Crud, I better get to work now. Hi-ho, Hi-ho!
Life, Love, and Critters – of course!
Frosty… Our Snowman!
December
14
2005
The Program
December
13
2005
For those of you who would like to motivate me (go on and try, I dare ya!) or join me on my program, give me tips, beat me over the head if I mess up – please. Do. I just added a page that I’m not going to link anywhere, so you’ll either have to remember it or save it or come back to this entry to get there, here it is: The Program.
The plan is to stay on course, every day, and get back on my treadmill since my back has been feeling better and it’s too freakin’ cold to leave the house to go swim in cold water. I’d like to think I’m not glutten for punishment at least part of the time! I have a ways to go, but I did it last year and I can do it again if I stick with it. I finally decided that since the Faith Hill Fairy isn’t going to wave her wand on my thighs and make them magically disappear, I had better get my butt to work. So here I go.
Dog Painting : Joey WIP #1
December
12
2005
BTW, this is an 11×14 oil painting, a custom dog portrait – he’s a black poodle. I’ll post another progress when I complete his underpainting.
Feels good to paint again. I needed this.
View my Custom Dog Portrait category to watch the painting as it progresses.
The Giant Snowflake
December
12
2005
I upgraded my graphic program lastnight, I use PSP (Paint Shop Pro) formerly owned by JASC, now owned by Corel. I upgraded to PSP X (10.0), which has even more features and buttons that I need to play with. hehe! They have a couple of other programs I’m eyeballing as well. A small indiscreet program, Corel Painter Essentials, was tucked away in the folder and I doodled for a bit lastnight with my wacom tablet. I was like a kid in a candy store, playing with my new toys!
I took the girls Christmas portrait yesterday morning, it turned out really beautiful and looks so good I felt like a professional photographer for a day. I’m excited to finally work on our Christmas cards and get those out in the mail!
I resketched the dog portrait (that black poodle, Joey) yesterday, too. I plan to paint today in my small two-hour window of opportunity, so I’d better get ready for it, it comes and goes in the blink of an eye.
Happy Monday – only 12 more days until Christmas Eve!
Family Flick Night
December
11
2005
(I took this photo at Sea World last Spring.)
The Red Violin was interesting, and confusing, and interesting again. In the end, I liked it very much, guessed what he found out (not to give it away), and was glad the movie ended the way it did.
All in all, it was another good Family Flick night. How is your weekend going?
Happy Eggs : Good Eats
December
10
2005
This morning, while Chickeymonkey was cracking eggs for our morning scramble, our eggs made a face at us! I am hoping this is a good sign for our day and weekend, I’ve got some things to do as I’ve now volunteered for something that will cause me to virtually magically disappear for a few days. I’m not sure what I was smokin’ at the time I volunteered, but it must have been some good stuff since my head is still spinning!
I was very housewifey yesterday, did the grocery shopping, threw a wonderful and huge pot roast in the crock pot with some chopped veggies, balanced the checkbook (gulp – 4 months worth – I was behind!), paid some bills, and made some Peppermint Crunch cookies. I was hugely disappointed when I checked my roast after a few hours, I pulled a piece off to see how tender it was and I’d have sworn I was chewing on a tire scrap. WTH? I may very well be a failure as a cook, but as Lisa is my witness, I’m a damn fine baker!
After a few more hours in the crock though, it was falling apart and I felt better. It still wasn’t going to be edible in time for dinner though, so we ate out lastnight. After dinner, we stopped over at Blockbuster and purchased the new release “Fantastic Four” and it was so good! I usually don’t like that kind of stuff but it was really entertaining for all four of us snuggled up on the couch on mounds of pillows in our jammies and under blankets, nice and cozy. 🙂
We picked up The Red Violin (Lisa raves about it so I have to see it!), March of the Penquins (bought it), and a few others for weekend viewing. It should be a nice (warm, indoors, away from the icky cold snow outside) weekend!
Thursday Thirteen #16
December
8
2005
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My other Thirteens |
1. If you are a Thursday Thirteen regular or beginner (planning to be regular) and haven’t added yourself to the blogroll, you can do so here. I think that will really encourage regulars to try to stay in touch throughout the week.
2. Obviously, I’ve added a new theme to the selection of TT Tables. It matches my new theme, no? Yes? I think so. 🙂
3. I was so very proud of myself for reading all of the 13’s last week! Yahoo! Everyone I linked, I read, and I read thoroughly. I believe I left a comment with everyone, too. Go me! There’s so many, it took me hours, but it was so worth it. You guys are just too cool, I’m so glad my regulars are my regulars – you know who you are!
4. I received a phone call the other day from Canada. Strange, I thought. I answered the phone and it was someone calling from Pizza Hut. Wierd. He said “Can I speak with the person who recently ordered a Pizza Hut Pizza?” very nicely. I said “No, you cannot!” very nicely. He said thank you, I said bye. Why do those people even make phone calls? A phone bank for preffered pizza orderer inquires? Wha? Poor guy. He should just deliver, I’m sure there’s more money in delivery.
5. I sing. A lot. Did you know that? Sometimes I sing off-key, sometimes I’m dead on and (I think) am pretty good. Today, not so good. I would sound like Elaine from Seinfeld, if you can imagine what she sounds like with her nose plugged. I couldn’t even compare myself to Karen Walker’s squeaky little voice from Will & Grace, good gravy that woman can sing. Did you know that? Here. Listen to her here, tell me I’m wrong.
6. I had a total meltdown this week after painting for about 15 minutes. I was in the groove, which took me all day to get into – and within 15 minutes it was shot. I lost it. I threw my painting in the garbage and have to start over now. Yes, even I have fits of “artist like” behavior. There’s no way I could have gotten back into that painting when I would have related it to frustration. Better to start again.
7. I’m finished with a book I bought, The Regime. It was incredibly good. I’ve already read the Left Behind series, and this one seems like it should have been the first in the series. It was neat to go back, refresh my memory on the characters. The rest of my series disappeared along with my brother, my second set from the secondhand bookstore are in Iraq, so I’ll have to buy a new set to re-read.
8. I haven’t gone to the gym in a couple of weeks. Maybe even a few weeks now – I can’t remember, and that’s not good. My back doesn’t hurt – and that’s great, but my hips have reminded me – ever so soft and jello-like – that I haven’t been. I hate them. I would like to retaliate against them with my treadmill, but I’m in the Christmas laze now. Isn’t that what it’s called? I’m in need of motivation (along with last weeks attitude adjustment, someone better get on the ball sending me my stuff)!
9. Tussinex with Codene is my friend.
10. Clara is my friend too, and she just had a birthday yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA! I do like you better than the codene. Pinki swear. Oh yeah, speaking of “PINK”… (hint)… what’s new? (C’mon, share with the class.)
11. That’s mistletoe up there, you know.
12. I get really frustrated (every week) because there’s this thing I keep meaning to include, this thing that I haven’t shared before, and I can’t EVER remember what it is when I sit down to write my 13 things. Completely at a loss. Why can’t I remember this thing? It’ll come to me in the middle of the day one day and I think “yup, that’s the thing, I’ll put that in this week” and then it’s gone. ARGH I hate when that happens.
13. I have not had any froo-froo lattes this week at all. I have been sitting on my tushie in my pajamas with this doopid duffy head. I am sad that I haven’t had any froo-froo lattes, and if the blizzard we’re expecting stays away, I will have to go get one today or tomorrow. What flavor do you latte lovers recommend I try?
BONUS: Lisa is giving away a blog design! You need to go read this post that will tell you how to include yourself in the drawing. Make a NY’s Resolution post on your blog, trackback/link to the entry at EW’s Design Blog. Go on and read all about it here.
LINKS LEFT IN COMMENTS:
(may or may not be duplicates, I’ll check this later! oy! LOL)
1. Mary @ Fireflies & Frogs
2. Practigal
3. MommaK
4. Lisa @ The Shizzle
5. Dawn @ Neville Farm
6. Heather @ This Moms Life
7. Nancy @ Crazed Mom … first timer!
8. Cynthia @ VIP … first timer!
9. Jenny @ Jenny’s Journal
10. Colleen @ Loose Leaf Notes
11. Texas Ivy
12. Marisa
13. Terrilynn
14. Sandy….the first one to join the TT Fun!
15. Judy @ Insecure
16. Susie @ SusiePie … first timer!
17. Colleen aka Chickadee
18. Sleeping Mommy
19. Raehan
20. Megan @ The Color Purple
21. Janet
22. Jennifer @ Happy at Home
23. Holly @ Crazy Momma
24. Shelli @ Shelli’s Sentiments
25. Bone
26. Cin
27. Lisa @ The World According to Me … First Timer!
28. Keb
29. Yellow Rose
30. Jen @ Jen’s Horde
* * * * * MY BLOGMARK * * * * * (I’ve read everyone above this line!)
31. Carolyn aka Prairierose
32. Running2k’s
33. Lisa @ JAG
34. UziCue
35. Sugar Mommy
36. Twisted Cinderella
37. Lindsey @ Suspension of Disbelief… First Timer!
38. Mrs. Fun
39. Netchick… First Timer!
40. D @ Straddling the Line
41. Jeej
42. Fattypants
43. Kathy @ Lazy Daisy Log … First Timer!
44. Krisco
45. Barbara
46. Better Safe Than Sorry
47. Angel
48. Emily @ My Blather
49. DivaP … First Timer!
50. OldOldLady of the Hills … First Timer!
51. Jakapk
52. Enigma
53. Ivory Frog
BLOGROLL: Please check my sidebar for the TT Logo and Blogroll. If you’re not on it and you participate in the TT, You can ADD YOURSELF TO THE TT BLOGROLL HERE!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
For those playing, claim your blog at Technorati to get on their listing if you haven’t already!
Please Just Sqwish my Head.
December
7
2005
Today’s post brought to you by the letters “O” and “W”, the pharmaceuticals “Aleve Cold & Sinus”, “Vicks Vapor Rub”, “Little Noses Saline Drops”, “Equaline Extra Moisturizing Nasal Spray”, and the manufacturers of “Kleenex” brand Kleenex – it’s spelled that way for a reason.
I would also like to thank the makers of Folger’s Coffee and Bug’s Life, for soothing and amusing me during my time of need.
Today’s ornament has gone AWOL, aside from my 4 year old deciding she had better reorganize the ornaments within her reach, I fear my head will explode all over the tree and that the remnants of my cranium and sinus cavities might cause you to hurl into the nearest receptacle. Nothing like being a little graphic.
Today is actually my sixth day with this crap. I’ve been in denial, it’s true. It’s time to fess up to my illness, accept any and all offers for chicken noodle soup and babysitting services, and just blow.
:honnnnnk:
Astrolabe
December
5
2005
My dear friend Paige sent me this lastnight, and after reading through it all – BOY does it hit the nail on the head about me. Very interesting stuff! If you’d like to do your own, here’s the link: Astrolabe
Let me know if you post yours on your blog so I can read it. 🙂
* * * * * * * *
This report has been created especially for you. It represents your Unique picture at the time you were born and at the place you were born. (yadda yadda big huge paragraph of stuff here.)
Rising Sign is in 26 Degrees Libra
Very attractive and popular, your charm helps you to get your own way and prevents others from getting angry with you. “Peace and harmony at all costs” is your battle cry. You always try to ameliorate or to cosmetically hide any physical ugliness or any angry feelings between people. Flashy, but not gaudy, you prefer to dress elegantly. You generally have good taste in music, art and literature. Beware of the tendency to compromise yourself in your attempt to be agreeable at all times. A bit of a social butterfly, at times you can be vain and lazy. For the most part, however, you are gracious and affectionate, and your refined and aristocratic demeanor serves as a role model to others.
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