December 26th

Well it was the first year that I think we felt the "empty nest" syndrome. It was the first Christmas we woke up knowing there was not going to be a houseful of people first thing in the morning. Pretty darn quiet!! We started off the day by driving around and making some deliveries to friends. We then camped out at home for the rest of the day. It was a good day for it.....it rained pretty much all day.

Even Nash was overwhelmed by all the excitement going on in the house :)

We did get visitors later. Grandma and Grandpa came over and so did Ryne. We had some dinner, exchanged presents, and just visited. And for the first time in a long time I took very few photos (this would surprise most people I know!) My third and last photo of the day was this view of the tree from the family room. It's actually the view I have from where I am sitting now at the computer.

I thought it was going to take an act of God to get the tree up this year. I just have not been in the Christmas spirit. But I did manage and it did turn out pretty well....considering.....

Well, that is all I have to say for now.....

Merry Christmas!!

100 Things

I have been doing some reading in blogland and came across this list thing. Well....I think I can safely say that there are a few things I would NEVER do (and a few things I would have preferred not to experience) but it was fun to see what I have done on this list. Easy to figure out....they are all highlighted!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo (this will never happen)
11. Bungee jumped. (Neither will this!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (does a half count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke (NEVER!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48.Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (someday...)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (another NEVER)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (one of my dreams!)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

That's all for now.....

The Morning After

I recently signed up for that sitemeter thingy. I learned something. Nobody....and I mean NOBODY reads this little blog. So I figure I can pretty much say whatever I want....So here it goes......On Sunday, December 7th, as a girl surrounded by ASU fans, I have only one thing to say.......

U OF A!!!!!! U OF A!!!! U OF A !!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!

31 -7....STOMPED THOSE DEVILS!!!!

WENT TO BED VERY VERY HAPPY!!!!

I feel so much better now! Waited three years to say that!!!! And have taken a lot of slack especially at work all those years!!!! It is very hard living in ASU land but when we win it's pretty stinkin' sweet :)

Just a Little Slow

I have to admit.....I am one of those people who has a lose of senses and ventures out into the retail world on Black Friday. I don't go to the malls or Walmart or Target. Nope...I still do have some sense. No....I only go to Michaels because I just can't bear to pass up on 25% off everything in the store (including sales items). I did go to JoAnns one year but that was just ridiculous. No more of that for me!!

Well this year I headed over to Michaels at about 8:30 a.m. and there was barely anyone in the store. Most everything I bought was on sale already for 40% to 50% off. And then with another 25%....well, it was pretty much worth my while.

And then I sunk into the abyss.....I headed over to the local scrapbook store. Now I am not really a project person. I don't alter anything or make any little mini books unless I have a specific need for them. But Christmas is different. Every year I see some project I just have to do....and I drive all over trying to find the supplies. This year is no different. This year's project is this little creation I spied at the Scrapbook Barn on Black Friday.

A really cool Advent calendar. Loved it the moment I saw it.....and I'm still working on it!!! December 1st has come and gone, and I am still working on it. I swear I am soooo slow at these things it is amazing I get anything done! Anyways, I have to finish this project, get my Christmas cards sent out, and do a little decorating. All while fighting off this sinus thing I woke up with. UGH!!

Well....I think I better get started....since it's 2 p.m. already!!

Legal Torture

Yesterday I went to my favorite semi-annual event......

To the dentist....for my teeth cleaning.

I remember when I was a kid, a grown up described a teeth cleaning as "refreshing". When I was young, my parents barely had two nickels to rub together so dental visits were rather infrequent. Needless to say I never had a cleaning until I joined the military.

I am still wondering though what is so refreshing about someone scrapping my teeth with sharp metal instruments!!! It's really like nails on a chalkboard. And I just love the dreaded "well you had a little more build up this time so I had to scrap more." Okay....so what do I have to do to avoid that.....scrap my own teeth EVERYDAY!

Well....you get the picture. I hate the dentist. Nice man and all.....Just don't like him and all his metal instruments of torture. And to think....I pay him for this!!

And I get to go back in two weeks. I can hardly wait!

He Thinks I'm Off My Rocker......

Okay, I'm one of those slightly weird people who listens to Christmas music at various times of the year. Unlike most people, I never complain when I start hearing Christmas music in November. This year I started listening to it in August. It makes me happy. And I needed happy in August. So to get in the full spirit I also started making Christmas cards....in August. And I've been making them ever since. I'm thinking I have enough cards for next year too.

And my husband? Well he thinks I'm just a little off. He came into my scrapbook room about a week ago (while I was making more Christmas cards). He just stood there for a moment and listened. "You're listening to Christmas music?!?! It's only November!!!"

Sure glad he didn't come into the room in August....

(Note: All the card making essentials in the photo.....paper, glitter, adhesive, wine....ahem.....)

Some Scrapbook Pages

Some recent scrapbook pages completed.

A Sign of the Times.....

Butter. That is what this blog post is about. Well, sort of. It is really about my recent obsession with the weekly sales ads. So much so that first thing Saturday morning I was out the door to stock up on butter. (Amazing... considering the rough night I had. But that's another story.) The funny thing is that I probably would not have given it a thought a year ago. But here I am....I see $1.50 a pound when you purchase 10 pounds.....and I become a butter buying fool. And I can rest easy knowing that making the Christmas Sugar Cookies are not going to put me in the poor house. It is definitely a sign of the times......

Changes

I took this picture last week before I dismantled my office and I had to take all these tags down. Over the last nearly four years, these are just a portion of the faces that walked into my office. I have a special place in my heart for each of this individuals. I think I have learned something about myself through each one of them. And through them I have confidence in the future.

So now I am on to a new adventure....at least temporarily. I don't really know. I think a change is really good. We'll see what the next few months bring. Could be interesting.

Veteran's Day

It's funny, whenever Veteran's Day comes along each year I am reminded that I, too, am a veteran. What's funny about it is that I never really consider myself a veteran. Yes, I spent seven years in the United States Air Force. But I was in the military during more peaceful times.

When I think about Veterans, I think about my father-in-law who served in Vietnam or my brother who was deployed to Iraq or my niece who served in the Persian Gulf. In fact I think of anyone who has served in the past eight years as a Veteran. I believe it takes great courage to enlist in the military and give so much of yourself during such uncertain times. And unfortunately I don't think it's going to get better for those in the military.....so my hats off to them. We should all be thankful for their service.

Not to change the subject....but I have added another blog link to my list. That of Stephanie Ackerman. She is the editor of Homegrown Hospitality. I just love her blog and I love her writing!!. I was perusing her blog this morning and came across this entry from a few days ago. It rang so true with me.

Well....that's all for now....

~Wendy

Now That Election Day Is Here....

I've got something to say. For the past couple of months, I've been wanting to write a post about Sarah Palin. As the time as gone on I have had difficulty trying to find the words to express how I feel about her and also how I have felt about this election cycle. Well I really did not have to find the words because someone else did it for me and much more eloquently than I could. Mellette Berezowski published a post a few weeks ago that expressed exactly how I have been feeling. You can find that post here .

I will tell you though that there is one person for whom I have gained a new respect. That would be Geraldine Ferraro. I watched a program which aired right before the VP debate. It was her and George Bush talking about their debate. She said that although she would not vote for Sarah Palin, she would still root for her to do well in the debate. Because Sarah doing well meant a world of so many possibilities for her granddaughters.

Amen to that!!!

I Have to Say....I'm a Little Disappointed

Ever since I was old enough to vote, I have always registered as an Independent. I'll admit it....I just cannot make up my mind. Too conservative makes me mad and too liberal just makes me ill. Anyways, since I am registered as an independent I am used to getting all those recorded telephone messages from both sides begging me for my vote. Some people are annoyed by them but I actually get a little chuckle out of them. Especially when they are from the presidential candidates. In 2004, true to form, I got messages from both George Bush and John Kerry.

This year, well, I waited and waited, and then finally it happened yesterday. After we got back from the hospital, I saw we had a message on the machine. I played it and sure enough it was John McCain. Our machine plays so loud that Russell could hear it in the bedroom. When I walked back into the bedroom, he gave me a quizzical look through the fog. Oh dear....It was just John McCain ringing us up...thought he'd just check in.....

Since I got the call from Johnny, I was next expecting the phone call from Barry. So I waited.....all last night. But no call came. I was very disappointed. I really wanted to hear Barack Obama groveling for my vote just as everyone else has. Not that it would matter....but I kind of liked that personal touch ; ) Oh well....maybe next time. He probably figured he didn't need me anyways since he's predicted to win in a landslide.


Anyways, Russell and I got up early to vote. He didn't get much sleep last night so he wanted to get out and get 'er done so he could try to get some sleep. The polling place wasn't too bad. At least it was much better than 2004. But we still had to wait an hour. I felt so bad for my husband. He was miserable! And, of course, as we got towards the front of the line there was that one person who wanted to cut in (don't even get me started there!).

Here's a little hint on how we voted (in case there was any doubt!).....






The rest of the day will be spent relaxing....especially for Russell. He's just having a tough time getting comfortable right now. I did manage tocapture him in one of his sexier moments yesterday....
























Those TED stockings are just dead sexy! I don't think he will be too happy that I posted this....but I what can I say....I just couldn't help myself.

Well I'm outta here. TTFN!

~Wendy

I Really, Really Hope Frozen Peas Do The Trick

Russell had shoulder surgery this morning and he is zonked out right now. He had a pretty significant tear in his labrum. I've heard it is a tough recovery so I'm bracing for a tough couple of weeks.

I went with him to the orthopedic surgery place at 6:15 this morning. It was quite funny to see him in his sexy gown and shower cap :) I really wanted to take a picture but he wouldn't let me. I don't know why I didn't....I mean really....he only has one working arm. How much damage can he do!

It's pretty boring waiting for someone in surgery and I'm just an antsy person so I left for a little while. The absurd highlight of the whole morning came in the post op room. The nurse told me the doctor prescribed some kind of contraption which helps in applying a cold compress to the shoulder. I have no idea what on earth she was talking about. All I know was that there were two choices and some other guy was going to tell me all about them as soon as he answered his page.

Well he showed up and right away blurted out "You know your insurance does not cover this and it costs $280. Do you still want it?" I'm sitting there thinking WTH! Then I turn to my highly "doped up" husband and ask, "What do you think honey?" The minute I say this I just want to gobble my words back up. What the heck am I doing asking the guy in the bed who looks like he's wishing for his happy place!?! (or maybe he was already in it)...

So I asked the guy why didn't they discuss this with us before the surgery so we could both make an informed decision. I then wanted to know exactly what this contraption does. He tells me that it ices his shoulder. Okay...now, I'm trying to wrap my brain around this. I mean I really don't want to deny something from my husband that he really needs but honestly.....wouldn't a 67 cent bag of frozen peas do the same thing. The guy really doesn't tell me anything. Will it help him? He just shrugs his shoulders. Is it something that is necessary? No response...seriously. So I decided against it. The nurse was very reassuring after this fine, "informative" gentleman left. She told me that I could make my own icing contraption with a garbage bag. We'll have to see how that works out!

Well, I updated the look of the blog. It still looks pretty basic but I'm learning. And I'm old so I'm a little slower. I went out and bought "Blogging for Dummies", so hopefully I'll come around. A little tidbit I did pick up in my brief scan of the book is that pictures are very important. So I will leave with a few pictures from our trip last weekend to the Breeders Cup in Cali.

Later Gator!!

~Wendy

Freedom Is Not Free

I am one of those people who is always in awe of the sacrifices of others....particularly the men and women in the military. I like watching military movies like Blackhawk Down and Saving Private Ryan because, although they are graphic in nature and very difficult to watch, I am reminded of the ultimate sacrifice made by many young men in the 225+ years of the existence of our country.....and I am reminded that freedom is not free.

I say all this because today as I was perusing the blogosphere visiting some of my favorite blogs I came across another reminder of this very thing. One of my favorite blogs to visit is Stephanie Howell's blog. I love her scrapbook pages and her penchant for awesome flea market finds. She has two of the cutest little girls....and she has a husband who is serving in Afghanistan.

The past couple of days NBC News has featured footage of her husband's squadron. It is both graphic and heart wrenching. She has posted both feature stories on her blog. The features show what the men of this company face and the conditions they live in. They also show their heroism.

I am truly grateful for these men and for families like Stephanie's who must also endure this hardship in service for our nation. Thank you.

Should I be Worried?

So, I'm thinking....I really need to check on the life insurance policy. Especially after last Friday! Russell and I went on a hike up at South Mountain Park. I had the day off and thought a nice two hour hike would be a great way to start the day. Hmmmm....but he had other plans. You see, the guy who gets to hike two to three times a week does not want to do a MEASLEY TWO HOUR HIKE!!!! NOOOOO......

We started on our regular route and then he veered in another direction.

"Where are we going?"

"Up Hobert."

"Heh???? That's like 10 miles!"

"No it isn't.....it's just nine."

Okay, so when you have not been on a long hike in about five months.....whether it is nine miles or ten miles is irrelevant!!! I was thinking I kind of wanted to work my way back in towards the longer hikes again. He would have none of that.

So as I drug myself up the trail literally a half a mile behind him a thought came to me.....I should have checked the life insurance. Seriously. I think he's just watching to see if I keeled over. But I lived. I could hardly walk this weekend....but I did live.

Today is round two. Let's see if I make it back!!!

Hero

It seemed like just yesterday that he was sitting in my office in his fresh new suit. So young. So full of dreams. Tonight the dream was cut short. I am heartbroken. Below is the story of a true hero.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2008/09/16/20080916officerdies0916.html

Remember

As I went through the day today

I could not help but think about

How I felt that day 7 years ago

And how much about it has been forgotten

The flags were at half staff

And there were memorials

But I think many Americans have forgotten

About the horrors of that day....how they felt

And the importance to guard against

Those who want to do harm to us.

I was sent a video which was a wonderful memorial

To those lost.

I would like to post it and wanted to forward it.

However, I had to stopped for a moment

And worry about who I might offend.

It was a dreadful moment in our country's history,

But sometimes we need a reminder of exactly what we lost that day.

I pray for those who lost love ones that day,

For every person in this country who was affected by those actions....

(That would probably be everyone.....)

For our President and for our troops so far away.

God Bless America!!!!

Tagged

I have been tagged by my friend Lori to list the six best things about this summer of 08. I have to say I had a very tough time as it has not been one of my best summers but I managed to come up with the following:


1. I picked the winner of the Belmont Stakes and won a boat load of money. Yep, I picked the horse that upset Big Brown in his quest for the Triple Crown....well it wasn't much of an upset since Big Brown finished last.......

2. The Diamondbacks were able to hold on to first place....by a thread. (Not anymore though....the Dodgers just went up by a half a game.....damn that Manny!!!!)

3. I got to spend a few days soaking up the sun in San Diego.

4. My son graduated from the Academy and he is on to an exciting career!!!

5. Michael Phelps won EIGHT gold medals (Woo Hoo!!)

6. John McCain is the Republican candidate for President ( and I couldn't be happier!!)

And that is my summer in a nutshell!!

TTFN!!

~Wendy

btw....I read alot of blogs but I don't really have any internet friends so I have no one to tag....

Sometimes I Just Have to Shake My Head

Michael Moore has sent a letter to God.

The letter basically implies that Hurricane Gustav is retribution to the Republicans.

This is proof that I read too much on the internet.

And I should just bury my head in the sand and block out the entire world.

Or maybe there's room for me on the space station.

Then I don't have to listen to all this nonsense.

Many Random Thoughts

I just won $22.....

Gwen Stefani just had a boy named Zuma Rock (huh??)....

John McCain is ahead of that other guy in the polls (yay!).....

Woman beach volleyballers wear teeny weeny bikinis.....

And the men practically wear bodysuits (what is with that?!?!?!?)......

I didn't know how to properly made edamame until I went to dooce.com......

AZ Republic reporter who demanded manslaughter charges against Chandler K-9 officer is arrested for animal cruelty (karma sucks!!).......

Henry Cejudo rocks!!!!!

Jennie Finch does not look good when she cries......

Brandon Webb got win #19 tonight.....

Looks like the Yankees may not make the post season :)....

Going to see Misty May's husband on Saturday......

South Mountain Park

It was a gorgeous day for a hike....plus I wanted to get some pictures of the wildflowers sprouting up in the desert. A winter of more that usual rainfall amounts equals these gorgeous flowers.....oh, and an over abundance of allergies. I went to South Mountain Park. Hiked up Telegraph Pass and went down Kiwanis Trail to the other side of the park and then turned around and went back. Just enough to get my workout in!! And to save energy for tomorrows hike......

TTFN