Photography - A lesson in blur

Good Morning Sunshine

After two weeks of seeing nothing but cloudy icons on my Weatherbug, a brilliant, bright sun has appeared. But with that sunny icon came a fire warning. Apparently all the rain has done little good for us. Wait, did I say rain? We got maybe 3 days of periodic rain for all those stormy icons that were on Weatherbug and on the weather channel.

In the meantime, Pan and I have to decide whether or not we will be going to see "Up" with the Bomb and kids tonight. I have spent more time in a theater this last month than I have in the last 20 years.

When Pan & I got married we use to go to a local dinner theater where pizza and beer were served at darling little round tables set at varying levels, while you watched the movie. The last one we went to see was "Saving Private Ryan" and that was just after Nuke left for boot and just before Scamp left for boot.

We just passed the building a week or so ago and I wonder if they still have the theater and cafe. It might be nice to try it out again one day.

And how appropriate... I wrote the post before uploading the page. Had no clue this was next in the queue, but it turned up at the right time. :)

Ethan (c)Carena's Designs; template by Becky Higgins; Fonts: Pea Summer Funkyness, Arial Unicode

Yet Again

I can't believe that I forgot to blog this morning. But in a way, maybe it was good that I did.

Pan had to work this morning which left Indy and I to entertain ourselves. Then when Pan got back he had to meet the Boat/RV lot chairman to see where they could put the dumpster for the work on the pool. By the time he got home he asked if we would like to go to Chili's for dinner. Who can give up a chance for dinner out. Pan had his usual chicken crispers while Indy went for the grilled cheese sandwich. I tried out the carne asada steak and a salad, which Indy decided to help me out with. Both he and I decided that it was pretty spicy. Even I was dipping it in ketchup to cool it down some. Still it was good and cooked just the way I like it.

While we were eating Pan suggested that we go see the Star Trek movie again as he had read that tribbles appear in it and we missed them the first two times around. Yep, there is indeed a tribble complete with it's trill. I really like this movie.

Pomme d'amour & Word art (c)Dani Alencar

Half a week of prompts

Wed May 27 Blog Prompt: Today is National Grape Popsicle Day and tell me about your favorite Popsicle or ice cream treat as a child.

Popsicles and fudgsicles,yum. What a wonderful summer day treat. And they tasted delicious after a couple of hours of hard play. I don't know that I really had a favorite. They were all pretty good when you are hot and sweaty.

Thur May 28 Blog Prompt: Today is National Hamburger Day. Tell me how you like your hamburgers and if you have a favorite restaurant burger, tell me about it and I would love to see a picture of it.

I was looking for a picture of Pan's tiki burgers but of all the boat and dock party pictures I have, not one is of his famous tiki burgers. People would head to the boat after work just to savor one of these. Thick and juicy with just the right amount and blend of cajun seasonings, made with ground round. They were so huge one would fill you up for an evening. Oh he makes them at home too, but there is something about the salt air that just increases the flavor (could have something to do with the beers too, LOL).

Fri May 29 Blog Prompt: It's the beginning of summer time for most of us. I would love to hear what your favorite things you love to do in the summer and if you have special plans.

Week after next the Princess will be taking Aquatic Camp with Indy and I participating in the Mommy and Me Aquatic Camp. Which means this week I have to get them water shoes, snorkels and masks. Oh goodness I have so much to do and need to start making a list.

At the end of July, the Bomb and kids will be moving to North Carolina so I guess I will be pretty depressed for a while. But then at the end of August I am suppose to drive up to Missouri with a friend for long weekend to meet her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

It looks like it may be pretty busy summer after all.

Pick Your Pixel kit ©Mariella Carugati

Report

Just an update. I have been sick with a terrible sore throat and started on antibiotics on Tuesday. I'll try to catch up with all the prompts this weekend. :)

Arthur (c)Carena's Designs; Template by Christy Skaggs; Font: 3rd Man

What an accomplishment

Blog Prompt - Today is Sally Ride's birthday, the first American woman in space. Can you tell me what your greatest achievement is you have accomplished as a woman.

Well, first and foremost would be giving birth to three beautiful children. But I also managed to work as a legal assistant and for a newspaper and still keep my morals and values intact. May not seem like a lot to some, but it means a lot to me. :)

Boy Zone (c)Carena's Designs; Fonts: 3rd Man, Baby Boston

Memorial Day

Blog Prompt - Today is Memorial Day. A day of remembrance, being with friends and family and the beginning of summer. Tell me what Memorial Day means to you.

Below is a repost of some of those layouts of my dad and sons which I think shows what Memorial Day means to me.

Stock photo of Thunderbirds courtesy of Morgue Files; Lyrics courtesy of Jeff Silbar; Font: Arial

Papers and elements ©2006 Valeri Brumfield; Fonts: Jester, Zamyatin

African Safari Page Kit (c)Lauren Bavin; font: Primitive

Busy week

I think I ought to have Pan start writing one post a week for my blog... A guest blogger if you will. What do you think?

He can tell some interesting story's when he is in the mood. Now all I have to do is convince him to be in the mood more often.

This has been a busy week. First with Indy's party at the zoo last Saturday. Then taking Pan's parents and my mom and sister to see the new Star Trek movie.

The rest of the week just seemed to blur by, then Friday we met up with Pan's sister and brother-in-law at a mid-way restaurant for us.

Yesterday was spent listening to the rain fall and getting ready for the Princess' ballet recital. She was gorgeous as always. It was a last minute thing since we weren't told about it until this week. At least what day it was going to be held on.

That meant that the Bomb couldn't go. Fortunately this time they are video-recording the recital so I purchased it when I bought the tickets and the Princess won't have to be upset that her mommy couldn't make it. This way they can watch the recital together. But I am disappointed that not one of my pictures of her dancing turned out. Guess I will have to see if her dad got any and can email them to me. In the meantime, I did get one from the finale.

Shortly we will be leaving for ddpuppies and gilbear's house to celebrate memorial day and honor all those who have served our country.

Pan's tribulations

Today's post brought to you by Pan

Ummmm right.
I guess if I have a tribulation lately, it's been the two community pools for our HOA. When we shut them down last year, they drained in just six weeks to the point you could walk in the shallow end without getting your feet wet. We knew they need work, but obviously they needed more than we were aware of. So I contacted a leak check company. Sure they could check it without our having to spend the money to fill it again (just to drain it again for the repairs). At least until I took a day off to meet them, then it was, "Oh no, you have to fill it up to six inches above the light fixture." So we get the company that maintains them to do that, but they don't tell me when they're done. I call and oh yes, they did that two weeks ago. I take another day off, leak check people come out, different person, the pools have turned green in the time since the water was put in and I don't blame him for not wanting to get in with the dead frogs, but then he tells me "It needs to be completely full and operational" Great, now I've had three different descriptions of what they wanted before they'll do a leak check. Once again we call out the maintenance folks and they clean and fill the pool, but again don't bother to tell me when their done. When I check it, it's full but once again clean. One more call to get it cleaned again, and another day off to meet the leak check folks and finally they do the check. Still to come at that point, getting three quotes for all the repair work that needs to be done, getting a loan for the repairs, and signing the contract.

Spring Blossoms Collaboration (c)various artists; template by Raspberry Road Designs

Musical Serenade

Blog Prompt - Today is Buy a Musical Instrument day. Tell me about the instrument you would love to learn how to play.

I guess it would probably be the piano. I know the keys and can play some simple songs but I would really love to learn how to play the classical songs that touch your soul.

Beach House (c)Tabrizia; template by Joni Gray; Font: Brankovic

Seeing Red, Blood Red

Blog Prompt - Today is American Red Cross was established on this day in 1873. Have you ever given blood? If so, tell me about your experience.

And this leads to a very interesting story. First, I am terrified of needles. Not sewing needles or I would never get any cross stitch done. But those which some evil people feel they have to poke you in force for no apparent reason. I use to have a tendency to pass out.

Though at one time while I was working for an attorney, he was charged with heading up a blood drive. I spent hours calling and cajoling other attorneys into setting up appointments to give a little of themself. I finally realized my boss had not set one up and pressured him into it by saying that I would give blood but he had to as well and he had to do the driving since I would probably faint.

The fateful day came and he and I headed out to the blood van to do our part. He was at one end of the van and I was at the other. I had a very kind and courteous woman drawing blood who kept me focused on anything other than what I was sitting there for. Afterwards she gave me a glass of oj and we talked for a few more minutes just to make sure I wasn't going to fall over when I got up.

Then we heard a commotion at the other end of the van... My boss had passed out. I ended up driving his car and we went to breakfast to replenish our strength, then drove us both back to the office.

Seeing Spots (c)Elka Romero; Fonts: Arial, Hurricane SupaDupaSerif

Retro Telly

Blog Prompt - Did you have a favorite TV show as a child or youth? Or radio show?

I remember on Saturday afternoons watching Jungle Jim and Tarzan with Johnny Weissmuller and Shirley Temple. Who can forget the "Good Ship Lollipop?" Of course, on Wednesday nights there was "The Flintstones" and Thursdays "Batman."

In my early teens, mom, ddpup and I would sit in the living room and listen to "The Green Hornet" on the radio. Many times with encyclopedias flopped open on the floor as we were looking up on thing or another.

Super Safari (c)Connie Prince; Font: Broken 15

The clothes we wear

Blog Prompt - The clothes that we wear some what describe our personality. Tell me about your favorite clothes.

Typically my favorites include t-shirts and lightweight sweats. Those clothes I exercise in, LOL. Though jeans are in the top running as well. In other words, I like comfort. Something I can move in.

Scraplift of arnydia Boys; Star Struck (c)Connie Prince & Lisa West; template by kaledain

Wee Little Pickle

Blog Prompt - It's International Pickle Week and I would love to hear about the pickles you love best.

I love kosher dills. In fact, I eat one just about every day with lunch and sometimes in the evenings as a snack. I think the only one who loves kosher dills more than me is the Princess who will eat two or three at a time if you would let her. :)

Cherries Jubilee (c)SilviaRomeo; template by Becky Fleck

Outdoor Theaters are back

at least at our house. I finally got some pictures of the kids during one of their movie nights. Again it was a big hit although the boys wanted to watch Godzilla while the girls were inclined to watch "The Bridge of Terebithia". The Bridge won out. Popcorn and lemonade rounded it out. Though on this particular night, about half way through, we had to bring it in as we had a swarm of termites which weren't repelled by the insect lights. Still everyone had a good time.

GHUA

On Indy's birthday, the Bomb decided to take him to Hooter's to celebrate and invited Pan and I to join them. The recent 5 year old Indy was entranced by the girls (his latest catch phrase is whoo hot baby).

At one point I had to go to the restroom and Indy wanted to tag along. While we were waiting, he decided to wash his hands and a sweet lady was helping him turn on the water, get the soap and towels. When we left he ran back to his mother telling her all about this pretty woman that he loved and ended with "She doesn't have a ring." **blink**

Near the end of the meal our waitress took off with him and called all the Hooter's girls over to sing him a birthday song. Back at the table Bomb asked the waitress if she could get some pictures of her with Indy. Our waitress was most compliant (I think she was rather taken by the boy). After a couple of pictures she gave Indy a peck on the cheek. His face lit up and as he softly touched where she had kissed him... "She kissed me." Floating over to this stool, still holding his cheek. "She kissed me on the cheek. It's better than chocolate cake." Eyes wide and distant, he just kept repeating it. **blink** The boy's growing up way to fast.

As we were leaving he decided he wanted to ride with Pan and I. I was driving and apparently the wrong direction as he kept telling me to turn here or turn there. Pan asked him how he knew which was the right way and his reply... "I'm five years old, I know everything." Yep, he is growing up way to fast.

Miss Mae (c)Sweet Digi Scraps; Glitterated alpha 1 & Home Made Memories (c)Connie Prince; Font: Selfish

No rest for the weary

In an hour I'm off to my thrice weekly meeting at Curves. I really enjoy it. The workout and the camaraderie. I joined the first of April and the first 2 weeks I lost 10 pounds. Then nothing. Nada, zilch, kaput.

And yes, I have been watching what I eat. I use DietPower to keep track of it. I guess that is why I am depressed this morning. My calorie count has fallen below what is nutritionally safe. So I had to re-figure the dates, adding a month to reach my target goal.

On top of which, my daughter and the kids are going to be moving to NC around July 28. It is the best thing for them, I know in my brain of brains. But my heart doesn't feel the same way. The Bomb is planning on going to nursing school and her dad has an apartment for her and the kids next door to him. So it isn't as if they are going to be up there alone with no family or friends. That's what I keep telling myself, anyway.

On a lighter note, this Saturday, after celebrating Indy's birthday at the zoo, Pan and I will be going in to P'cola to take his parents and my mom and sister (ddpuppies) to see the new Star Trek movie. It is one of the few movies that I am willing to go back to a theater to see. :) I hope they enjoy it as much as we and the kids did when we went last week. And maybe I'll even remember to take the Mother's day card in to mom after not mailing it. LOL.

See You Tonight (c)She's Full of Scrap; Template by Jayedid Designs; Font: Cheri Liney

A Survey this week?

Blog Prompt - I'm taking a survey. What is your favorite day of the week and tell me why?

At this point in my life each day is about the same. Each holds its own special memories and times. But if I had to pick just one, it would probably be Wednesday. The center, the middle, the balance.

Shy Guy (c)Colie's Corner; Template by Brenda Miller; Font: Steak

Happy Birthday Indy

I'll have to come back later to add the prompts for yesterday and today (sorry I missed them Tammy). UPDATE: They are below this post. :)

But right now.....

It's Birthday time for a 5 year old. Yep, Indy turned 5 years old today. Hard to believe he is getting older. I still see my little snuggle bunny, although he is only 16 inches shorter than myself.

Here's to you kid:

Happy birthday to you,
You live in a zoo (literally),
You smell like a monkey (especially after preschool)
And look like one too (guess I should call you my snuggle monkey)

We love you and want you to have the best day ever. ~Pan and Tink

Jumping Jack Frog

Blog Prompt - Today is Frog Jumping Day. Was there a favorite game you use to play when you were a child? Describe how you played the game.

Hide and Seek. Living on an Air Force base when I was in elementary school, we had lots of kids in the neighborhood and in the evenings we would all get together and play hide and seek. We had the whole block to hide in. No yard was immune. The dads would occasionally be sitting on one carport or another watching us. Moms calling us in for baths. Or in our case our mom coming out and laying on the front lawn with pups and I finding constellations.

It's a shame we can't let the Princess or Indy have that kind of freedom. Guess that is the sign of our times.

Template by jayedid designs; Where the Heart Is (c)Chaos Lounge, Eirene Designs, Gillian Foley, Veronica Hurley, KylieM Designs, Bonnie Van Esch

Lost and Found

Blog Prompt - You are spring cleaning and you find something that has been hidden for a very long time. It's something you cherish, but you are wanting to get rid of things that are clogging up your home. Will you have difficulty letting go?

Depends on who I am mad at. LOL. If I am angry everything goes in the trash. Otherwise, I will probably just move it from one place to another.

Template by jasjuls; Enzo (c)Mycrevette; Notepaper (c)ksharonkdesigns; Tape (c)Brandy O'Neal; Fonts: Californian FB

Mother's Day Recap

Blog Prompt - Let me know what special thing you did for Mothers Day.

For the most part I just sat back, relaxed, read, watched Eureka reruns and then in the evening Pan took Bomb, the kids and I out to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. When we got back, Indy and I played a little Star Wars Legos then off to sleep. Pretty humdrum, but I enjoyed it.

I didn't put a title on the layout below, but it is "Such a Loss." The lands in the pictures once were orange groves. Now they are pine forests or subdivisions, with an occasional orange tree making a dramatic showing. I remember years ago driving down the toll and seeing rows upon cultivated rows of citrus trees. I miss them.


In Fall (c)happy-scrap; Template by Miss Bubblescrap; Font: Californian FB

Left brain, right brain

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (22%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (68%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Sisters, sisters

There were never such devoted sisters (Rosemary Clooney)

Being the oldest of three girls, you would think I would have loads of memories to blog about. Truth is, I don’t. My younger sister was my best friend and confidant during school years. And the baby sister (bug for you not in the know) became a best friend and alarm clock once we had something in common….children. That isn’t to say we didn’t get along all the while. We did. And that’s just it. There aren’t too many funny stories I recall to relate. They probably know more about me than I know of them.

Of course, there is the time ddpups & I painted the trailer our folks were renting with turpentine. That was back in the days when parents could spank their children without fear of being hauled in for abuse. I sure learned never to paint a trailer with turpentine, lol. And I don’t think the spanking made my sister or I into raving lunatics.

Vintage Sweetheart (c)Karen Lewis; Font: Arial

A dietary need

Blog Prompt - List a few types of foods that you have never eaten and would like to try

I really can't think of one that I would like to try as I have eaten things from 100 year old eggs to shark fin soup and tons of food in-between. I must admit that over the years I have become more picky about what I eat. Though I don't think I have ever really cared for oysters, snails or rattlesnake. None of which, except the oysters, I have tried and have no intention of trying. I'm more of a vegetable person and would probably try out any new vegetable I come across.

Template by Gina Maria; Let it Rock (c)A Work in Progress & Sweet Blossom Designs; Fonts: Californian FB, Rough Linen

A Picture a Day

Blog Prompt - When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say? So what do you do to get your kids or group of people to say when you are taking their picture?

SMILE... That is what I need to say when I want to take portrait type pictures of the kids. Otherwise I am telling them to turn around, look at the camera and various other commands to grab their attention. But ideally I like to take their pictures when they really aren't aware.

Template by Ladiesue; Life's a Box of Chocolates (c)Digi-Designs by Nicole and Stacey Towers; Fonts: CgChaplin; Rough Linen

Is there is Nurse in the House?

Blog Prompt - Today is National School Nurse Day. Do you remember your school nurse and do you have a story about her.

Not really. I don't even remember having to go to the nurses station (the office, yes), but that doesn't mean I didn't go. It was just that I don't recall being sick to very often. Now I am pretty familiar with the Princess' school nurse as she calls me when the Princess needs to be picked up. A wonderful woman. And my best guess would be that the school nurses in my day were just as wonderful.

Template by Gina Maria; Lucky Fish kit (c)A Work in Progress & mel hains designs; Fonts: Arial

LOL (or laughing out loud)

Blog Prompt - Sunday was World Laughter Day. Tell me about your favorite movie that makes you laugh out loud.

Strange as it may seem, it is a movie I don't like that has a scene in it that will have me rolling on the floor with tears streaming and holding my sides like they are going to burst. The movie happens to be "Porky's" and the scene takes place in the Principal's office. Part of the appeal is that the actors don't appear to be acting when they laugh. It seems to be genuine laughter, and laughter, at least in my case, is infectious.

Now if we were talking about television, then "Whose Line Is It" would be at the top of the list. I try to catch it each week, because even if it is one that I have seen before, I will still get the giggles and belly laughs.

Spring Blossom kit (c)Various artist participating in the April Spring Blossom Blog Train; Fonts: Arial, Selfish, Yukon Gold

A Combination of Things

Blog Prompt - Standing in a grocery line you notice bizarre or unusual combination's of things people buy (for example: toilet paper, kiwi fruit, and a package of manila envelopes). What has been the weirdest combination of items you have bought at the store?

Toughie, since I tend to buy an unusual assortment each time I shop. Avocados, dry markers, toilet paper. Or how about suntan lotion, prescriptions and green tea.

On another note, Indy made it back from his week long stay with his other grandparents. It's great to have him back :)

Template by Sarah Bennett; Sunrise, Sunset kit (c)Linda Walton; Stitches (c)Natali; Painted Wood Alpha (c)Samara Guglar; Fonts: Yukon Gold, Vrinda

Restaurants, Balconies & Marines

Have preteen/teen kids? Don’t take them to a restaurant with a balcony that overlooks the bar and a stage. Especially if the bar is full of Marines.

Pan and I took our kids to a local restaurant, which is always fun to go to. There was a wait so we went up to the balcony to watch the band play. This band had already dubbed the Bomb “spoiled,” and that is what they called her each time we came in. (Does that tell you how much we frequented this particular restaurant?)

But back to the balcony, we are standing there waiting for our table. Pan and I have a beer and the kids have Sprite. As I am looking over the crowd below us, I notice these Marines kept looking up to where we are standing.

Then I caught him, NavyNuke was spitting on them and hiding just before they would look up. Fortunately we got called to our table before they figured out who it was. Needless to say Nuke got a good chewing out over that one. And who knew that one day he would end up in the Navy and his brother in the Marine Corps.

Star Struck (c)Connie Prince & Lisa West; Fonts: AceBingham SH, the Blue Cabin, Charlie, Cafe Rojo

Safety First

Past Blog Prompt: I feel safe when...

I think about all the military personal protecting our lives and our freedoms. Too many times to the cost of their own. God bless each and every one.

Special (c)Sueli Colbert; Sara Noendeng (sketch 28); Fonts: Downcome, Franklin Gothic Book

Happy Birthday ddpuppies

Happy Birthday dear ddpuppies.
We won't subject you to our singing. :)

Love you, Sis.