This One's A GREAT One!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BUT PROBABLY DON'T

1. Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton.

2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper.

3. The dot over the letter 'i' is called a 'tittle'.

4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

5. Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller.

6. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.

7. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.

8. The 'spot' on 7UP comes from its inventor, who had red eyes. He was albino.

9. On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents, daily.

10. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are brother and sister.

11. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog

12. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark's stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

13. Most lipstick contains fish scales (eeww).

14. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.

15. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.

16. Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case' letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the smaller, 'lower case' letters.

17. Leonardo Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time, hence, multi-tasking was invented.

18. Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.

19. There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.

20. The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan; there was never a recorded Wendy before!

21. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with: orange, purple, and silver! (what about sliver?)

22. Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips.

23. A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

24. The mask used by Michael Myers in the original 'Halloween' was a Captain Kirk's mask painted white.

25. If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar (good to know.)

26. By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can't sink in quicksand (and you thought this list was completely useless.)

27. The phrase 'rule of thumb' is derived from an old English law, which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.

28. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At that time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.

29. Celery has negative calories! It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with. It's the same with apples.

30. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying!

31. The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher..

32. Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries.

33. Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a space suit damages it. I NEED TO REMEMBER THIS.

34. George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart. 'Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O. J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too, but they take the ONE woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard , and they haul her fanny off to jail.'

OH, SO PROUD!

We just finished our evening prayers with the kids before they go to bed & I received a BURST of pride. For the 1st time the kids recited the prayers while Steve & I just listened. They knew EVERYTHING by heart...The Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be & The Apostle's Creed. Every word was said...nothing forgotten. It almost made me cry...I was so proud of them. I also felt a sense of relief. It let me know that we're doing right by our children...that they're getting the proper guidance needed to shape the rest of their lives. I pray every day that God will help me to be the parent that they need...thank you God.

Friday 5 - All About ME!

Those who know me well know that I'm not the kind of person who tends to "like" herself very much. Not that I think I'm a horrible person or anything like that...I just tend to focus on the "not so great" aspects of myself (ie. I'm overweight, I have annoying hair, etc.). But I believe that EVERYONE has SOMETHING about themselves that makes them WORTHWHILE. So for this week's Friday 5, I'm going to focus on 5 things that I DO like about myself. Here goes:

1) I'm crafty. I love to scrapbook & make wreaths, but those are just my 2 favorites (see pics below). Several months ago I discovered Digital Scrapbooking. I also recently took up Paper Scrapbooking again (haven't done any in about 2 1/2 years). Right now I'm working on a Wedding Scrapbook for a friend.

2) My singing voice. I LOVE to sing and I think that I can do it pretty well. Based on the feedback I get from friends & family they think so too (I just hope it's not like one of those American Idol contestant claims...lol).

3) I genuinely care about people. Not just those I know, but people in general. If someone's hurt I naturally go to them before I can even think about it...I've been like that since I was a small child. Today there were 2 car accidents on the corner in front of my house...the only thing I could think about was making sure no one was hurt. I was even willing to open my home if anyone needed drink of water or a cool place to sit (consequently, if you're driving down Innes, keep your eyes opened near Eastpark...lol).

4) I LOVE to tease! Not so much flirty teasing (although I do that too sometimes), but fun teasing. I love to make people laugh, but I would NEVER intentionally tease to hurt. I just think that people should be able to laugh at themselves. Sometime, in a stressful situation, you have only 2 choices: you can laugh about it or you can cry about it. I prefer to laugh.

5) I hurt easily. Now I know that seems like a strange thing to like about oneself & it HAS had it's bitter moments, but it reassures me that I haven't let life's stresses harden me. There was a point in my life where I had become a very angry & hidden-away person...I was tough to live with & I NEVER want to be that kind of person again. I pray that I will ALWAYS have a soft & sensitive heart.

So the next time YOU'RE down on yourself, remember...there's worth in EVERYONE!

Friday 5

WHEW! Busy week! You wouldn't know it to look at my house, but I got alot done this week...some things I've been wanting to do for AT LEAST a year. So this week's list is the long awaited jobs that I can now cross off my To Do List:

1) Sorted through my close to 2000 pictures, scanned what I wanted onto my computer and organized them by date &/or event (both on the computer & in the photo boxes). That was a HUGE job...SOOO glad it's done.

2) Organized the back section of the basement. It's supposed to be my crafting area (I know, I know Mike...stop giggling!), but over the last year or so it's been turned into a dumping ground for my crafting & wedding supplies (Bob & Caroline's). There were only about 2 or 3 lil' spots for my foot to fit between boxes...I would jump from one spot to the next trying to get at my gift wrapping supplies...VERY frustrating!

3) I sorted through a ton of stored home decor & bins of "stuff"...I'm the QUEEN of not putting things away (I have many baskets & bins of misc. stuff that I just throw in there & never deal with). So now, sitting at the bottom of my basement stairs is a large pile of "crap" to go to Value Village..."One mans trash is another mans treasure" (or in this case, woman).

4) I've started eating better (or at least trying to). I'm not eating as much crappy food, I'm eating less at meals & I'm not snacking throughout the day (especially in the evening watching TV). Steve's brother is getting married in February & I'd REALLY like to wear something pretty/sexy for the day. So please send me your prayers for self control & discipline (gotta get on the treadmill too).

5) Last but not least...we FINALLY got our schedule's together & were able to take Vince out for his birthday. When asked where he wanted to go for dinner he replied "Wherever the kids wanna go". Well of course they both IMMEDIATELY said "Lone Star!!!". Well twist my arm! LOL! So we went to my favorite restaurant then Steve & Vince went to a movie. THANX FOR HAVING A BIRTHDAY VINCE! LOL!

SOOO glad this week is over...onto the weekend fun. We're going to Mont Tremlant with the Samson family...should be F.U.N.

CHOW!!!

Crazy-Crazy with a Numb-Numb Butt

OMG! What a week! I've been sitting at my computer for about 5 days straight finding, downloading & sorting through a CRAPLOAD of digital scrapbooking stuff. I also found a couple of digiscrap softwares that I downloaded & have been fiddling around with to learn what I can create with them (I'd like to start by making an wedding album for Mike & Louise...hopefully soon). The best part about it is that ALOT of it is FREE!

So out of all this "surfin' around" has come my desire for some new & improved printing technology. My wish list has been expanded to include a printer that prints 12" x 12 " paper & a laser cutter (cuts desired shapes from your patterned paper)...guess we'll see closer to birthday & Christmas time (hint, hint...wink, wink).

LATER GATORS!!!

5 Kidless Days - Day 5

THEY'RE ALMOST HERE!!! They should arrive in about 1/2 an hour...I can't wait to see my babies...I've missed them! Don't get me wrong...I've enjoyed my "time off" & we got alot done, but I'm ready to go back to "mommy mode".

I'm going to introduce a concept that I'm "stealing" from a friend. I'm going to start a weekly list called the Friday Five. This week's will be 5 reasons I love my kids so much.

1) They make me laugh. Sam because she's so chatty. Sometimes she comes home & repeats things she's heard at school...the things she comes up with...TOO FUNNY! David makes me laugh because he tries to be so serious sometimes, but he's too sweet to be mad at anyone. His "angry face" is definitly "something to behold".

2) They're always learning...always asking questions. They don't just want to know what things are, but HOW & WHY they work the way they do. I love that they're so hungry for knowledge.

3) They're the most loving kids around. David LOVES to cuddle...we OFTEN enjoy a silly "kissing war" while he's snuggled up on my lap. Sam tells me about 20 times a day, "Mommy...I love you". I will NEVER tire of hearing that.

4) They aim to please. They're always ready to help with anything that needs doing. VERY rarely do I have to ask them more than once to help...and even then, it's probably because they're too into their movie or game...can we say ZONED! LOL!

5) Simply because they're mine. They are gifts from God given to me in trust. I love them more than I could EVER have imagined. And, here's the miracle...they love me back...completly & without fail. What more could a mommy ask for!

"Children are angels without wings."

5 Kidless Days - Day 4

WOW! What a day! Woke up around 7:30 (again, way too early)...got up around 8:30...waited until 9:00 to go bug Steve. Our friend Vince came over & we moved our furniture into the master bedroom & Sammie's furniture back into her butterfly room. Tomorrow I'll do all the fun stuff to pretty it up like it was when I first made it for her 2 years ago (see picture below). In the process of doing all that it got rather...shall I say "stinky" upstairs. Shower time was the highlight of my day...LOL.

For lunch (around 1:30) we went to a local pub for fish & chips (well, I ordered nachos...big mistake). We hung out for the afternoon & had supper of leftover shrimp & rice...Mmmmm...very yummy. Then we went to see Dark Night. It was really good...Heath Ledger was amazing as the Joker. Now I'm home, sitting at my computer typing & eating caramel ice cream...yum. Soon I'll go to bed...can't wait for tomorrow...kid's will be here around 7:00 pm. GOD I miss them!
So, that's it...see ya'll later (so to speak).

5 Kidless Days - Day 3

So, I just got "yelled" at (lol) by a friend for not posting a Day 3, so here it is.

We didn't really do anything all that interesting today. I woke up around 7:45 (way too early in my opinion, but I was awake none-the-less. After checking my email, letting the dog out to pee & eating a cheese sandwich for breakfast, I decided I was bored enough to go return the movies (Jumper was pretty good, but could've had alot more details). On the way over, I stopped to make a lip wax appointment (pain for the sake of beauty...what a retarded concept). I dropped off the movies, stopped in to talk to my mom for a few minutes (she was at work) & picked up some milk. Then it was time for my appointment (woo...hoo)...I guess I'd rather suffer a lil' skin being ripped off my face than have a hairy one ;-).

For lunch Steve & I went to the Garlic King...1st time for both of us. It was really good (although they didn't give me enough pickles in my pita thingy). I would definitely recommend it to anyone. This afternoon, Steve finished the patch job in the master bedroom. The floor is mopped & the room is ready for us to move in tomorrow...now THAT is exciting...I can't wait!

I just finished getting ready to go out. Steve & I are going to Absolute Comedy tonight with our friends Mike & Louise. It'll be nice to do something kidless with them for a change (we hang out alot, but it's usually at one house or the other while the 4 kids play together).

Anyway, so that's about it for today. Tomorrow should be more exciting with the moving going on. I can't wait to see my beautiful children on Friday. Chow for now!

5 Kidless Days - Day 2

OWIE! My tender tootsies are sore. Steve & I just got back from shopping...ALOT of shopping. I don't think we've done this much shopping together since before we had kids.

It all started with what I thought was going to be a quick trip to Costco (LOL! Like there's such a thing!). Up & down every aisle we went, just browsing along at a nice slow pace (it was nice not to have 2 running around, laughing hysterically children to chase after & repeatedly "shush"). When we were done we put everything in the car & went back in for "lunch" (which was a $1.99 jumbo dog/drink combo for each of us). Then off to St. Laurent to buy Steve's dad a B.day present. We couldn't get what we wanted at The Bay, so across the mall to Sears we went. It paid off...we found what we wanted on sale for $20 (from $60), so we were able to get something else to go WITH the thing that we wanted that we found (can't say what it is...he might read this...(lol!)). (Oh yeah, I forgot...on the way to the mall we stopped & got the battery in my car remote keychain thingy changed. It's been acting up & driving me NUTS for, oh...about a year now. THANK GOD that's over now! LOL!)

Then it was off to Rona to see if we could get another ceiling fan with a remote (like the one in the bedroom we're in now) for the master bedroom. They had them, but not for the price we paid for the 1st one. So we decided to wait...maybe it will go back on sale. Then we decided to go to Home Depot & see if THEY had any ceiling fans on sale. Alas, they had nothing we liked...guess we're too picky or sumthin'. Oh well, home we go. Or not!

"We forgot to get something for dinner." So 1 more stop on the way home...Loeb, here I come. Steve's being a baby lala, so I guess I'll go in myself & decide what we're going to eat (if he doesn't like it, too bad). Hmmm...what to eat, what to eat. Oooh! Shrimp skewers! With rice & salad. Now that sound healthy, doesn't it. Ok off to the cash...but on the way I'll have to get some ice cream (sheepish grin).

So, we're back home now, relaxing after that INCREDIBLY stressful 2 1/2 hours (lol). Later we'll eat our yummy dinner & watch the other movie we rented last night (we watched Cloverfield last night...very weird. I tend to like my movies to be "wrapped up" by the end, so this was a lil' different from my preferred "genre"). The movie we'll watch tonight is called Jumper...I'll let you know what I thought of it tomorrow.

Anyway, I guess that's it for now. Gonna go play online Backgammon for a while. Later gator!

5 Kidless Days - Day 1

AHHH! WONDERFUL peace & quiet. We're home now...and without our children. We've got 5 days to do whatever we want...no kids to worry about. Yes, we have many things we want to get done, but we can do them at our own pace...no stopping to make lunch...no "mommy, the game won't work!", etc. Sleeping in...now THERE'S a concept! LOL!

Last night, after we got home & unloaded the car, we went to a movie. Since we didn't have time for supper before the movie, we decided our dinner would be popcorn. Yup, we ate junkfood for dinner. Now THAT'S freedom BABY! LOL!

This morning we went & retrieved Bernie from the kennel he was at for the weekend & then returned the rental car. On our way home we stopped at the store & got a few items for lunch. Lunch was a leisurely affair...I ate before Steve's wings were ready, so I just sat & chatted with him while he ate.

He just finished taping the drywall in the master bedroom (only took him a few minutes), & now we're both just playing on our computers. There is nothing we HAVE to do until 6:00 tonight when we drop off Bernie for his bath at PetSmart. While he's getting all purty, Steve & I are going out to dinner. We haven't decided where yet, but we can do that later.

AHHH! Sweet childless freedom. Must savour it while I can.




P.S. I miss my kids :-)

Giddy! Giddy! Giddy!

I'm SOOO excited! This weekend Steve & I are going up to visit Steve's parents...Sunday moring we're coming back home, but the kids stay with mom & dad. Steve has been waiting for work for about 4 weeks...today he agreed to a contract...which doesn't start until August. Now, here's the exciting part.

For the 5 days that we are kidless, I get to have him home with me...ALL day...EVERY day...NO WORKING!!!! We haven't had 5 WHOLE days alone in almost 8 years (in past years when the kids are away, I've been home alone during the day...bored outta my mind)! We're gonna have so much fun sleepin' in, going to movies, eating out, etc. I JUST CAN'T WAIT! I know I'll miss my kids, but having this mini vacation with my babe certainly makes up for it. EEEEE! I'm so Giddy! Giddy! Giddy! LOL!

Friends Are Friends Forever...

Can friendships last forever? Can they survive major life changes on BOTH sides? For a long time I wasn't so sure.

I just spent the afternoon with an old & dear friend from high school. Over the last few years our lives have separated...we both have children & our expressions of faith (which is VERY important on both sides) have lead us in different directions. The latter has been a source of MUCH conflict, misunderstanding & pain. I didn't think we could get through the hurt feelings & come to respect each other's way of life, but I think that's exactly what has happened. It wasn't a one time event...it just healed itself over time...slowly & without me noticing it. I'd held onto hurt feelings from H.S....things I'd never talked about. I finally DECIDED to let it all go. The past is the past...I want a happy future full of friends & laughter. I just became so sick of feeling crappy all the time...so I simply STOPPED feeling crappy all the time.

Because the past years have been tense, I've been wondering what hanging out with my friend would be like...would it be difficult to make conversation? Thankfully, it was not. We had a great time just chatting & watching the baby play. It felt good...no shielded feelings, no unspoken tension...just friendship.

So...can friendships last forever? I believe they can. If they're TRUE friendships and if both sides desire the same outcome & are willing to let the past be the past...THEN friendship can last FOREVER.

Here's to 17 years and counting...

Here Goes...

So...why blog? What's the point of it? Do people REALLY care about what I think or how I view the world? Do I have anything important to say? And then there's feedback...someone doesn't like what I say or the way in which I say it so they "take me to task"...so to speak? Then I have to defend myself...Oy Veh! Are they going to change how I think...will I change how THEY think...I think not. So again I ask...What's the point?