Here goes nothin...

It seems that AOL has saved my images AND captions, so I will try again to post here.  At least the captions are still there.  That makes me feel a bit better.  Here goes nothin...

Phew!  That worked!  Now to add some comments.

I have no idea what I originally said in the "lost post" so there isn't a ton to say about the pictures that isn't mentioned in the captions.

I had NO idea that so many of you read this journal regularly.  Seriously.  I thought it was Mom, Russ, Kevin, my brother, Pam, and Lisa.  Sure, I knew that there were others occasionally, but not REGULAR readers.  I am flattered.

I won't leave.  I almost cried when I saw 16 comments, and only one was spam!  Heck, that's almost as many as MOM gets!

Also, I lurk, too.  There are many that I read, but find my comments seem dull, so I don't post them.  I'll work on that.

So, enjoy the pictures from a WEEK ago!  LOL  I'll come back later with some stuff that has happened since.

Please give me input

Seriously, I need your help and input here.

I know that I post some silly and stupid stuff.  I know that I take pictures of hotel carpet and birds in my yard and beer cans if they're pretty.  I know.  I do some stupid posts.

Yesterday, I said that I was leaving AOL journals.  I really REALLY want to.  I am SO upset with them.  I can't do what I want to do on MY journal!  However, I got some interesting comments.

Mom said that folks will stop reading.  Russ said that he'd have trouble remembering to check.  I think it was Pam who asked that I leave a link here when I post elsewhere.  Others just sympathized with me.

Can you tell me why?  Why will you only read if it's AOL?  Why will you forget?  What is it?  Is it the alerts?  Is that all?  I mean, there are other programs that let you know when a site is updated.  I can tell you what they are.

My theory is that AOL has worked SO hard at making folks dependant, that many don't know that non-aol programs are out there.  AOL is user friendly, but do those of you who use it exclusively know that it's making you dependant?  I told my mother once that "AOL makes you stupid."  My heart was in the right place.  You need to be able to use a computer, browse the Internet, get email, and do regular maintenance without the help of AOL.

Do you need my help?  Is there something that AOL does for you that you think isn't possible elsewhere?  Please tell me why you'd stop reading if I left.

Heck, I even looked at godaddy.com to see if I could get my own web site.  I could, for under $10 a year.  I would love to be @LifeNStuff.net, but you guys don't seem to want that.  Please help me out, here.

Why would you leave if I left AOL?  Be honest.  I need to know.  I need to weigh the odds.  Also, I know that many read without commenting.  Would you please leave a comment like:

"I read but don't comment"

"You bore me to death"

" I hate you, but I like to see when you've had a bad day"

"I comment, but you don't leave comments for me enough"

"I wish you would die"

"I leave comments, and then bad things happen.  I think you're evil"

I love you, but I don't want to leave AOL for anything!!!???!!!???

I will stay, because I love you guys.  However, I don't know if YGP will ever be fixed, so I'm gun shy about doing all of that work again.  I'll try tomorrow, but if it craps out again, I don't know if I can go on.

Oh, I can go on (in life) but I don't know if I can keep giving AOL  chances.  Comments?

Good bye

I will be leaving aol journals, now.  It loaded all of my images tonight, so I posted captions and typed up an entry about my weekend.  When I hit "save?"  "Journals temporarily unavailable, try again later."  Not a chance, dill weed.  I'll be getting back to my blogger journal, and leave a link here.  I'm done.

*sigh*

I don't know if AOL is playing nice tonight or not.  I can't even TRY to do my entry from the weekend.  You see, this gets complicated:

On the laptop that I bring home from work, I do most of everything I want/need to do online.  I like the comfort of sitting on my couch (or on my bed) and posting stuff.  Sure, I could do it from my desktop PC, but it would mean transferring images via my jump drive, then editing, then...never mind.  I'm lazy, OK?

So, the laptop is a Mac.  I love my mac.  You have NO idea how much I love my mac.  However, AOL is too stupid...ooops...sorry.  AOL doesn't like it when I try to post an entry from the mac.  Fortunately, I run parallels.  Parallels is a software that allows me to run Windows on the Mac.  OK, clear as mud.  I can do "pretend windows" while on the Mac.  Are you with me so far?

Parallels acted up recently.  Then it got more ornery.  Then it got MEAN!  I tried everything I could try to fix the issues.  I googled and searched and played and manipulated.  Nothing.  It wasn't to be fixed.

Finally, I copied all of my images and documents to my jump drives, and started the process of reformatting the Windows side.  Yup, a clean wipe of the drive.  Now, windows is reinstalled, and I only need to download some drivers to be back up again.  Meanwhile, no posts with pictures.  Are you still with me?

That's right.  You, my loyal readers, suffer along with me.  Yup, you can't see those fine pictures, one of which may OR MAY NOT include a facinating picture of a tiki torch, burning.  I know.  I feel your pain.  You've suffered enough.  Let's move on.

The girls are doing well at Grammy's house.  They've been there for 3 days (without us) and Natalie has only had a moment or two of worry.  She'll be fine, but she worries about what is going on here.  I will send them a letter tomorrow.  I will even include pictures (which I can NOT do here, thanks AOL) for them to enjoy.

OK, time to sign off and see if I can drop-kick a Mac.  No, I won't.  I just wish I could get it back as it was.  Tomorrow will prove whether or not it can be done.  Here's hoping!  Not "here's hopping" because that would be weird.

hop hop hop hop hop hop hop hop

LOL!  Here's hopping!

Honestly, the Mac is fine.  It's parallels that is screwed up.  I am thankful that I can post an entry via Firefox, because AOL ALSO doesn't like Safari.  *sigh*

Memorial Day? Or SCREW AOL!!!???

I have a lot of pictures.  I'd love to share them with you.  AOL, however, decided that I am undeserving, and should NOT be allowed to upload pictures.

Here are some things you could have seen:

1. Me and my family, dressed up.

2. An absolutely gorgeous bride.

3. A beautiful cake (and yummy, too.)

4. Kevin, dancing with his sister (the mother of the bride.)

5. My new tiki torches.

6. A wonderfully peaceful sky.

7. Kevin, mowing the yard with his new mower.

8. Hawkeye, watching.

9. My wonderful life, captured forever in pictures.

10. An alien life form, landing on my deck and asking for a beer.

OK, maybe not so much the last one, but you get the idea.  I have images all ready.  They've been edited down to the great ones, and ready to upload, but NOOOOO!

Stupid AOL.

Why do you think I'm never featured on the AOL site as a journal you should read?  Maybe because I say SCREW YOU, AOL!  I HATE YOU.  YOU SUCK. YOU TRY TO SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF ME AT EVERY TURN!!!

Or maybe not.  Who knows?

OK, tomorrow, we're back to work.  The girls are at Grammy's for two weeks.  I have a chat-meet pending.  We need to clean the HECK out of this house.  I'll do that this week.  Today, I had a new umbrella and new tiki torches and a strawberry margarita with a little parasol in it on my deck, so I can't be bothered with cleaning, OK?

A day in the life....'n stuff

Well, here it is.  Right up until now.  Now, we are watching American Idol while Kevin sleeps.  He's working ridiculous hours right now.  I'm just surprised that he beat me home for once.  He even started dinner, and I finished it.

I'll clarify some things, in case you wondered:

Those whose name I didn't use, I didn't ask permission to put them in my journal.

I realize that some pictures sucked, due to sunlight behind them, but that's how it happened, so deal with it.

That color chart thing? I have to know what to do if an image needs color corrected.  If it's too yellow, look at the chart.  What is opposite of yellow?  Blue?  Correct.  Add blue.  The printers memorize this, but I can't.  If you have no talent?  Go work in customer service!

OK, you've been held hostage long enough.  Have a wonderful night, and a better tomorrow!

Tomorrow's boring details

I feel a "day in the life" entry coming on.  You will probably find a LOT of boring pictures here tomorrow.  You were warned.

Hawkeye HATES a bath, and other nonsense.

Yesterday, we spent a good part of the day at Mom and Dad's.  Dad was dealing with water lines, raking hay, and helping Brett with his truck problems.  I tried to gopher a bit, and run the gates when I could, but I didn't help as much as I had hoped.  Dad lost his pliers in the hay field at one point, and Natalie wanted to go find them, so I let her.

I watched her walk through one gate, then the other, then head toward the electric fence to the hay field.  I couldn't stand it.  I had to help.  I went with her, and we walked the field, back and forth, scanning the ground for anything shiny.  We were out there for a LONG time, but didn't find anything.  Anything EXCEPT a sunburn!  LOL  I am roasted.

While we were visiting (earlier in the afternoon) Natalie asked if she could go to the "pond."  I put "pond" in quotes because it is about 2' deep at the deepest point.  There are plenty of frogs, however, and that's what Natalie enjoys.  She walks around the banks, making the frogs jump in, then watches for their eyes to appear in the center.  I have to admit, it IS fun!

Hawkeye likes to accompany her out there.  He wades out about knee deep (do dogs have knees?) and then...And then...And THEN!!! he lies down.  This is a smelly, stagnant, nasty smelling frog pond, and my house dog LIES in it!  EEEWWWWWW!  He smelled SO bad!  He did try to remedy the situation on the way back to the house, though. He sniffed, then tasted, then rolled in some horse manure.  *sigh*

So, after his ride (in the BACK of Kevin's truck) back to our house, he went straight out (with the help of a leash) to the front of the house, for a bath.  Hawkeye HATES a bath.  He pulls and tugs and whines and looks generally miserable the whole time.

Too bad, buddy, it's warm now, and there is NO more bathing in my tub, hair ball!  Next fall, we'll talk.  Then again, frog pond weather will be over by then, and you won't get so smelly.  Forgive me, Hawkeye.  Just admit for a minute that you smell better. Well, you smell better to humans.  I'm sure you prefer the latest dog cologne: "Shit, by Faberge'"

A great Saturday, a new mower, and nice weather!

Yesterday morning, we dropped Natalie the delinquent off at Saturday school.  Yeah, she missed another assignment.  She's on the A honor roll, yet she keeps serving detentions.  Oh well.  Monica was at a friends house, so Kevin and I headed to the Grain Valley city wide garage sales.

The weather was beautiful (going to be again today, too) and we enjoyed the drive.  That town was crazy with people, and we looked around for almost 3 hours, not finding much at all.  A guy had a John Deer riding mower for sale for $500.  We thought it was worth it, but we really couldn't afford it, so we walked away.

The next 4 or 5 sales, I could tell Kevin was stewing about that mower.  Finally, he called Dad for some advice, who told him to call my brother, Jim, which he did.  Jim told him some things to check and watch for when starting it, and we headed back.  Everything checked out great, so Kevin offered him $300 for it.

The guy said he couldn't do that, because it was actually his father in law's mower, and he wouldn't take that little for it, but he would come down to $400.  Kevin talked him into $350 and we loaded it into the truck.  Jim said that the engine is worth that much, and we got a good deal.

We headed back home with a mower that we couldn't afford, stopping by Dad's to show him our find after picking up the girls.  He approves.  LOL  Kevin sharpened the blades (which need replaced soon) and he mowed the yard, while I cleaned up the deck and the patio furniture.  Stupid birds.

Brett brought his new girlfriend Becky over, and we ate pizza while visiting.  She is super-sweet, and the girls loved her.  He got the truck tagged and insured, and he picked up his glasses so he can see to drive now (phew!) so he was out here to visit.  He wants Dad to help him with something on the truck, so he spent the night last night.  Today, he'll go out there with us.

That picture of the little neighbor girl was just for fun.  Mackenzie is the little sister of Monica's friend, Sam.  When Sammie walks up to play with Monica, Mackenzie often tags along.  She is as sweet as she can be, and she LOVES Hawkeye.  The other night, she came up to the window behind the couch, pressed her nose against the screen and said, "HI!"  I just had to get a picture.

OK, time to get this day started.  Kevin is at the grocery store, and the kids are still asleep, but there are things to do.  I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this weather!

Not a single picture taken. You're off the hook.

I did take my vacation day.  I took the girls to school, then headed toward Blue Springs to steal the truck.  I moved my stuff over (I had a cooler of Diet Coke, among other things) into his truck before realizing that it was filthy.  My first stop was the car wash.

With a newly cleaned truck, I headed to QuikTrip for a morning treat.  Two mochas later and I was out the door to visit my BFF Tammy at her place of work.  She was happy to see me, and enjoyed the Mocha.  From there, I went to the next town over to check for garage sales.  Tomorrow is the greatest city-wide garage sale in the state, so I thought some folks would start early.  Not many.  LOL

I also visited another friend at work, went to Big Lots, Home Depot, WalMart and had lunch at McD's.  My gift card is empty, but I had a great morning.  By lunch time, I returned the truck and headed back home.  I even stopped by Mom and Dad's for an hour or so, and watched the trench digging guy at work.  That was an impressive machine!

Back at home, I surfed the 'net for a while, then went to the school for kid pickup.  Natalie had detention for an incomplete assignment (how does a kid that has THIS many detentions stay on the A honor roll?)  Because this is a 4th detention this quarter, she now has a Saturday school tomorrow.  *sigh*

Monica is at a friends for the night, Kevin is asleep, Natalie is asleep (she was bored due to being grounded from TV and computer because of the detention) and here I sit, watching the dog twitch.  He is dreaming about something...probably a T bone steak.

Anyway, my vacation day is over, and I didn't clean a DANG thing.  Tomorrow I will, or I will die of embarrassment about this place.  Today, however, was just fun for me.  Relaxed enjoyment.  Life is good.

If you're bored, go back and check out the links.  They aren't EXACTLY what you'd expect, in most cases.

Vacation Day

OK, I have tomorrow off.  I have enough plans to consume 4 days, so I'll have to narrow it down.  I will take a ton of pictures, following my day, so if you don't dig that, avoid my journal tomorrow.

I talked to my brother tonight.  I miss him, and it was awesome.

Brett will have transportation by tomorrow.  That's awesome.

Mom's moving into her new home, one piece of furniture at a time.  That's awesome.

The girls are happy and healthy.  That's awesome.

Kevin has work issues, but he's handling them quite well.

On Monday, I will have been back to work at the lab for 5 years.  I got recognized in front of the other CSR's today, and I got a $50 visa card.  Rock on!  If I run the roads tomorrow, I'll get lunch out!  Thanks, boss lady.

I think I'll trade vehicles with Kevin tomorrow, and enjoy A/C AND a rockin' stereo.  Right on!  He is OK with it...but it only happens if I decide to run the roads, instead of cleaning my house.

I should clean my house.

I'm not going to clean my house. Who am I kidding?

Not much to say that hasn't been said.

I could mention that Mom and Dad got their new home delivered...but you read that in her journal.

I could mention that I can't afford gas or groceries any more...but you know that because you're living it.

I could mention that it's supposed to rain tonight...but you know by now that it rains every other day here.

I could mention that work is overwhelming and I'm beat...but everyone is tired after work.

I could mention that I should be cleaning house instead of watching TV and surfing the 'net...but you all know by now that I'm lazy.

I could mention that I'm crabby...but if you've read this far, you have figured that out.

I obviously have nothing to post.  Ciao.

Just some stuff, and sleeping in (by mistake!)

I woke up and stretched and looked over at the alarm clock.  7:50.  7:50?  WHAT???  I have an hour to drive to work, and I have to be there at 8:30.  I jumped in the shower, planning the call to the school and to work to explain our tardiness.  Getting out of the shower, I looked at Kevin's alarm and saw that it was 7:00.  OK, I'm still late, but not as late as I thought.  

I woke Brett and screamed something that nobody would understand, but it included, "GET YOUR STUFF IN THE CAR I AM LATE AND WE HAVE TO GO SOOOON!"  Then I woke the girls.  They were awesome about getting ready really fast.  I left while they were preparing to make lunches, and I barked at Brett to get in the car, then he and I left.

The girls called 3-4 times in the next 30 minutes.  There were no drinks for lunches, could they take 50 pennies?  "Sure, go ahead."  Nothing screams white trash like having your kids pay for milk with pennies.  I dropped Brett off and hit the ramp to the interstate.  Just as the ramp ended, and I eased onto the interstate at warp speed, thinking I *might* just get there on time, my cell phone rang.

I didn't recognize the number, but I answered, "Hello?"  "Hey Mom, I need you to turn around...like NOW."  "Dude, I'm on the highway.  It ain't happenin'."  "But Mom," says Brett, "My cell phone is in your car."  *sigh*  I may have said some horrid curse words at this point.  "Dude!  I'll have to go all the way to Grain Valley (next exit) before I can turn around, are you SURE it's in my car?"  He was, and I did.

I drove 207 mph and dropped his phone off.  Getting back on the road, I called my boss, telling him that I would be late.  I. AM. NEVER. LATE.  Today, I was 8 minutes late.  I'm so ashamed.  I may never recover.

Mom and Dad got their trailer today.  Make sure to check out both journals, to see various entries about it.  Check here and here.  We were all excited.  The girls have already decided where the bed should go in THEIR (the guest) room.

Hawkeye had a bath tonight.  He smelled REAL bad, and I had to dig 50 lbs of hair from my tub.  I HATE giving him a bath in the house.  Then I took him out to the yard and brushed him.  It looks like someone sacrificed a sheep out there.

OK, there is more to tell, but I'm tired, and it's late.  I'll be back tomorrow.  I think I'll take a vacation day this week, and scrub this house down.  Yeah...sounds like a plan.

A few shout-outs and a good Saturday

A shout-out to my Brother.  Happy Birthday, Jim!  Did you know that you're older than me?  No?  Well, I'll always be here to remind you.  I hope you had a wonderful birthday, and I can't wait to see you guys in July.

A shout-out to my Mama.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  You've never been a soccer mom, or a stage mom, or a typical mom of any kind...and I love you for who you are.  I think that you are to blame for how weird I am, but that's OK, too.  Weird is better than average ANY day.

A shout-out to Carl Edwards, who came in second in the race today, even though he started in 36th.  OK, he probably won't see this, so never mind.  LOL

Monica had her follow-up exam for the contacts today.  Everything is perfect.  The fit  is good, the vision is great, and she was given the go-ahead to wear them full time.  I'm happy for her.  She sure looks like a different kid.

Tomorrow, I'll get breakfast in bed, and get treated like royalty.  That's ALWAYS a good thing, right?  There were whisperings and sneaking going on with Kevin and the kids earlier.  I just pretended not to notice.

Brett is here for the weekend again.  His dad is going to help him in the transportation department.  He's going to sell him the truck that Brett used to drive, until it crapped out.  His Dad has it road worthy again, so he's going to let Brett make payments on it.  That will get him back on his feet.  Thank goodness.

I brought the S-5 home this weekend.  That's Fuji's newest professional camera.  I don't have a clue what I'm doing, but I know enough to manipulate a decent shot out of it from time to time.  I try to bring it home every couple of months, just so I can remember how to use it if I need it.  With the two lenses that I brought home, that's a bit too much money for me to have lying around the house, but here it is.  ehhh.

It's going to be 42 tonight, with wind chills in the 20s.  BLECH!  Happy Mother's Day to me.  I put in my order for 80 and sunshine, but I guess that order won't be filled.  I'll settle for biscuits, bacon, and eggs.   And coffee.  Lots and lots of coffee.  In bed.  Snuggled in and warm.

Yeah...I've got it pretty darn good.  No complaints here.

I'm BAAACK

OK, I'm back.  I got Kevin and Natalie's crud, and was down for several days.  I went to bed before 7, coughed my head off, sweated out a fever, and woke up to try again.  Now, I'm better.  That means that you are cursed to see my mindless pictures.

Brett has some issues that he's working out.  I'll pick him up tomorrow evening and he'll be here for Mother's Day.  Awesome!  They better treat me REAL good, no?

Monica's contacts are working out very well.  She's so happy to have them.  I remember that feeling...finally being rid of glasses.  I'm happy for her.

You'll see from the pictures that my yard needs work.  Who keeps throwing this crap in my yard?  Oh yeah, it's the girls.  LOL  We'll clean it all up this weekend.  Then we'll blame Brett for the mess, even though he doesn't live here.  That's what we do. We blame Brett.

OK, time for bed.  I'm glad to be back, and over the crud.  Thanks for giving me your meds, Kevin.  You rock.

Talking to myself

I often talk to myself.  Let's face it: I talk all the time, and sometimes I'm the only one around to listen.  I find me quite amusing...and I agree with me.  ROFL

Here are some things that I said aloud to myself today:

"No no, let ME get it."

"Holy crap, it's only 3:30?"

"Who does she think she is?"

"I ought to kick his sorry ass...but I'm tired.  Maybe later."

"Well HELLO!  Welcome to the left lane.  Nah, I'm in no hurry to get home, take your time."

"No THAT'S a lot of patriotism."

"Wow, scary dude takes the center lane."

"Put the phone down and DRIVE!"

"Hiya, little red Corvette!  How'd ya like to take a bite out of the back of my Celebrity?  Yeah?  Keep tailgating, moron."

"Wow, nice pavement ol' homestretch."

"Now THAT is a good lookin' yard, right there."

Yup.  It's crazy, and mindless, and weird.  Regardless, it's how I spend my day.  It works for me, ok?

"They all think I'm crazy, and I'm OK with it.  HA!"  Ooops, did I say that out loud?

A hypochondriac's dream come true, and left over pictures.

Well, it happened.  What is the dream for a hypochondriac?  To get sick for real.  Kevin has been sick all week (not the hypochondriac) and yesterday, Natalie (the hypochondriac) got it, hard-core.  Today, the two of them went to the minute clinic and found out that they both have "acute infectious bronchitis."

Oh boy, let the games begin.  Here are some exact quotes from Natalie today:

"Did my medication say 'My cause dizziness upon standing?'"

"What's inside that pill? Can I see it?"

"What time should I take my next pill?  I'll need to go to the nurse after lunch at school for a pill, right?"

"Should I get some extra rest?"

"Is bronchitis bad? What happens if it gets worse?" (I told her it could turn into pneumonia.) "Wow, that's REAL bad, huh?"

Anyway, she is in her element.  She is definitely a descendant of my paternal grandfather.  She is really sick, and she's living every minute of it to the fullest.  I've never seen anyone so interested in their illness, but I know for a fact that I was EXACTLY the same way as a kid.  Right Mom?

The pictures above are from the day before and the day after "the big storm."  We had several tornado touch downs in the KC metro area, but the edge of the storm barely glanced us.  At work, we heard/saw three transformers blow within a 60 second time frame on Friday, while crews tried to restore power.

Brett is here for the weekend again.  I took him to order glasses while Monica picked up her glasses.  She also took the contact class, and came home wearing them.  She is SO happy.  She wore them for 4 hours today.  Tomorrow is 6 hours, Monday is 8, etc.  She can actually wear them to school on Monday, and she's thrilled.  The poor kid has worn glasses since she was 3.

Brett paid for his own glasses, I just provided transportation.  I kind of insisted that he do it.  His broke several months back, and he can't see squat.  I hope they are in by next weekend, so I can take him to pick them up while Monica does her follow-up contact visit.

I hope that nobody else gets the crap that Kevin and Natalie has.  I've had one of those annoying, dry, tickle kind of coughs for 4 days, but it hasn't gotten any worse at all.  It just stays the same, so I think I'll kick it soon.  I don't feel bad in the least.  Thank goodness.

I guess I better wake Brett up.  He's been asleep since 2:00.  Because he works nights, he tries to keep those hours on the weekend, to keep his body regulated.  I woke him earlier and asked if he wanted to eat something.  He had that, "where the hell am I" look on his face, then saw me and said, "no."  Then he fell back to sleep.  Poor guy.

The mother of his baby-on-the-way broke up with him last week.  They just didn't establish the relationship enough before this happened.  He's really down about it.  He's working tons of overtime, anticipating financial help for the baby, so he's doing the right things.  He is staying somewhere that is less than ideal.  If he can get a car in the next few weeks, we'll let him stay here for a couple of months, to get back on his feet.

We even talked about sharing my car, but his hours won't allow it.  He would get home long after I need to be on the way to work in the morning.  We just live too far out for it to work until he has a car.  If he can save for a few weeks, he should be able to get something.  We'll see.

OK, I've rambled for too long, now.  Have a wonderful night!  I'll be here, listening to coughing in stereo.  Sheesh.  The antibiotics better kick in soon, or I'm spending the night at my mothers!  LOL