Wordless Wednesday - Rock on, dudes!

Their futures are so bright, I gotta wear shades!

I'm skipping Ten on Tuesday for this week - because I really have no superstitions or personality quirks. I'm really quite normal - EVERYONE puts on their right shoe before their left shoe, right? And EVERYONE uses their right foot first when going up or down stairs, right? I'm just a regular gal. Just ask D... she'll tell you. Right D...? Besides, I did so many memes last week that it just seemed like it was all about ME ME ME. Well, it IS all about me, but for today, I'm going to shift the focus to someone else. My fabulous children.

I'll start with Daughter. The writer. The actress (she earned 4 Superior and 1 Excellent rating at the last Drama Festival, earning her another Five Star Trophy). And now, the National Junior Honor Society Member. She'll be inducted Monday night. We are so proud.

Little Son is doing fantastic as well. After a one-on-one interview with the 6th Grade Band Director, he is going to be playing the trombone in the school band next year! We've already reserved one and it will be waiting for him in the band hall on the first day of school. He'll be attending the same school Daughter attends now - it's a magnet school for gifted and talented students. He exhibits the "gifted" at school all the time. The "talented"? Well, over the weekend he taught himself to juggle. He can juggle two balls with one hand, or three balls with two hands. We are so proud.

So Daughter's academic and literary skills will probably lead her to a career as an author, or perhaps a teacher. Little Son's trombone and juggling skills will lead him to.......um......the circus?

Like I said. SO proud.

Camera Critters #3

A meerkat at the Houston Zoo - isn't she cute?!?

The Perfect Date

Stan Fields: Miss Rhode Island, please describe your idea of a perfect date.
Cheryl "Rhode Island": That's a tough one. I would have to say April 25th. Because it's not too hot, not too cold, and all you need is a light jacket.
- Miss Congeniality, 2000

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BFF D... - I LOVE YOU LIKE CRAZY, GIRL!

I made you a cake:

And I bought you a puppy:

Have the best day EVER! See you tonight!

Friday's Feast #41

Appetizer
Name something you would categorize as weird.
the Yearning for Zion polygamist cult that was just raided in West Texas

Soup
What color was the last piece of food you ate?
brown (It was a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!)

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?
8 - I enjoy time to myself, but not ALL the time.

Main Course
Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.
I will NOT vote for HILLARY in NOVEMBER.

Dessert
Describe your sleeping habits.
Pretty wacky; I stay up late, get up early (not by choice!), and take a nap during the day (most days, but not all).

MP3 Shuffle Meme

**Scroll down for an update on Bubba's Mom**

As much as I love music and my mp3 player, I just had to get in on this meme! I found it over at Julie's blog - ilovegoaliesplits. If you want to play along, be sure to leave me a comment so I can come by and read yours! I love to see what kinds of music people listen to!

SONG 1: "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" by Brad Paisley

What comes to mind when you hear this song? my brother in law!! HA!

Rate the singers looks out of 10? 10 - he's a cutie!

What year was it released? 2002

SONG 2: "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by The Georgia Satellites

Best instrument in the song? electric guitar

Third line? "But each time we talk I get the same old thing...."

Genre? Southern Rock

SONG 3: "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi (for you, Stacey!)

Would it be good live? Oh, it was!!!!!!!!!

What's the name of the album? Slippery When Wet

Last word: name

SONG 4: "White Wedding" by Billy Idol

Spell it without vowels: Wht Wddng

Write the opposite of each word in the title: Black Funeral

What sort of event would you play this song at? a party

SONG 5: "She's No Lady" by Lyle Lovett

Is this song heavy or soft? soft

Have you seen the artist live? no

How many times have you played this? no idea!

SONG 6: "Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban

Is it a well known artist? yes

How many songs do you have by them? 5 on the mp3 player

How long does it go for? 4:19

SONG 7: "The Nearness of You" by Norah Jones

Remind you of anything? it reminds me of someone special to me

How would you dance to this? slowly

Did you buy it or download it? bought it

SONG 8: "Winner at a Losing Game" by Rascal Flatts

Name the song something different: "You'll Never Love Me Like I Love You"

Does it use a riff or a chord progression? Umm....what?

Rate the album out of 10: I don't have the album, but I bet it's good!

SONG 9: "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day

How did you learn about this song? can't remember, but probably D...

Are there any meaning to the lyrics? From Wikipedia: In this melancholy ballad, Armstrong revisits his painful childhood and thinks about the day he lost his innocence when his father died. Like many faced with such a traumatic event, he never truly recovered, and he can't believe that twenty years have passed since that September day. As Armstrong associates pain with the month September, he would rather not deal with anything related to the month, prompting him to sing, "As my memory rests, but never forgets what I lost... Wake me up when September ends..."

Describe the video: I've never seen the video, but it was nominated for Best Rock Video at the 2006 MTV Music Awards.

SONG 10: "Wrapped Up In You" by Garth Brooks

Seen any DVDs of the artist? many

Favourite song by him? "To Make You Feel My Love"

Any explicit lyrics? NO!

SONG 11: "Higher" by Creed

What would your best friend think of you listening to this song? she'd love it!

Your mum? she'd think it was noise

Favourite line? "At sunrise I fight to stay asleep, 'Cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place."

SONG 12: "I Think I Love You" by David Cassidy

It comes on the radio, what do you do? turn it up and sing!

Favourite part of the song? "I THINK I LOVE YOU!"

Mood it puts you in? happy

SONG 13: "It Aint' Me Babe" by Johnny Cash and June Carter

Does it suit the number 13? not particularly

What would you say to the artist if they were here right now? "I think you are one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Cash."

When would you listen to this song? anytime

SONG 14: "Who Knew" by Pink

If you could listen to one more song, would it be this? probably not

What artist should cover it? I'd like to see David Cook do this on American Idol.

What do you think of when you hear the name of it? That we never know what's going to happen in the future.

SONG 15: "The Cowboy In Me" by Tim McGraw

Best part? The whole song is good!

Best lyric? "We ride and never worry about the fall, I guess that's just the cowboy in us all."

Worst lyric? All the lyrics are good!

SONG 16: "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns

How many times could you listen to it without getting sick of it? over and over

Spell the artist backwards: Snworc Gnitsac

How much would you pay to see it live? Not sure.....but I would pay to see it live if it wasn't unreasonable.

SONG 17: "Renegade" by Styx

First word? Oh

Last word? man

Put both in a sentence: Oh, what a handsome man!

SONG 18: "Teenage Wasteland" by The Who

What does this song make you think about? the TV show CSI:NY (it's their theme song)

Remind you of any friends? no

What genre best defines the artist? Rock

SONG 19: "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks (odd - I just mentioned that above)

Buy or download? bought - I own the Hope Floats album

What's one thing that could be improved? nothing - this song is beautiful and perfect

What decade was the artist in their prime? 90's

SONG 20: "Friday I'm In Love" by The Cure

What part of the song stands out?

How much do you love the artist? I wouldn't say I LOVE them but they have some good songs.

Has anyone in the band died? no

Wow! That was fun! Everyone should do this one!

Update

Thank you to everyone who has asked about Bubba's Mom and how she is doing - I am happy to say she is doing GREAT! The second surgery did the trick - she is CANCER FREE once again! She starts 5 weeks of radiation treatments next week, so keep her in your prayers. But it's all downhill from here - she's beat it again, by golly! What a woman!

Wordless Wednesday - Angelic

Ten Things I Love About My Life

I missed Ten on Tuesday last week, being at Bon Jovi and all......but I'm back! Here are Ten Things I Love About My Life:

1. I have a wonderful husband who works hard for his family and loves me and the kids more than life itself.
2. I have smart, beautiful children that amaze me every day.
3. I am close to my family; they mean the world to me.
4. I have the best BFF in the world who loves me for who I am.
5. I have always been able to be home with my kids.
6. The little job I do have now is flexible - I pretty much go in when I want and leave when I want.
7. I get to go to Disney World at least once a year.
8. I get time to myself to do what I want to do, or just do nothing.
9. I don't have to watch my weight.
10. As great as life here is, I know that my life in Heaven for eternity will be oh so much better than this!!

Monday Memememe

Yep, you read that right.......I've been tagged for TWO memes by Stacey over at Jamee Forever! That makes this a memememe post!

Meme #1

Here are The Rules...
1) Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2) Open the book to page 123.
3) Find the 5th sentence.
4) Post it and the next 3 sentences.
5) Tag 5 people.

"Did He bellow a word that incited mountains to rise out of nothing? Did He speak with a smile when He told the hummingbirds to 'be'? Did one long roll of His laughing words spill daffodils across a meadow? So much to wonder about."

From Take Flight! A Sisterchicks' Devotional by Robin Jones Gunn & Cindy Hannan

Meme # 2

The Rules:
1) Link whom you tagged and list these rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving a comment on their blog. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 facts about Bubba's Sis:

1. I have 742 songs on my mp3 player.
2. I hate to cook.
3. I secretly want a tattoo.
4. I weighed 90 pounds when I got married. Two children later I weigh 100 pounds.
5. I do not pluck, tweeze, or wax my eyebrows - they are completely au natural.
6. I once danced with a professional ballet company.
7. I live 4 minutes away from the home I grew up in.

Now I'm supposed to tag a bunch of people, but everyone I know has already done these, so if you want to play along, go ahead! Leave me a comment and I'll come by and check it out!

Camera Critters #2

Hey there, Delilah. She's the other critter that lives at my house - she adopted us when we moved in here last year. I've never been much of a cat person, but she sure is a sweetie!

Would YOU want to know?

Bubba's Mom's oncologist is trying to arrange for her to have the test to determine if she has the breast cancer gene mutation. Heredity accounts for about 10% of all breast cancers, and abnormal BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes explain a large number of these cancers. Bubba's Mom is the only one in her family lineage (that she knows of) to have breast cancer, but since she was originally diagnosed at a young age (37) and has now had it three times, it is worth testing to know if she does have that gene mutation. It is an expensive test - about $3000 - but her doctor is trying to have her tested as a case study so there will be no cost to her.

If it turns out that Bubba's Mom DOES have the gene mutation, then there is a 50% chance that I have it, too. If I have it, there is up to an 85% chance that I will develop breast cancer before I am 70. It also means that I could pass it on to my daughter.

There are a lot of opinions on this matter, and I already know how I feel about it. My question to you is: Would you want to know if you had the breast cancer gene mutation?

Friday's Feast #40

Appetizer
Name a color you find soothing.
blue

Soup
Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.
I failed my first driver's test and was mortified. I was too nervous and made silly mistakes.

Salad
What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?
denim

Main Course
Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see?
Without a doubt, BON JOVI!

Dessert
What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last,
etc.)?
R

Have you ever....???

I borrowed, well, copied, this from Valtool, who copied it from Stacey at Exceedingly Mundane this afternoon. Feel free to do the same and let us all know so we can come read yours...

Have you ever…

(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped School
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke ….
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only?
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t?
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose - or other places!
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors

Priceless

Concert ticket: $50

Gas: $95

Hotel room: $95

Dinner: $16

Parking: $20

Concert T-shirts (2): $80

Seeing Chris Daughtry and Bon Jovi in Dallas with my BFF............


Beyond Priceless.

Best. Time. Ever.

Camera Critters Premiere!

My good bloggy friend Misty Dawn has started a new meme called Camera Critters! All you have to do each Sunday is post a photo that you have taken of an animal - any animal! I'm starting it off with a photo of my FAVORITE animal - my baby, Jax.

A New Addiction

No feasting today, but I've found something else to keep me busy:

Sporcle Games

Go ahead. Try it. You'll be addicted, too.

What's in a name?

PAK Dictionary of Names

You gotta check this out - go to the website and type in your first name; you'll get an amazingly accurate personality profile! Here's mine:

Your name creates a very sensitive, inspirational, and idealistic nature. You have an appreciation for all the fine and beautiful things in life, and could excel in music, art, drama, or literary undertakings, where you could find an expression for your deeper feelings that you would not find otherwise. As a result of your love of the out-of-doors, you would experience the most peace and harmony out in the quiet of nature. Your sensitive nature causes you to lack self-confidence, and to withdraw from arguments or turmoil, as any discord reflects quickly through your nervous system. You cannot stand pressure and desire to work where there is no confusion. This name restricts proper verbal expression; as a result, you are often lonely, craving understanding of others. Yours is a very deep, reflective nature, but others would never know it as you keep your deeper feelings within. Tension resulting from the use of this name would affect the heart, lungs, and respiratory organs, or the nervous system.

I did other people I know and theirs was eerily accurate, too. How accurate is yours??

Wordless Wednesday - Pooped

Brain Fart

I remembered to call in the refill I needed on my prescription.

I remembered to get everything we needed at the grocery store.

I remembered to pay the bills.

I remembered to schedule a repairman to look at my non-working oven.

I remembered to actually be here when the repairman showed up.

I remembered to program the DVR to record Hubby's TV shows he likes to watch.

I remembered to write the article I promised to a local magazine (which included interviewing an event planner who, to the tune of $1000, will throw a lovely birthday party for your little girl!).

I remembered to get something out for dinner tonight - and to make it!

I remembered to water the yard.

I remembered to feed the dog.

I remembered to feed the cat.

I remembered to sign the kids' report cards.

I remembered to drop off the dry cleaning.

I remembered to put gas in my van.

I forgot to pick up the prescription.

So I probably won't be sleeping tonight.

SIGH.

Ten Favorite Actors/Actresses

For your viewing pleasure, I included pictures with my Ten on Tuesday list for this week - enjoy! Here are my Ten Favorite Actors/Actresses:

1. Matthew McConaughy (or is that McCon-A-Hottie?)






2. Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow - 'nuff said.)





3. Reese Witherspoon (I loved her in Sweet Home Alabama and Walk the Line)





4. George Clooney (Loved him on the small screen, love him on the big screen.)





5. Dennis Quaid (Did anyone see him in The Big Easy? He can call me "cher" anytime! Hubba hubba!)





6. Ashley Judd (She was awesome in Double Jeopardy. And isn't she adorable?)





7. Hugh Grant (He's got so many good movies I love!)





8. Owen Wilson (I think he's hilarious!)





9. Gwyneth Paltrow (She was BEAUTIFUL in Shakespeare In Love!)





10. Kevin Costner (He's in three of the greatest baseball movies ever - Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and For the Love of the Game.)
    

War is Hell

That's the title of Bubba's Mom's post on her blog today - a day that her Giant Quilt of Love isn't keeping the chill of cancer out so well. Go by and give her some lovin' if you have time.....

Redneck Woman

Spent the whole day outside in the gorgeous weather today!

Babies Having Babies

There was a sad and disturbing story in the local news this week about a 14-year-old girl who gave birth to a "near full-term baby" in the bathroom at her junior high school, then killed the baby when she tried to flush him down the toilet. The baby boy was born alive; apparently some other students heard him crying and ran to get help. By the time teachers and the school nurse arrived, it was too late. It is a truly tragic story, and I'm sure things like this happen all too often in society today. But there are a few things that I just don't get:

• No one knew this girl was pregnant, even her parents. How on earth can a 14-year-old girl be pregnant - apparently pretty far along - and NO ONE notice??? Now she is saying that she did not know she was pregnant, but I just don't believe that. You can't have a baby living inside of you and not know it.
• How could she go into the bathroom at school and just give birth? I've had babies, and it's not an easy-breezy process, let me tell you. How could no one hear her? How did she know what to do?
• Did she really think she could just flush the baby down the toilet and....what? Go back to class? Pretend nothing happened?

My daughter is 14. I can not even imagine. Has our society made sex so acceptable that even children that young think it's OK? I'm not trying to be judgemental, but 14-year-olds getting pregnant is a problem. If you were a pregnant teen, or have a pregnant teen, I'm sorry if this offends you. But likely you aren't happy about the situation yourself. And I certainly hope anyone in this situation would handle it better than this girl did. Because that was a life - God's creation - killed because his mommy was still a baby herself and didn't have the sense to do the right thing. And now she could be facing murder charges. Tragic, indeed.

Hawaii Chair

Found this over at Jenny On the Spot. Prepare to laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh. Who doesn't want to stay in shape while they're sitting down??



I gotta get one of these.....

Friday's Feast #39

Appetizer
Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.
It would be a big ol' garish flower with bawdy colors and it would be called the Blooming Idiot.

Soup
Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.

Katie Lady has a beautiful voice!

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?

6 or 7 - it's not filthy, but it's not squeaky-clean either.

Main Course
How do you feel about poetry?
I have written poetry all my life - it is a beautiful art form, and a great way to express your feelings and emotions while exercising your creativity at the same time!

Dessert
What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?
See that Wordless Wednesday picture down there? That would be it! I didn't pose him at all - just found him sleeping that way.

A Giant Quilt of Love

Tomorrow Bubba's Mom goes in for her second breast cancer surgery in two weeks - after her surgery on Good Friday, the pathology did not show clean margins, so the surgeon is going back in tomorrow to take out more tissue. This is her third fight with breast cancer - it is a scary disease that not only has physical ramifications, but also plays mind games that can make one an emotional wreck. When Bubba's Mom got the news this week that there was still cancer in there and more surgery needed, she was rightfully scared and upset. The word quickly went out amongst all our friends and family (don't you love e-mail??); and the love started pouring in. People called, e-mailed, even came by to see her to say they love her and are praying for her. All week there has been a constant flow of caring thru her house and into her heart. She told me tonight, "I feel like I've been wrapped up in a giant quilt of love!" What an awesome feeling! She can go into that surgery tomorrow morning with peace, knowing that there are so many people praying for her and thinking of her, and that Jesus is holding her in the palm of His hand. And the surgeon will get ALL that cancer out this time, and she will be a three-time champion in beating this damn disease! Go Mama! I love you!

Wordless Wednesday - "I miss my sister."

Ten Things I'd Fix In My Home (If I Had the Time and Money)

I have only lived in my home for 7 months, and I absolutely love it. But, as with any pre-owned home, there are a few little things that need fixing, or that I would like updated. Here's my Ten on Tuesday list for this week - Ten Things I'd Fix In My Home (If I Had the Time and Money):

1. new carpet
2. new oven and microwave
3. paint the kids' bathroom
4. replace my sliding glass patio door with French doors
5. my office has French doors off the master bedroom, but also has a regular door into the hall - I would like to wall in that hall door so the room is only accessible from my bedroom
6. fix the small leak in the roof over my bathroom (we have a bucket up in the attic catching drips!)
7. fix up my back patio - maybe with a nice deck and lighting and nice outdoor furniture
8. remodel/reorganize the master closet
9. new toilets
10. repair the two zones of the sprinkler system that don't work quite right so ALL the lawn gets watered!