, I know, but my hair looks great for the first time in my life. I let it grow this year, and somehow, it seems thicker and has more body and it looks good.
I have a lot of things I wanted to do this year that will carry over to next year - replace the floor in our mudroom, paint the living room and dining room, maybe do something with the bathroom floors.
Home ownership means never having to say you're finished!
My own resolutions for next year are:
1. Continue to eat healthy stuff and move around more.
2. Get rid of the clutter in my house - it's everywhere. John and I are both packrats. I must say we are extremely succesful packrats. We have some of the most interesting stuff ever. But we don't have room for it all. Dusting is a nightmare. So, I am going to make a real effort to go thru all the stuff, give some away, throw some out, maybe sell some on ebay and mostly, try to keep the clutter under control. At the moment, it has taken over the house! I will not be taking pictures of clutter. I'm not even sure where to start.
3. Pay off at least 3 bills this year.
4. Meet Venomous Kate - she lives probably less than a mile from me, but we keep putting off meeting each other - I am going to call her next week. Definitely!!!!
5. Spend a minimum of four hours a week doing something creative. God gave me a bit of talent, I'm kinda dissing Him if I don't use it.
Next year will be great.
Posted by Beth at 7:34 AM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2006
Baghdad Butcher bound for Hell
Though I wish that he had been killed when he was captured, I'm glad his existence on this earth is over, finally.
I hope that now the trials are over, Iraqis can concentrate on building their new government - and I pray that they choose religious freedom for all.
Meryl has a Haiku party going on. Go and join in.
Posted by Beth at 8:56 AM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2006
Target is not my kinda store
My good friend, CalTechGirl, had an awful experience at Target this week. They have a very dumb policy that Christmas gifts, with no receipt, have to be exchanged for a "like" item. For example, if you get a blanket that you don't need because you already have plenty of blankets, you have to exchange it for something of equal or greater value in the bedding department. Can't go to the kitchen area or the tools area, or books or anything. And, it has to be done the same day.
I admit, I was not at all surprised to read about her story. I don't like Target. The store has always left me cold. They don't have clothes my size that I like. They don't have great prices.
In the past 10 years, I have probably bought a total of 3 things at Target.
The people at every Target I have gone to have been rather surly.
Last year, Target banned the Salvation Army Ringers from having a kettle and bellringer there - now, I get a bit tired of the constant begging, but I can walk by if I don't feel like throwing money into the pot, and it is for a very good cause.
I am not impressed with their merchandising. The only thing I like about Target is the music in their commercials - sometimes.
I know that many, many people disagree with me. They think that Target is the cat's pajamas (in my dad's lingo), and look down their noses at Walmart and K-Mart.
Well, I also look down my nose at K-Mart, but I love our local Walmart. The people there usually have a smile on their face and are willing to help me to find things.
The prices are great.
The quality is pretty good, especially for the money.
Some of you consider going to Walmart, "Slumming it", because the people who shop there must be poor, or they would not shop there.
I ain't poor. I buy tons of stuff at Walmart, from kitchen appliances (which I can return without a receipt and buy ANYTHING in the store) to blue jeans and t-shirts to great garden things.
Walmart serves a grand purpose in my small town of 35,000 people. There are plenty of home-owned shops that are healthy and survive just fine - the smart shop keepers have made a niche for themselves. We have a shop that sells everything English, from tea to clotted cream to Christmas pudding to fine china.
We have a great furniture store, with the odd name of Sadtke's - they carry most interesting furniture - not the normal chain store stuff. We have a great pet supply store - Horse Country - and the owners run it beautifully. We buy all our dog, cat and horse supplies from them, not from Walmart. With our herd, that adds up to a pretty penny! We have a couple of Polish hand-painted china shops - oh, I love the patterns!! And we have at least 3 paint stores - and they are not chain stores.
We even have a hardware store, Gronis Hardware, which is quite unique. It is in downtown Leavenworth, and it snakes thru about 5 buildings. They have everything. And they are nice and helpful. Always.
Target has nothing unique, different or exciting. They don't have good prices, they are often more than Walmart for very similar items.
I don't get the love that some people have for Target. Yech.
Posted by Beth at 6:25 PM | Comments (0)
December 25, 2006
Merry Christmas!
This being a key day in the Christian calendar, I thought I should post something appropriate.
A message from a man who has needed the Light of Christ in his life for a long time, and who finally found it.
H/t, Scott Ott.
Posted by John at 8:29 AM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2006
Carol of the Bells
This is one of the best arrangements of Carol of the Bells that I've ever heard. Enjoy:
Posted by Beth at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
You Tube fun
Posted by Beth at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
I love to watch this
But I'd hate to have it across the street from my house!
Thanks to Beth at MVRWC for pointing out this incredible Christmas house.
Posted by Beth at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
Blah, Humbug
I thought Maggie was my friend, but no, she tagged me.
Here are the rules:
Ok, this is how it works: The player (me) must list 3 things that I would love to get for Christmas. Then I must list 3 things that I definitely do not want to get for Christmas. Then I tag 5 friends and list their names. The one I tag needs to write on their blogs about their Christmas wishes then tag 5 more people. They must also clarify all the rules. When you tag someone you need to leave a comment that says “you’’ve been Christmas tagged!” in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
What I would love to get for Christmas:
1. A sparkling clean house!
2. A hot tub!
3. A sun room to put the hot tub in!
What I do not want for Christmas:
1. Perfume (I'm allergic to a lot of it)
2. More knick-knacks - I have too many now, and if someone gives me another, I'll feel too guilty to throw it away.
3. Another cookbook.
I'm tagging these nice women who will probably hate me now for doing this:
Cassandra of Villianous Company
Beth of My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
BCR of Snark Patrol
Posted by Beth at 9:05 AM | Comments (1)
December 22, 2006
Bah Humbug
I'm deep in my annual Christmas funk now. I found this at Tammy's place, though, and it brightened up my mood.
Try a few naughty commands, you might be surprised (nothing dirty, but funny)
Posted by Beth at 4:53 PM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2006
Why, why, why
Does the end of the year have to occur at Christmas time?
There is way too much work to be done. Documents created, approvals signed.
Ick.
I'd rather try out a recipe for making cannolis.
I will try it before the weekend - if they are good, I'll make more and bring them with us for our desert on Christmas Eve.
Posted by Beth at 7:31 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2006
I have an addiction
To Spider Solitaire. I realized this morning that I was wasting hours and hours of what could be productive and creative time playing solitaire. It's mesmerizing to me. I could not stop.
So I uninstalled it!
Let's see if this will help me get to work!
Posted by Beth at 8:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 18, 2006
Some ads irritate me so much . . .
That I blog about how much I hate them.
Currently, the radio ad that I hate the most is the Joseph A. Banks commercial for men's clothing.
I hear it in every city I go to, and I really hate the breathless announcer's fake excitement - "Every jacket, every coat, every sock - 50% percent off!"
Unfortunately, I expect those ads to continue forever, as the retailer is selling men's clothing at a remarkable pace.
Posted by Beth at 7:34 AM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2006
Oh, and don't forget . . .
Posted by Beth at 6:41 PM | Comments (0)
I can't believe the weekend is nearly over!
Let's see - I got home on Friday night - it was too late to make it to the annual Christmas Holiday Party held by John's employer, so we went to Outback, sat at the bar and had a nice dinner.
Kevin, Sarah and Carrie were our bartenders. We have known Sarah and Carrie for years, so I suspect we had more fun at Outback than if we had attended the party - sometimes there are a few overly anti-Catholic wives of guys who work there around those parties. And I invariably get in trouble for jumping their overly made-up asses when they start slamming Catholicism.
(I guess "overly" is my word of the day!)
Yesterday, I was tres lazy in the morning. I had my tresses coloured and highlighted in the afternoon, and then, because she had a cancellation, Millie, the wonder woman who gives the best massage this side of the Mississippi, gave me a great massage for a full hour! It was unbelievable. My arthritic knees felt so much better, as did my sore shoulders and my neck and lower back.
If any of you ever, ever, ever come to Leavenworth to visit - and you want to have a massage, give me a holler, and I'll see if Millie can work you into her schedule.
Let's see - oh yeah, last night, I was really even lazier and phoned in for pizza for John and I. I was exhausted and was asleep by 10:00.
This morning, we went out to brunch and then I put John on a jet to DC for a couple of days worth of briefings at the Pentagon. He can't tell me about it, though, or he'd have to kill me!
I went to a fabric store after that - Once upon a time I had time to sew things, but that was long, long ago. It doesn't matter to my shopping gene, though. I go into a fabric store and go fricking nuts!!!
My dear Mother-in-law and I were teasing at Thanksgiving, and I told her she was the Queen, and she said, OK, where is my crown, sceptre and robe?
So, I found a gorgeous tiara on EBay for about 10 bucks, and I ordered a beautiful red bathrobe for her, too. Today, I bought some gorgeous fake fur and Velcro - I am going to make her bathrobe look like a royal robe with fake ermine fur trimming the cuffs, the neckline and the hem.
I'm going to just use iron-on Velcro so she can remove the furry stuff and throw the robe into the wash.
If only I could find a sceptre!
And then, I could not stop there, oh no. I am the craftqueen! I have no time, but I have talent and imagination!!!
I spent $99 on this.
It was on sale at Hancock Fabrics. And seeing the UK price of 99 pounds sterling, I got a great deal!!!
Now I have to decide where I want to set that lamp up. Do I put it in the living room, so I can crochet or knit while watching tv? Or in the bedroom, or the kitchen or my office (which needs a serious cleaning/paint job.)
Last weekend, John and I were in Boston, and we were wandering around Faneuil Hall and the shops on either side of it, and there was a lovely Irish shop. I saw a beautiful Irish knit winter scarf there, but it was $120.00. So I found a pattern with a Celtic something or other and some beautiful 'fisherman's yarn" - off-white virgin wool with the lanolin still in it. I got a couple of crochet hooks, and I will be able to make something very similar, or even prettier, for about twenty bucks.
Got home, fed cats, put dogs out, found out that a couple of ex-cotillionites hate the cotillion and all in it, fixed a margarita and now I'm going to go and fix a salad.
So, that was my weekend.
And it's almost gone.
I need 5 day weekends!
Posted by Beth at 6:24 PM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2006
Amazing, truely Awesome Akiane
As I was getting packed up this morning, I had CNN Headline News for background noise. I heard a young girl's voice, and glanced at the TV, and discovered this incredible young artist being interviewed.
This child has been painting since age 4 - great, huge, gorgeous spiritual paintings.
She was raised in an atheist family and feels that she was inspired by God to paint in order to bring faith to folks.
Her entire family converted to Christianity because of her amazing, apparently God-given talent. Go to her website and be awed.
Posted by Beth at 5:37 AM | Comments (0)
Heading Home
I am so very ready to go home. This has been a very busy and very long week.
I love the people I'm working with, but I am so ready to get home and try to get ready for Christmas. I miss John. I miss all my furry critters. And I'm tired. I've only been able to sleep four or five hours a night this week.
We are supposed to go to John's company Christmas Party tonight when I get off the plane. We'll see how awake I am then, I guess!!!
Posted by Beth at 4:32 AM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2006
So, I'm a little grumpy today
I'm certainly happy I'm not a British taxpayer. Just how much money was spent to find out why ex-princess Diana was in an auto accident and died? And it took 9 years? Does that change the life of anyone?
Posted by Beth at 6:03 AM | Comments (0)
This is going to sound mean, but . . .
Why do people decide to go climb mountains in the winter? Wtf is wrong with them? It happens several times a year. Idiots decide to go climb a mountain in a blizzard, and then, when they get in trouble, all kinds of rescue people spend days and thousands and thousands of our tax money trying to find the idiots.
And then, the media talks about them all the time until they are either found dead or alive.
Natural selection can be a good thing.
Posted by Beth at 5:43 AM | Comments (0)
Fun in Lowell!
The lovely Maggie of Boston met me for dinner last night at my favorite restaurant in Lowell, MA, Cobblestones.
Much talking occurred.
It was really great fun. I'm totally amazed at how many odd things we have in common. You know, like calling the kids who went to public school "Publics".
Posted by Beth at 5:38 AM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2006
I want a restaurant/bar like this at home!!!
I am sitting in the bar at Cobblestones, a great restaurant/bar in Lowell, MA. I have had dinner here 4 or 5 times - 3 in the last week and 1/2. But I didn't realize they have free wireless broadband!!!! Now, if I could just find an electrical socket when my battery gets low...
Anyway, I will eat here tonight, tomorrow and the next night - then I'm going home. They have a great selection of food - you can have anything from homemade macaroni and cheese (with BACON!!) to a fancy gourmet wild game dish (varies each week) to a cheese tray with baguette (my dinner tonight).
They make a mean margarita. I do wish John had been able to come here with me over the weekend, but we were concentrating on Boston eateries.
If you are ever in or near Lowell - I highly recommend this place - A++++!!
Posted by Beth at 4:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 7, 2006
The ISG Commission
I've been working really hard this week, so I've not had much time to do any deep reading or pay much attention to the news. But I've heard enough about the arrogant study group's conclusion to know that what I've heard so far is totally idiotic.
Negotiate with Iran? WTF! And Syria? Ack Ack Ack!!!
Annika does a better job of blogging about this subject, so go look and see what she has to say.
Posted by Beth at 6:08 PM | Comments (0)
I really hate the whole Commission idea
These stupid-ass commissions that Congress and the President use so often are just ridiculous. We did not elect commission members. We elect Congress and the President.
I do not want decisions like how to deal with Iraq made by commissions. Where in the US Constitution is there any mention of commissions and their 'power'.
Also, I don't want these old politicians, who are not elected, Baker and Hamilton and more, making decisions. This is bullshit.
What a waste, waste, waste of our taxes.
That is all.
Posted by Beth at 6:07 AM | Comments (0)
December 5, 2006
Settling in
Since I'm going to be sleeping in this hotel for the next 10 days, I actually have put things in the dresser instead of living out of the suitcase! Work is going very well - I am just where I should be so far as what I had planned to have finished by now.
The clients here are very nice. It is cold, though!
I had dinner at The Athenian Corner Restaurant, a good Greek restaurant a few blocks away.
I had the Spanakopita.
Yum.
It was good. The service was great. And there was a bit of an uproar when a woman started screaming at her husband at the top of her lungs.
Just another day.
Posted by Beth at 9:22 PM | Comments (0)
December 4, 2006
Airport Schmairport
Okay, does anyone remember way back when I had a horrible flight attendant on a Midwest Airlines flight to Boston? Her name was Suzie and she was throwing a fit because I was something like 25 cents short, and I didn't realize it until after she served me breakfast?
I'll look tonight and find the link to that story.
So, I'm on my way to Boston this morning. First I fly from KC to Milwaukee, then I have to switch planes.
So, this is what happens - I get on the plane, and the flight attendant, Suzie (aggghhhhhH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) greets me, and I could tell by her look that she remembers exactly who I am.
Flight was uneventful, though Suzie was purposely rude to me whenever she got the chance - she'd be super nice to the woman sitting next to me and then be quite short with me. I wonder if I look like the woman who must have stolen her boyfriend in high school or something?
Anyway, we land in Milwaukee, and my flight to Boston has been cancelled.
Blechhh.
But I do have a seat on a plane that leaves at 9:55 am - I'll be about 2 and one half hours later than I expected to.
If Suzie is on that plane, I'll cry. I swear I will!!
[Lemme help, sweetie. Meet Suzie here. -the Armorer]
Posted by Beth at 8:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 1, 2006
Rotary Club International
You might not know this, but my handsome husband is very involved in several civic and charitable organizations. One of these is the Leavenworth Chapter of Rotary International.
Tonight, the Rotary Club had its Christmas Party. Every year we all bring wrapped gifts, and there is an auction to bid on these gifts - that are wrapped up, and you usually have no idea whatsoever what you are bidding on.
It is a wonderful, fun fund raiser, and they did quite well tonight. We had a lovely sit down dinner and drinks and a chocolate bar for dessert. Yum.
We sat with our friends, Mike and Gloria, and had a good time with them and the other great folks at our table. There was a program, where the president of Rotary, Julie, gave out nice awards to people who have worked on different projects.
But then, she called John up, and he started speaking, and he gave me a Paul Harris Fellowship in front of everyone. I know, it may sound silly, but it seemed just downright romantic for him to honor me in front of all people.
Rotary is a service organization that has been around for a very long time. It has many projects.
Rotary International is the spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and is the largest private sector donor. It has contributed more than US$600 million to the polio eradication activities in 122 countries.Source
Anyway, I am very proud to be a Paul Harris Fellow, and I thank my handsome husband for his efforts with all my heart.
Posted by Beth at 9:50 PM | Comments (0)
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Posted by Beth at 7:38 AM | Comments (0)