Monday, April 28, 2008

Dora the Explorer Cake

I decorated Sarah's birthday cake tonight! She asked for a Dora cake!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The Glass Castle



Yesterday I finished reading the book "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. It is a memoir of her life growing up with parents that chose to live as transients, and refused to apply for any assistance, although the family truly needed it.

The shocking part for me was that she was growing up in the 80s just like I was and the fact that she went without food for days, and often had no indoor plumbing. Growing up in a small town, surely kept me sheltered from such lifestyles.

Jeannette Walls is a regular contributor to msnbc.com and has overcome the challenges of her youth!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Wanted.....

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To my friends and family...I wish you enough!

I wish you enough
Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together.

They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy."

They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys
in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

He then began to sob and walked away.

My friends, I wish you enough!

Copyright © Bob Perks

Wednesday, April 9, 2008


Saturday, April 5, 2008

Card made with ribbon!

I was at Michael's Craft Store the other day and saw an idea for making cards with ribbons. I made the card below for my cousin's baby shower! Fun, festive and something new!




Friday, April 4, 2008

A woman's week at the gym

This is dedicated to anyone who has tried to get into a regular exercise routine!


Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

________________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!


________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.

_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other crap too.


_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes.

Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny witch to find me.

Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

_______________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that witch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.

Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?


________________________________
SATURDAY:
Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little poop) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy.

I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Internation Disturbed People Day!

I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occasionally pee on yourself.. You hang in there sunshine, you're special.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.




Life is short, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.


Defining the Pledge of Allegiance

This is the Pledge of Allegiance, defined by Red Skeleton, on video from 1969. Be sure to take the time to listen to what he has to say, at the very end of the video. How did he know what the future would hold?


Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Instructions for Life by Dalai Lama

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE


Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Follow the three res. Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone every day.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Life boils down to TWO choices.....

Should you buy a dog??????

Or have a child?????



Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Baby Noah is coming soon!

pregnancy

I am going to be an "Auntie" again soon! Keep an eye on this ticker to see when my new nephew's due date arrives!!!!

It is a girls day out!!!!!


The diet begins......

Well, the time has finally come that my 5000 plus calorie days have caught up with me and I'm officially on my first diet...well, not really a diet. More like a calorie counting, start exercising, lifestyle change. After the first week I must say I have a new appreciation for anyone that has had to watch their weight since highschool. It is absolutely NO fun! Matt is on board with me (he is my mandatory diet buddy), but he gets to eat 1000 more calories than I do, so basically I eat in a day what he can eat for lunch. Lucky him!

My friend Stephanie in Seattle is also joining me in the adventure!

Results the first week --- Matt lost 8 pounds, I lost 2!

I found a fun calorie website, you register for free and can track your water intake and calories online. The site is http://www.thedailyplate.com/.