Just a couple of notes to myself:

1. Need more bloggy time to myself. Need to answer Heather F's what do I do question,
2. I want to blog about having a kid that's smarter than the rest of her classmates - Jenni F's made me think about that again

OH! and has everyone noticed Heather F's and Chris' new graphics???
posted by... deb at 7:58:03 AM | Link Me!

It's Saturday!!!

Anyone got anything special planned? We have the same old, same old. Yet still, I look forward to Saturdays.

I'm having a whole 1/2 hour to myself right now. Got up and fixed a pot of coffee, turned on the dryer (kids' sweat shirts till damp), and turned on the PC. Did a quick check of the email (new story from Janette waiting for Monday morning) and then started checking blogs. Then I realized, whoops! If I'm gonna blog, I better get moving.

I'll wake up Mark and the kids at 8:00 - and then we will start the day rolling. First on the agenda will be the gym. Well, the gym for Mark and the girls and I will hit Barnes and Noble. Emily's teacher read "The Raven" to the yesterday, and now she is obsessed and wants to read it again - and wanted to know what I thought it was about, and why it says "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore". I told her I don't know - I don't remember. It's been since high school since I've read it! So, while we are there checking out the new additions around Barnes and Noble, we'll find some Egdar Allen Poe....

After the gym, we really have nothing planned. But it's our family day - and that makes it special in itself.

If you couldn't tell, my two entries last night were from the gym. I see that there are typos, but, hey, just remember I'm typing from a touch screen. I just now fixed a closing tag since I had left a header tag on and the rest of the blog turned bold :-)

OH, and if my hand coding worked, I've moved a couple of our Trixie friends down to a section called "Blogs on Haitus" cause, well, they've been on haitus...
posted by... deb at 7:50:43 AM | Link Me!

There has been a great deal of discussions on being "fat" or out of shape. If you have been reading this blog for long, you know about my attempts to stay in shape. Going to the gym is simply part of our lifestyle now. And though I may encourage eeryone to go to a gym or workout in some other way, I also know that until you are ready to it for yourself, you likely won't stick to it.

For us, the decision to join a gym was truly prmpted by Mark's health. He had high blood pressure, was borderline diabetic, and works in a hi stress job where deals with physical challenges, such as fights and foot chases. During the first 10 years of our marraige, he gained and lost the same 100 lbs. Now he's gotten rid of 205 lbs and is determined NOT to go back.

It's different for me. I want to be thin again, but most importantly, I want to be healthy - and to feel good in my own skin. I've been there (last April) and desperately want be back......

What my wish for each of you is this:

Good health, and happiness with yourself...

posted by... deb at 7:21:03 PM | Link Me!

I can't believe I've had so little bloggy time!!! I can tell that my mind misses the "thought gathering". First the Houston trip, then a change in family schedule. I'll be glad for next week, though, when I can go back to the gym in the mornings - not at night. It's one thing to be up here for a class - and a total other thing to do weights & such.
posted by... deb at 7:08:15 PM | Link Me!

Let's see, a couple of quickie things before I hit the shower and start getting ready for work.

1. Check out the Other Side later for all of you fan fic readers. Meagan and Sue each have stories to be loaded today!

2. Katie can tie her shoes!!!! Yep! we are making progress. NOt that they stay tied any longer than mine do (remember I'm a shoe string dork), but she can do it herself!

Catch ya later!
posted by... deb at 5:53:32 AM | Link Me!

It's Friday!

hooray!!! When our family's schedule changes, it always seems to make thw eek sooooo much longer! But it's Friday and I'm so excited! Ok. Gonna grab a cup of coffee and I'll be right back!
posted by... deb at 5:50:36 AM | Link Me!

and Cathy!!! I'm thrilled about the hickey and hope this means less dirty socks ;-)
posted by... deb at 6:32:02 PM | Link Me!

Sue!!! Isn't the graphic bug addictive???
posted by... deb at 6:29:09 PM | Link Me!

I still feel the need for caffeine infusion - and hope it will clear away my headache - I just want to know how you and you are spreading your headache around cross the 'net ;-P

Patti, it's funny that you talk about Fried Green Tomatoes and confuse it with Parenthood a bit. Yes, the quote is from Parenthood - but those are two of my very favorite movies. In fact, I'm reading the book "Fried Green Tomatoes and the Whistle Stop Cafe" as someone told me the book was really great.

Parenthood is full of all kinds of great stuff - my kids love it as much as I do, and I find myself remembering bits and pieces of things - and scenes. Of course, my favorite scene is the dinner scene with the "Electric Ear Cleaner". And Jenni and I discussed some of the characters in relation to our families last week - but the Grandma is one of my favorites in the movie.

"I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it."

I DO like the roller coaster - who the hell really wants to live on the Merry Go Round? But, like you, I would have to say that the roller coaster gets a bit tiring - and sometimes, don't you just want a break from this whole group or rides called "life". I sometimes long for complete quiet and inactivity, but I don't think it ever comes....

Now, darlin, no matter how uninteresting you think you are, I'm so glad you are keeping up with your blog. It helps me know what is going on in your life. With the wedding and such, I'm afraid I might miss something :-) I think it's important for friends to keep in touch - and in this day and age of the internet and electronic media, why, blogs are sometimes just perfectly perfect.

Actually, to go back to some movie quotes, Ninny Threadgoode said "I found out what the secret to life is: friends...." I'm so thankful to have good friends, you gals are ALWAYS there for me, and I appreciate it more than you could ever know. (I'm not trying to exclude anyone! I just can't add all the links in!!)

Well, my time stamps are off a bit - know that sometimes I start, but then don't finish editing, etc.

Shana - have fun tonight - I want to hear ALL about it! Tina - you crack me up, woman "Olga with a whip"

can someone please remind me to blog about the vitamin thing, exercise and diets, and some questions I have for single folks about life??

Have a good day and evening everyone

posted by... deb at 6:53:33 AM | Link Me!

hmmmm...one cup didn't help much. Maybe I need a 2nd.....
posted by... deb at 6:22:27 AM | Link Me!

uuuuggg. I need coffee. One of those really restless nights....

Be back after coffee...
posted by... deb at 6:12:21 AM | Link Me!

OK. I just helped Emily finish a poster on Annie Oakley. Not that I KNEW about the poster needed until almost 9 PM. Nope. We had the report done, but after re-reading through the paper to turn in with the report, it mentions a project. Whole separate grade. oh, man! So, Em drew, I surfed and then printed. Mark went and found rope and then punched a hole in a playing card. No glue, so we used TAPE. But - hip hip hooray! It's done!!

Nighty night, all!
posted by... deb at 10:04:24 PM | Link Me!

OK. Shana, shana, shana!!!! Hooray on the gym!!!!

I'll try to blog more tonight, but wanted to say "hey" and "HOORAY!!"
posted by... deb at 6:44:36 PM | Link Me!

aaaaarrrrrrgggggg! I have to say that the world is filled with assholes. like the guy who moved my things off of a bike and took it. where are people's common courtesey???
posted by... deb at 6:42:48 PM | Link Me!

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! My morning time passes so quickly! I've hit the boards, but sadly haven't even hit my e-mail. If you have e-mailed me, I plan on staying in at lunch again today - I'll get back to you then, I PROMISE!!!

Let's see....

Last night I ran into a girl I used to work with at the gym. I know she has a membership - we email occassionaly - but I had never run into her until last night. Introduced her to Jeff and Jeff has promised to try and work her in or else refer her to Joel.

See, there are only a few trainers I would work out with. I've become friends with quite a few of them, but to be honest, I just wouldn't train with most. Besides Jeff (despite our problems a couple of months ago), I would work out with Joel, Daniel and maybe Jason. But that's about it. The rest of them, while nice, just don't seem to "have" what these guys do. And all four of these guys are laid-back kind of guys - and they all have a sense of humor. When you are doing something as personal as training (yes, they touch you) and discussing the topics you do with 'em, I think a sense of humor is a great plus.

So, Mark and I did cycle class last night. There was a sub - not my favorite teacher, but a really nice lady. I like her kick-boxing class - and the class was OK. Not kick-ass, but OK :-) The girls had taco bell - and Mark went ahead upstairs to do his weights. Then the class. Then rush home, get the girls in the shower. They had to have a snack. Emily read while she was snacking - Secret of the Old Clock!!! Not a Trixie, but at least a Nancy Drew! Then Mark and I got showers and hit the hay.....

I've GOT to go wake him up and will be back.

Have a great day everyone!!!

And happy Birthday to Sandra!!!
posted by... deb at 6:00:54 AM | Link Me!

WTF????!!!!???) I found this via Silver and couldn't quite believe it. I don't know what is weirder (is that a word?) to me. That someone would sell that, or that someone would actually BUY IT!!!
posted by... deb at 5:49:43 AM | Link Me!

Lunch Time Bloggy-ness

Mark is at a school the rest of this week, so I am staying in at lunch and surfing.

I love to see how some people find my blog. Today, the oddest hit came from someone searching for "fucking chocolate chip cookies without oatmeal" I was about 10th on the list. I always hit the "cache" thing when something comes off of google. Someone also searched for, and found me by looking up "38 DD" and the word "Sometimes" and "Erotica Family Reunion" and "poup killer"

BUT THEN, look at some of the ways people find my web site!! What the fuck? Brittany Spears Naked Pictures

And a bloggy hint to those folks putting in links: don't forget to put in the "http" portion of the address you are linking to. without that, it will refer back to your site. I played link fairy and fixed some links for somebody. shhhh!

And, Shana, YES, I DID blog about the Kiersey Temperment Survey serveral months back - back in October. I have LONG been a believer in the results of this - remember LAST YEAR - or actually, closer to about 2 years ago? I had thought it would be fun to characterize the Bob-White's by type? No one really wanted to play, then. Just for the record, I am an ENTJ as is MARK.

CHRIS!!!!

big ole hugs. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Laura, hmmm....I don't usually see anyone BUT myself dancing and singing in the car.... but I'm glad to know I'm not the ONLY one who does that. The girls usually sing along, too. And don't forget to subscribe to the International Male catalog :-)

Misty, Misty, Misty. Why do you think I keep Shout Wipes in my desk? I have similar problems - I'm 32 and still can't seem to eat without dripping on myself....

Ok. Lunch time is gone. I gotta get back to work - but don't expect much from me til LATER as in likely tomorrow morning. Mark is home tonight and we are going to cycle class :-)
posted by... deb at 12:44:25 PM | Link Me!

Happy Tuesday!!

I'm having a nice cup of coffee in my favorite mug (Beauty and the Beast mug that I got at Starbucks). Does anyone else have a favorite cup or glass they use? I know it seems strange, and I AM willing to branch out occassionally. But this mug IS my favorite.

For those of you Hobbit lovers (anyone else besides Shana?) Em said that the Hobbit was just "ok". She isn't really interested in me buy The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hmmm...is she still a bit young (emotional wise) to get it? That IS the hardest part about finding books for her. Intellectually she is about 16 or 17, but emotionally she's her own age - 9. It's a constant struggle.

Well, I need to go wake up Mark for school and get the family going. Hopefully I can blog a bit more before I head to work. Otherwise have a great day everyone!
posted by... deb at 6:11:35 AM | Link Me!

Huge Bloggy Catch-up!

OK. It's going to seem as if I'm publishing tons of things tonight, but I've been lazy and have been using "blog this" instead of running two or three windows at a time to crib my links. If I've missed you, SORRY! Don't mean to slight you. Just missed going back to your blog and grabbing the code. Man, you gals can talk! I feel like I've missed weeks and weeks and weeks instead of just a few days!!! I haven't EVEN hit my other blogs, well, 'cept Patti and Kitty.
posted by... deb at 9:14:39 PM | Link Me!

Danielle! A snow day? Cool! And I never would have guessed you had lost 40 pounds! What I've seen of your pictures, you always look so thin! And I really do understand the poor body image thing. it's difficult sometimes to really like yourself completely. But we can all strive for it :-)

Glad you are getting to take a last minute trip to visit your friend. I hope you have a good trip! we'll miss you!
posted by... deb at 9:10:06 PM | Link Me!

Really nice, Sue! those are pretty graphics - looks so springy to me! I'm partial to that silvery color - with those burgandy-ish accents. Isn't odd? There are so many sites out there, but sometimes nothing speaks to you. It's cool you are finding things that speak to YOU!

Ahhh! Wal-Mart. Yep, I go in there for one thing and come out with 10. So, it's not just you! And thanks for the welcome home!!
posted by... deb at 9:06:59 PM | Link Me!

Ahhhh, thanks for missing me and for the welcome back. What impressed you with what I had to do? I mean, what I posted about this morning is what needed to be done today, not just this week ;-p

And I was rolling on the floor when I "sang along" with you (see I'm behind). I do that, too. Sing in my head and under my breath. But in the car? I sing at the TOP of my lungs! I also do the head bop / shoulder shake kind of thing in the car sometimes....

OH! speaking of songs in the car. Listenened to "Bewitched" today - C'est La Vie - and thought of YOU of course. And "Big Jim".
posted by... deb at 9:02:39 PM | Link Me!

LOLOL on the conversation between you and Ralph I think Mark would agree with Ralph - and to top it off, not only do I PMS, but I think Em is beginning to get some tricklings of hormones, so she's a tad "touchy" at times, too. I've told him he has some great things to look forward to about 5 or 6 years from now. Em will be 14, Katie 10 and me 37 - and we will ALL have some sort of hormonal thing going :-)

And I hope you got your hard drive all backed up. Don't want to not get to read the stuff you've been working on!!!
posted by... deb at 8:48:37 PM | Link Me!

ahhhh, THANKS, Karen! I'm glad you like the graphics I chose for both. I seem like such a glutton for Kitty's stuff. She is just incredible. And when I saw these newest ones, well, I melted. I wanted something more Valentiney - Likely I'll keep them through the end of the month - but, like you, I change things around when the need hits :-) I like the pansies you have loaded right now, but wasn't there hearts when I first got back from Houston?

as far as the Other Side Graphics, well, Moyra was one of the very first offering linkware that I know of. I've looked at those graphics on and off for the past year and a half - and felt February was a good time for them ;-)

Ahhh, and I see you are commenting on Shana's diet question. I have very strong opinions about the dieting thing. First of all, it's hard. Once you lose weight, the biggest fear is putting it back on. I really think that is part of what drives Mark so hard on working out. He's afraid he will put his weight back on.

Secondly, if you can't find a diet you can stick to, then it's a waste of time and effort. Who wants to go through life miserable?

Hmmm... alittle more bloggy reading to go, then you guys can expect a long opinion from moi about dieting and weight loss and such....
posted by... deb at 8:44:26 PM | Link Me!

I for one would love to read a piece of useless knowledge daily :-) Hmmm....and about the links. Do you have "blog this" installed on your PC? I'm making my posts tonight using blog this.

To Install the "Blog This" feature

Go to your blog. Click on the settings and scroll to the very bottom. click on the option to install "right click blog this".

what happens is it will install a little applet thingy so that you can surf, be on a web page, and right click. It pulls in the url of where you are - and then gives you space to type around it.....
posted by... deb at 8:34:05 PM | Link Me!

Wedding Progress!!! Does it feel like it's flying to the date? It seems like just yesterday you announced it - and now, it's only a few months away. And I'm sure the marriage prep class will be fine :-)
posted by... deb at 8:28:23 PM | Link Me!

Ahhhh! I love ya, Sandra!! I'm sooooo glad you started blogging!! I loved helping your get all of it set up - this way, I can better keep up with what's going on in your life!!
posted by... deb at 8:23:44 PM | Link Me!

Heather! Just got caught up on your blog! Thanks for the welcome back! As far as typo's, hey, these are PERSONAL journals. No one said they had to be perfect :-)

I think it's cool that the school is looking at laptops for the teachers. That really is smart.

And, I look forward to you getting graphics. Didn't ya have some in mind??? *g*
posted by... deb at 7:08:29 PM | Link Me!

Yep - graphical changes. what do ya think?
posted by... deb at 6:05:42 AM | Link Me!

Hidey, Ho, all! Monday, Monday.....

I feel as if my "cup is runnething over". Yep. Been a busy week last week - and this week looks to be the same. I can already feel my mind racing. I want the procedures manual to go LIVE today but I need to UPLOAD to do that!!!! And wanna know something sad? I DREAMED about the whole ISO thing last night. Manuals, updates, matrixes (or is it matricees?)

And I desperately need to update The Other Side - see - there were 2 stories in my in-box when I got home and checked mail on Friday morning, and now there are 2 more new stories just waiting there. AND it's February and I need to update the Classics and change the graphics....well, got started on the ole graphic change on Friday, 'cause that's just so soothing to my little soul...

::::sigh:::::

There will have to just be a compromise. Stories from last week to post today. Stories from this weekend to post tomorrow.

Now, some quickie notes about my schedule this week. Mark is in school Tuesday through Friday, which means no early morning gym visits for me, as I will be taking both kids to school. And hitting the gym at night.

I actually did some bloggy reading at the gym yesterday.

I first hit Miss Shana, and honey, I'm so sorry, but I do have to admit I was giggling a bit as I read - putting myself into your shoes. Mark came by why I was reading, and I read some to him: he wants to know how cold is too cold for Chris to go out and grill? And another thing: new rules to make your life easier. You cook, he cleans. That's how it is in our house. but big ((((hugs)))) to you, 'kay?

And thanks to everyone who welcomed me back!!!! I really did miss you guys, you are just lucky I don't know everyone's phone number or there would have been more quarters dropped in the payphone :-)

OK. gotta take a quickie shower, then more notes on my bloggy readings....

posted by... deb at 6:05:06 AM | Link Me!

Let's see, plans for today:

1. Office. Do changes on the Quality Manual and Upload some changes to the procedures manual. 1/2 done. Got the Quality Manual draft done, but cannot send it to my boss to approve, 'cause I can't get it loaded. Same on the procedures manual. Damn it, there are things I need to do and this is greatly impeding me!!!!

2. Store. Yep, forgot stuff yesterday, including Splenda. Girls and I will be heading that way soon.

3. Gym. Once Mark gets home, we will head to the gym. Weight day!!!

Otherwise, nothing major planned. Hope you all have a great Sunday. Hopefully I will have some time to catch up on the bloggy reading at the gym, I'm so far behind now I don't know if I'll EVER catch up with what happened while I was gone!!
posted by... deb at 10:38:15 AM | Link Me!

OK. frustration. I came into work to do some uploads on the procedures manual and I can't get in. Have had this problem since Friday, but our net provider still hasn't fixed it. I'm off the clock now, but had to vent my frustration.

posted by... deb at 10:32:27 AM | Link Me!