Oh! That's gonna leave a mark

the definition of Dog Tired

2009-09-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

I wish that I could talk to dogs

2009-09-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am in my 2nd week of the Couch Potato to 5K program. I've never been much of a runner, but I've decided that I could be.
A couple of my friends began and after how I heard how they were doing, I decided that it might just be a good program for me as well. I want to do a 5K in the future. I know that my 70, or possibly 80 something, neighbor will still kick my butt, but I want to finish a 5K. So far, my refabricated ACL is holding up vs my original ACL in the other knee.
Today, I had Cinnamon running with me, which, BTW is like trying to put a leash on a deer. She loves to go with me, so I take her almost every time. We were running along and she spotted something that caused her to stop in her tracks. She froze, and began to back up. Freaking out.
It was a baby stroller with full trash bags tied all over it. Something that is usually being pushed by a homeless person on the street. This was just sitting at the curb. We could not pass it and needed to turn around. Cinnamon didn't calm down until we were half a block away from it.
It's not as odd as Pumpkin's irrational fear of aluminum foil when we first rescued her from the shelter, but it was odd.
I wish I could ask her what was wrong. How long was she a stray on the street? What happened?
She is sleeping quietly on the sofa now (and drooling onto the floor)... safe and sound, and that's what matters.

14 wonderful years

2009-09-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

Stuntman enjoyed the anniversary gift that I gave him today.
Even though we rarely give gifts for our anniversary, we always sit and watch our wedding DVD and have a nice dinner together (if we happen not to be apart for work or war reasons).
The 14th Anniversary is the "Ivory" anniversary and he liked his bar of soap.

Volcano, or pyrocumulous cloud?

2009-09-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

I was going through my video camera and forgot all about the quick video I shot of the Station Fire in L.A. last Saturday.
This is my first video upload to the site, why not.
At the end, you can hear E1 ask me if we are evacuating. I say "maybe".

On another note... our usually squirrel-free backyard is full of squirrels, dozens of them. Usually, there is only that one obese squirrel that eats every last almond on the almond tree.
The squirrels escaped the forest,
where are the coyotes, deer and mountain lions? Remind me not to go for walks by myself around the neighborhood.

Home Sweet Home

2009-09-03T02:49:00.000-07:00

It's good to be home.
We've been evacuated for several days. Although the neighborhood is smoky, it is still intact.
I have many days of cleaning ahead of me (what's new). I'm just happy to have a home to clean.
I replaced the house air filter and I think everyone else in town has done the same because the store was practically sold out of filters of all sizes.
I am so thankful that the winds stayed calm as the fire crept closer to my home because any flying ember would have easily torched anything in it's path.
The firefighters have done an amazing job. A BIG THANK YOU to them.

Tomorrow...
1. clean the pool because it is full of ash.
2. begin wiping down everything in the house, there is a fine layer of black dust on everything.
3. relax... traveling with 3 kids and 3 dogs and trying not to destroy your BIL's house is exhausting.
4. count the hours until Stuntman returns home
5. almost forgot... try to fix the sprinklers in the front yard. Someone (fire truck or looky-loo) drove into my yard while I was evacuated and ran over two sprinkler heads.

On a side rant... an online map of the fire was drawn incorrectly and showed that the fire had made it's way past our home. Stuntman was a little freaked out by this when he was looking for information on the fire. The media coverage of the fire has been horrible. It has been sensational, but not informative. Some online information was helpful, but some (as noted above) was inaccurate. Maybe next time someone can get it right.

Another Day

2009-08-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

We left the house last night and stayed at my BIL's house by the beach. Last night, the wind came up, flames crested the ridge and I didn't want to stay up all night watching for embers. A fire engine was parked at the base of my driveway, so I took it as a sign that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get out of their way.
It looked as if everyone else thought the opposite because there were MANY gawkers that drove up to the neighborhood, parked their cars and watched the fire. A-holes.
The fire is huge and moving in multiple directions.
The hill behind us continues to burn and there is one more ridge to go. No one is trying to put it out because of the steep terrain. It looks like they are just letting it burn down to the community like they have done in several other areas of the fire. It is a bit unnerving to see flames from the house, but the fire is moving very slowly. If there was any wind, I would be out of here.
My neighbor and I are taking turns staying awake tonight just so the other can sleep more easily knowing that the other is watching. We are not under an evacuation order, and probably won't be, but we will keep vigilant until the flames are extinguished.
My heart and prayers go out to the families of the firefighters that have lost their lives fighting this fire.

update

2009-08-29T09:18:00.001-07:00

The smoke cleared for a while yesterday and the fire is moving in the opposite direction. Still, no wind, so the firefighters can do their job.
Yesterday afternoon, I corralled the kids into my bedroom, put in a Garfield DVD and tried to take a nap. I was successful for 30 minutes and it felt great since I hadn't slept much in the last 3 days. I was half-asleep and heard a knock on the door. No one just drops by here, it's out of the way, but there on the front step was my BIL. He came to check on us since he knew Stuntman was out of town. He could see the smoke plume from his house down by the beach and drove all of the way up here. The kids were ecstatic. They absolutely love their uncle.
Of course, my house was a DISASTER! On a scale from 1-10, it was a 9 on the messy scale. Toys all over, laundry in the midst of folding on the dining table, dishes in the sink. It was embarrassing. It didn't take long to tidy up while he had the kids occupied.
He stayed for dinner and left when it was the kids' bedtime once he could see that we were in the clear.
Right now, the smoke outside is unbearable and ash is currently falling, but no flames nearby. :)

What to do

2009-08-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you're stuck in the house all day because it's 100+ degrees outside, and smoky, and there is ash falling from the sky?
Make cake pops with little lifeguard teddy bears on them for E1's upcoming swimming banquet.

Once again, there are fires burning in SoCal. Thankfully, the winds are low so the firefighters have a chance to do what they do best.
It's been quite an airshow today with big fixed-wing water dropping planes flying overhead. We watched the helicopters take turns slurping water from the pond to drop onto the flames. It was a constant rotation of helicopters pausing only to refuel.

At this time, numerous homes are being evacuated.
Of course, Stuntman is out of town for a couple weeks. I'm staying awake as much as possible in case the wind does pick up. After last year's fires, I know how quickly fires can move. This one is MUCH closer than last year's... once again, the reason I am planning to stay awake as much as possible tonight.

Reflection

2009-08-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Last night we I heard a deep, spooky growl coming from Cinnamon.
She was standing in the dining room and looking out of the patio door.
I was concerned, until I realized that she was growling at her own reflection.

I sure hope that she grows out of this.

Crunch

2009-07-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Crunch. That's the sound that I hear when I walk on the grass. It looks like everyone around here is obeying the mandatory water conservation rules for LADWP. Sprinklers are only allowed Monday and Thursday for 10 minutes.
Summer just began and I have a feeling that my lawn may spontaneously combust at any moment.
Oh, and that hill that I planted a couple years ago? toast.
I hope it will revive when rain returns.

*updated, I forgot the link

One of those days

2009-07-14T23:58:00.000-07:00

It was one of those days.
Stuntman did arrive home earlier than he had for the last 2 weeks (7pm). I was able to sit by the pool and watch everyone swim while enjoying my mango margarita.

update 7/17* I should mention that it was a delicious Tastefully Simple Mango Margarita. If you would like your own, contact Butterfly Wife. Seriously, delicious.

Now back to three

2009-07-13T23:05:00.000-07:00

Meet Cinnamon.
We adopted this little boxer from the shelter over the weekend. We picked her up from the vet today (the shelter requires spay/neuter before you take the dog home). They say she is 6 months old, but I'll see what my vet says when I bring her in for a checkup and suture removal.
She's sweet and great with the kids. She is fast friends with Roxie and Emma is warming up to her.
E3 and Cinnamon are both busy potty training now. I hope Cinnamon learns quickly.

Here is a photo from a couple years ago of our last trio.
Roxie is the young one in the center, with Pumpkin and Sparky.

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

2009-07-03T19:57:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

We threw a few steaks on the grill tonight because we are loaded and ready to go...

for tomorrow :)
in my mini-van of the high desert.

Tired dog

2009-07-03T15:17:00.001-07:00

What happens after a day of swimming.

How long until the DVD?

2009-07-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

I rarely go to see movies at the theatre. I am too cheap.
Occasionally, we go to the drive-in, because it is a bargain. That's when we see "family" shows. I would like to see the Johnny Depp movie, Public Enemies, but I don't think it would be family viewing, so I will have to wait until the DVD is released.
I hope to hit the drive-in tomorrow night for Ice Age 3, but I'm not sure if Stuntman has Friday off of work. We have barely seen him since he returned home from his 2 week business trip.
On a side note, my grandfather was taken in by the authorities because he was mistaken for John Dillinger when Dillinger was a fugitive. Luckily, they soon realized their mistake even with the strong resemblance.

An Evening Out

2009-06-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

I brought these cute little chocolates home from dinner last night. You may or may not be able to tell, but they are from the Reagan Presidential Library. The chocolates were placed on top of the dessert, but since they were so cute, I needed to bring them home to show the girls. Then they ate them.
I was lucky enough to be invited by a friend to the Reagan Library yesterday for an event. Mike Huckabee was there for a book signing. We arrived in time to hear his speech. I really enjoyed listening to him. The content was spot on and laced with just the right amount of humor. All of the "change" going on right now is overwhelming to me. It was rejuvenating to be in a room full of people that believe in the conservative movement. Optimists that believe that America's best days are not behind us, but ahead of us.
After the speech, and Q&A session, dinner was served and we ate in the shadow of Air Force One. The view from the library is amazing and dinner began just as sunset began. Perfect. Timing. I wanted to lick my plate, but didn't, because I am sure that may have been inappropriate... even though the food was delicious.

I'm trying to wrangle tickets to attend the upcoming event with Condoleezza Rice.

Happy Dog

2009-06-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Roxie Dog in her element.
She really thinks that she is a labrador.
Ever seen those dog competitions where the dogs (usually yellow labs) fly into the water after a toy and compete for distance? In her younger years, Roxie dreamed of that... well she would have if she knew about it.
Now, with her bad hips, she slowly enters the water and swims around... followed by standing on the step and smiling.

Not Hideous, maybe.

2009-06-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

I promised photos of the cake. It didn't turn out like I had pictured in my head, but it isn't all that hideous.
I know it will be tasty, and I know E3 will enjoy it.
It is a two-layer 9x13 cake, one layer is vanilla, one is chocolate. There in another half layer for the "hill". All of it is covered in chocolate frosting and crushed cookies. Cake ball (same method as link, different flavor) boulders and chocolate rocks are an attempt at a dry river bed, something that E3 is familiar with when we drive the sand rail in the high desert.
I hope it lasts until the party, because I have a feeling that there may be a few missing rocks and boulders by cake time.

Time Flies

2009-06-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

E3 turned 3 today.
I can hardly believe that it has been THREE years since I rushed to the hospital just in time for E3's birth. Stuntman arrived just in time for the delivery.
He is such a fun little guy. Fun to watch, fun to play with, fun to speak with.
He's a little obsessed with monster trucks and MarioKart Wii at the moment, but he is always up for playing in the sandbox. At least until his "stomach barks" saying that it is time to eat.
He adores his sisters and they adore him, although he occasionally plays the role of annoying little brother.
Happy Birthday my little man.

Uncanny

2009-06-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

School's out

2009-06-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Now it's time to plan the summer. It doesn't look like we will have an out-of-town vacation this year. Stuntman will be away to the home office for training a few times during the summer. He left today for two weeks as well. We stuck a Father's Day card in his luggage. Hopefully, he won't open it until then.
It finally feels like summer here. It has been cool and drizzly for a couple weeks, but now it has been sunny for almost two days. I was enjoying the cool weather because I know that we will have PLENTY of 100 degree days in the near future.
Just the usual going on around here. Prepping for a big birthday party for E3. He's never had one. E3 missed having the big first-birthday-bash that we had for each of the girls because Stuntman was deployed at the time. The 2nd birthday was just after Stuntman returned home, he wasn't in the mood for a lot of visitors at the house. I have some things together for the party, but still a lot to do. I have a vision of the monster truck cake that I will be making, I hope that I can create it in cake form.
There will be photos... unless it is hideous.

So Proud

2009-06-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten Graduation... not something that I did when I was six. We just went into first grade.
E2's Kinder Promotion Ceremony was great. All the kids in little cap and gowns ... adorable.
They began the ceremony with the kids introducing themselves and saying what they want to be when they grow up. There were several veterinarians, a rocket scientist, a boxer, a couple ice skaters among others. E2 said "I want to be a Mom that works at home". Big applause followed. I guess that she figured it out a lot earlier than I did. It certainly wasn't what I had planned, but it truly is the best job in the world... sometimes the most frustrating, but also the most rewarding.

Priorities

2009-06-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's been raining here for the last few days. Just a shower here and there, cloudy skies and thunder now and then. I like it.
With no outside play, E3 and I have played the Wii together. He is a bit obsessed with Mario Kart.

E3 doesn't use a toilet, but he can kick my butt in Mario Kart Wii. seriously.

He just finished ahead of E1... the reigning champion of the house.

He can't drive a real car for 13 years. Oh boy.

And she's Six

2009-05-31T00:19:00.000-07:00

We asked E2 what she wanted to do for her birthday, and she chose Legoland. The last time we were there was during Stuntman's leave. It was Saturday, so of course, it was open.
For a Saturday, the crowds were completely bearable. I can't handle the crowds at Disneyland. It's tough to stand in line for 45 minutes for a 2 minute ride with three small kids. Legoland had lines today, but nothing crazy. We were able to go on everything that we wanted except one of the new rides that had a 45 minute wait. I purchased the tickets at the school's silent auction recently, so it wasn't as expensive as it could have been. It's one of those "spend money to save money" things.
We picked up a flat of strawberries on the way home. The strawberries from roadside stands in California are so delicious, nothing like what you can buy at a grocery store.
E1 is making the birthday cake for tomorrow. No big party, just E2's uncles are coming over for cake after mass and breakfast in the morning.
E2 was so excited about her birthday last night. Stuntman and I were snuggling on the sofa watching TV a little after midnight last night when E2 wandered out of the bedroom. She said "it's my birthday" with a big smile. I guided her back to bed and chatted with her for a little bit before she went back to sleep. I can't believe that she is 6 already.

A couple days ago I was in the ER checking to see if I had broken a bone. ( I had not, just badly bruised and swollen)
While there, I flashed back to an ER trip that I had when I was 4-5 months pregnant with E2. I had a little spotting and a friend brought me in to be evaluated. (Stuntman was out of town at the time). While I was waiting to be seen, I hemorrhaged. A. Lot. I remember seeing "D&C?" written on the board at the nurses station next to my name. The doctor sent me home after evaluating me and I was to come back in the morning for another evaluation. He said that there was a 50%+ chance that I would lose the baby during the night and prepare myself for that. I bled for about a week until the placenta healed.
I'm going to go give E2 a kiss on her forehead right now as she sleeps.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Thank You

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself"
Joseph Campbell

Before and After

2009-05-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here are the Before and After photos of the house.
We absolutely love the final result. Due to the structure of the house in certain areas, we needed to modify the design here and there but the end result works perfectly!
The soapstone countertop is beautiful. Soapstone is a little different and took a little to get used to, but the pros so far outweigh any cons. Others may have other opinions, but hey, it's my kitchen. For example... soapstone is softer than granite. it scratches pretty easily. Most scratches disappear with a touch of mineral oil. Bigger ones can just be sanded away. It may be softer than granite, but it is less porous. That is what sold me on soapstone in the first place. Non-porous means no bacteria hiding in microscopic holes on the surface. It means no stains. So far the following items have not stained the countertop (some experiments were accidental, others not) ; bleach, paint, coffee, wine, berries, glue, vinegar. All without needing to seal the countertop with some nasty chemical sealer.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Unaccompanied trip

2009-05-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed my Mother's day gift today. I didn't ask for much. All I wanted is whatever the girls brought home from school in secrecy and a couple hours to go to the mall... alone.
I had a Macy's gift card that I received when I attended the Ellen show about a week ago. Who knew that they were also having a sale today? Apparently everyone else did. The place was packed and I spent more time in line than I did shopping. It was early in the day and the entire mall was packed! This mall has recently finished ANOTHER major add-on... and it is still packed. Recession... really?
Anyhoo... I found some fancy high-heels and some fat-squishing undergarments to accompany my little black dress that I plan to wear to an upcoming event. I also found two cute summery shirts on the clearance rack. I had $7 left on the $100 gift card, so I picked up an acrylic pitcher that will be perfect for margaritas by the pool. I spent less than $7 out-of-pocket, whew!
Now I can go another 12-24 months without stepping foot in a mall. I can't handle it. It would be bearable if it was empty... but I don't think it ever is.

My kitchen is basically finished, just waiting for crown moulding. Pictures will be uploaded as soon as the finishing touches are complete. I absolutely love my new kitchen/dining/living room. It is very functional... plus it it exactly my style.

Did you know that black or brown photo frames are a fraction of the cost of white ones? I didn't. Ten white wood photo frames in various sizes would have cost me around $100, but the same frames in black, plus paint, cost only $40.

Just in Time

2009-04-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

Our yearly car registrations just arrived. We are lucky enough to have them due after the increase that the California lawmakers enacted. Lucky us. We have a few cars; my minivan, Stuntman's work car and his pickup truck. The RV registration should arrive any day. I estimate that it'll cost us $500-800 more this year. They say it's based on the value of the vehicle. I need to find out how they are calculating that value.
PLUS we just received the first of the off-road registrations. The fee DOUBLED. yes, DOUBLED... FOR EACH OFF-ROAD VEHICLE. An old dirt-bike that has a yearly registration that is the same amount that it is worth. Great. We can afford to pay the increases, I'll cut back somewhere. Can't be my clothing budget, that is already at about $10/month.
The off-road thing really ticks me off... it's not as if there isn't a fee from the government when you ride on public land as well. ugh.

Still ringing

2009-04-16T00:16:00.000-07:00

I can still hear the honking in my ears. This is just a 13 second video of our time at one of the local Tea Parties today.
I have no idea how many people were there. All I know is that I was surprised at how many there were.
I only saw one person drive by with the thumbs down (a young blonde chick). Almost every driver had their thumbs up and their horn honking when driving by the demonstration. Male, female, white, black, hispanic, asian, old, or young... it didn't matter.
I don't object to paying taxes. I have never failed to pay them and I don't take any "questionable" deductions. (unlike so many politicians) The demonstrations were about more than just taxes. They were about the current direction that the government is heading and the waste of our tax dollars.
Here in California people are very upset about the sales tax hike (9.25% in LA) and the car registration fee increase.
We had a conversation with E2 today regarding taxes and she just didn't get it. Why would someone take some of your money just because you worked for it? We tried to explain it... just a blank stare is what we received.

Decisions

2009-04-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Three choices for the accent color in the kitchen;
1. Armored Steel
2. Greenland
3. Windrock

The main color of the dining area and living room is called Desert Suede.
I'll give you one guess... what was Stuntman's choice for the accent color?

HE IS RISEN

2009-04-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Happy

Easter

Everyone!

May everyone have a joyous Easter. This is the first time in three years that Stuntman has been home on Easter, so it will be a joyous one here.

Dreams and Ice Cream

2009-04-11T08:00:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the cabinetmaker and his guys installed most of the doors and the crown moulding. It is now officially my dream kitchen. It would be fine with me as is... but I'm sure that it will be even nicer with the walls smooth and painted and the floors something other than old vinyl or sub-floor.
E1 and I were admiring the kitchen when I said that I must be dreaming. She reminded me that if I was dreaming, everything would be back into the cabinets. Soooooo, I spent a few hours deciding where everything belonged and filling the cabinets.

During our hail storm yesterday, just after all of the workers left, the contractor stopped by with a few quarts of ice cream from Mashti Malone's. He had told us before of their rose water ice cream, so he decided to bring us a gift for Easter. Seriously, what a nice guy. The ice cream was delicious. I had never heard of the place before, but I'm sure that I will be visiting in the future. He brought rose water ice cream and also faloudeh. The two flavors together along with a splash of lemon juice on top was delicious. I think the faloudeh is a sorbet, it doesn't say on the package, and it isn't on their website. It tastes a bit like tapioca pudding.

Stuntman is home. Life is good.

I needed google maps

2009-04-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

You know those "Live Traffic Feed" things on some blogs? These are pretty interesting to see a live shot of who is looking at your site, but I always wonder how they peg me coming from somewhere not even near where I live. Yes, it's in California, but not that close. Probably 20 million people between me and there. huh.

I almost cried a little

2009-04-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

Now my kitchen, although it has no running water, is officially nicer than any kitchen that I thought that I would ever have.
The fabricators arrived today with my countertops and they are gorgeous. I am so glad that I didn't listen to everyone... and I mean everyone, when they said "why don't you just get granite?" The soapstone is perfect. I love the feel of it. The top photo is what it looks like dry, and the bottom photo is after a coat of oil. No nasty, toxic sealant needed. Just an occasional coat of food grade mineral oil to bring out the color and hasten the natural darkening of the stone.

The garden is full of tiny sprouts. E3 assisted me with transplanting the baby radishes today. The seeds sprout in clumps and need to be spread out in order to grow, so we did that today with dozens of tiny little radishes. All the while, E3 talking to the little plants, putting them in their "dirt bed" with a "dirt pillow".

Yesterday, E2 spent a couple hours sobbing and missing her daddy. E1 was a wreck the night before he left, but it took a few days for it to hit E2. E3 just thinks that daddy is in his office on the other side of the house half of the time. This is the first time Stuntman has been gone for more than a day since he redeployed and it's breaking his heart to be away from us, even though it's only for two weeks. One down, one to go.

Did I mention?

2009-03-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

My mom is on a flight to CA as I type. She is coming out for my birthday (today) her birthday (Wednesday) and Easter.
Stuntman is leaving tomorrow for the corporate home office until Good Friday. The two trips just happened to coincide... Stuntman didn't know he was leaving until recently.
I hope my mom doesn't mind the mess!

Making progress

2009-03-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

A lot of progress has been made on the remodel. Nothing fancy, and it's still a mess, but progress has been made. The engineer came back with a plan, so the guys have been working on the sheer wall (pictured above) and giant bolts that go into the foundation at several (6?) places. These bolts are as tall as I am and they go through the floor and into the foundation. Construction is so much simpler in places that the earth doesn't shake. Earthquakes have never really affected this neighborhood in the past, but there is always a chance. We're much more likely to be in the path of a brush fire. Isn't California great?
Seriously, I love it here... my neighbors are awesome, the weather is amazing, and everything (beach, mountains, desert, Disneyland) is within an hour drive.

You may not be able to tell, my my new dining room is taking shape. What was once a GIANT laundry room, is on its way to become a dining room. The patio door or lights aren't in yet, so it will look a lot less like a cave soon.

My kitchen is about the same, except most of the cabinets are in, including the island. I've always wanted an island. I also found a pot rack on Craigslist, yea!
Countertops should be in place in a few days. That island is big enough to roll out some serious lefse!

My contractor and his crew are amazing! What a wonderful bunch of guys. Last week, I had a truckload of soil delivered for my seriously undernourished garden. Two of the men were awaiting delivery of materials before they began work for the day. When I began the task of bringing wheelbarrows full of dirt into the backyard, they helped. Not only did they help, they did almost all of the work! I'm talking 6 cubic yards of topsoil into the backyard that is on a slight uphill. I was planning to take 2 days to do it myself! They weren't being paid to haul dirt... they just happened to arrive a bit early for the job. They wouldn't take anything for their trouble, but I think they will be by in a couple months for some fresh tomatoes.

Hunting

2009-03-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

It seems as though having gaping holes in your home during a remodel may invite unwanted guests.
Stuntman and I were in the kitchen chatting and out of the corner of my eye, I saw something looking at me from an exposed rafter. It saw me and scurried back further into the attic.
Stuntman didn't see it, and thought that maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me.

I was upstairs typing and heard the airsoft rifle on full-auto in the attic. No luck, because the battery is low. It's currently on the charger.
We just heard one of the two large traps go off. Empty.
I think we may borrow one of the neighbor's cats. Maybe the one that caught the rabbit in our backyard yesterday.

A runner

2009-03-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was E1's first track meet. She's wanted to join track since kindergarten and she seems to really enjoy running. The coach spoke to me how he sees real potential in her and how he is looking forward to how she progresses. The other coach also gave great compliments about her "mind of a long-distance runner". It seems that her downright stubborn side and determination is paying off now. It was a mock meet, so kids were able to enter as many races as they wanted and it was very relaxed. She ran the 800, easily. As 8th graders ran past the finish line out of breath and exhausted, she ran past the finish line (not far behind them) as if she had just ran to the mailbox and back, not a half mile! She also ran the 100, 200, 400, and the 4x400 relay. E1 definitely does not take after me. I only run when chased.

Technical Difficulties

2009-03-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Everything is on hold until Tuesday. It seems that our house isn't constructed like originally thought, something about beams in the other direction, nothing major, just a need for re-planning on the architect's part. Soooo, today it's just me , E3 and the dogs at home. It's good to give Roxie a break for a day. I think she was growing tired of sleeping on the sofa and barely raising her head to bark at the workers now and then. She needs more sleep than that and they were disturbing her.
The architect is talking with the city engineer for a new plan approval, something about a sheer wall and earthquake and tie downs, and other things to make sure that my 2 story house doesn't become a ranch-style house if there is any earth-shaking.
I do have my new sink in, I like it... and it shows how it is just a matter of time until it all comes together. My washer/dryer is operational once again. It was out-of-service for 4 days but by the looks of the hampers it must have been out for 4 weeks. My oven is also operational so no more microwavable foods or take-out. We did hit the kids favorite restaurant, Soup Plantation, earlier in the week. We were definitely in need of fresh vegetables and that place is always a huge hit with the kids. They love piling their plate with every vege, and they actually eat most of them! (They know that the more veges they eat, the bigger bowl of soft-serve ice cream they can have at the end)

Before and During

2009-03-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

Before

Day 1

Day 2

Now that the plumbing is complete, and the new tankless water heater is in place, the guys began on the kitchen.
I was left with a functioning kitchen over the weekend, but Sunday night I needed to empty every cabinet. I have stacks and stacks of dishes in E3's room. Luckily, the weather has been nice so he hasn't played in his room at all.
The decision about the countertop was the easiest yet. The trip to the slab warehouse was fun. The kids accompanied me... and luckily, they didn't break anything... not even close. Although the girls fought over who got to carry the small sample of soapstone on the way home. They took turns every ten miles.
The "before" picture definitely looks better than the other two photos right now. I can't wait to see the "after".
As you can see in the "before" pic, my cabinets began protesting when they heard about their impending doom. Drawers broke, shelves fell out... it was a conspiracy. Similar to the range's recent protest.
I'll keep you posted...

Checking in

2009-03-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

I have started a post more times than I can remember... but I am finally going to finish this one (I've said that before too).
It's been a bit busy around here. In the last few weeks we have gone through two nasty viruses, one stomach, and one cold... and I caught both. Things don't move smoothly when mom gets sick.
We just returned from walking around the neighborhood delivering Girl Scout Cookies. (Butterfly Wife, yours will be in the mail tomorrow). We lucked out and all but one person was home.
It's a beautiful day today. In the 80's I'm guessing.
Stuntman is working his butt off cleaning out two rooms that are in the path of demolition this week. We are doing some house remodeling that involves moving Stuntman's workbench and the laundry room. It also means cleaning the playroom in order to access everything. It's amazing all the crap that can collect in 13+ years.
Next week, I'll need to find a place to put everything in my kitchen while it is remodeled. I can't wait to say goodbye to my pink kitchen tile! I didn't even know they made pink grout.. seriously... who special-orders that?
I don't do well when there are too many choices... it took me two hours to pick out the color of white that I wanted for the cabinets. Many more choices, and my head may explode in the next month. Wish me luck, I'm going to the slab warehouse tomorrow to pick out the countertops. It is very likely that my head WILL explode.
I'm also in the midst of creating a new website for the girl's school. It looks great so far, if I do say so myself. (don't judge by the looks of the blog, I haven't put my best effort in it, sorry)
OK, I must post this now. I need to go back to helping Stuntman before he tries to move the washer and dryer by himself... like he did with the freezer.

Better late than never

2009-02-14T16:44:00.000-08:00

We finally ordered prints of all of the photos that Stuntman and I took over the last 2 years.
The one above is my favorite one that Stuntman took last year. To me, it looks like some other planet with multiple sunsets... or maybe it's sunrises, I'm not sure.
I ordered a large print and now I need to find a frame and a place to put it.

Ugh

2009-02-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

Looks like my plans have changed today.
I'm sitting home with E3, who pukes every 30 minutes (luckily he mostly hits the bowl) and E2 who has a bout of diarrhea.
I hear that it's been going around school for the last few weeks... it was only a matter of time until it hit our house.
Stuntman drove E1 to school. I needed to brief him on the strict drop-off procedures since he had never done so... which driveway to drive in, where to open the door, where to drive out, etc..

On another note, looks like a few of the moms at the school will be taking on a big project. I'm excited about it. If you want something changed, sometimes you just need to do it yourselves... and convince those in authority that it needs to be done.

The worst commercial

2009-02-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

Buck was recently commenting on the stupid Valentine's day commercials out there and I just saw this commercial again on my TV. It's not for Valentine's Day, but must be the worst commercial ever. The quality isn't that great in the embedded version, but I think you can still see that if you go to 5-minute pawn, you can buy a motorcycle to impress the skanky ho with the monstrous bags under her eyes.

Rain?

2009-02-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

Looks like rain.
I just love the rain... always have. I love it even more since I live somewhere that rain is rare. It'll be a nice change of pace from the 80 degree weather that we've had for the last week or so. I REFUSE to wear shorts in February... downright refuse to. No, I'm not complaining about the outrageously beautiful weather here, it's what keeps up here, I'm just looking forward to the rain.
I have beef stew in the crock-pot, and a frozen loaf of bread dough thawing and rising on the countertop. Should be a good day for it.
I'm heading to the Red Cross to donate blood today. It's been over a year since my tattoo, so it's go.

Also here is a E1's sure-fire sales pitch to Grandma...
E1: "Grandma, would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?"
Grandma: "of course I'll buy a few"
E1: " You know, Barbara next-door bought 8 boxes"
Grandma: " OK, I'll buy 10"

the neighborhood

2009-02-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

Stuntman and I bought this house over 13 years ago. We know our next-door neighbors very well. The ones on either side of us and the ones that share the driveway we know well enough to leave our keys with each other when we are out of town.
The rest of the neighborhood.... not so much.
We've never met anyone across the street. We have waved to each other as we drive our separate ways, but never actually spoken... until now. It's Girl Scout Cookie time, and E1 wanted to sell door-to-door. I walked with her and we met some very nice people. Almost everyone has lived here a very long time. It seems as if once you move to this street, you stay here.
We didn't walk the entire street though... I didn't care to meet anyone that lived in the house with the kite-man (he flies tiny little kites in the street and looks a bit like Bozo the clown)... and we didn't make it all the way to the guy-who-walks-around-in-his-robe-and-hasn't-shaved-or-bathed-in-10-years' house either.

Spring Planting

2009-01-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

I don't think that a flower will grow when it is planted like this, but E3 doesn't care.

WHO's READY FOR MONSTER JAM??!!

2009-01-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

Apparently, we were.

The whole family went to Monster Jam at Angel's Stadium yesterday. We had pit passes, so we arrived early enough to walk around the pits a see the trucks up close. At first, E3 (who is obsessed with his Matchbox monster trucks) was terrified of the trucks, but after a few minutes, he was excited to see the "big trucks!" He was especially excited to see his favorite, Grave Digger.
It wasn't as rednecky as I had anticipated, and we had an enjoyable time... except for tired kids, my arm spasm from carrying E3, the constant requests for cotton candy each time the vendor walked by, and the fat-headed jerk that sat in front of us that seemed to think it was a good idea to teach his young kid gang signs and boxing during the show.
It rained at our house all day, but it was clear (and about 15 degrees warmer) down in Anaheim.
It's cool today, but not enough to keep the kids inside. I have been working all weekend on a special/urgent project for work. (read= extra money for my new kitchen :D )

How awesome is that!

2009-01-23T07:11:00.001-08:00

In-n-Out Burger was at the girls's school one day this week.
They brought their big truck and served lunch for the kids and families.
It was their basic hamburger or cheeseburger, chips and a drink. I couldn't order the usual double-double animal style, but it was still a very tasty lunch.

Home on the range

2009-01-20T21:18:00.000-08:00

My range heard the rumors that it was going to be replaced. It heard Stuntman and I discussing the kitchen remodel... it heard me talking to my friend today about the range I was planning to buy to replace it. It's not as if it didn't need replacing, the top was practically rusted through into the oven. It stopped working today out of protest. So, a little ahead of schedule I ran to Sears to buy a new one. I have shopped prices online for weeks, so I knew what to expect when I arrived in the store.. or so I thought. I actually paid less than I had planned. How often does that happen! Sears has this price-match guarantee and they checked around for me and found a cheaper price, plus they had free delivery and haul-away special ending today. Yippie.
It doesn't arrive until next week, but I can wait. The burners still work, so I guess that I just won't be baking anything until then. At least the range waited this long to quit working... unlike all of the other appliances that died during Stuntman's deployment (fridge, dishwasher, blender, coffeemaker, and microwave, well the last one was just before he left) .

On the kid front, E2 learned how to swing/pump by herself today. Until now, she had no desire to even try. She was perfectly content to have me push her. Unlike E1, who couldn't wait to learn how to swing on her own as soon as she could fit on the big kid swings. E2 didn't quit swinging until well after dusk. She did take a quick break to eat dinner, but went right back outside and continued swinging until she was tired.

100 degrees

2009-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

There is almost a 100 degree difference in temperature between my house and my sister's house today.
... and she thinks that I'm the crazy one for living here.

although I wouldn't mind getting up into double-digit humidity.. it is WAY too dry right now.. and windy... but at least my car doors aren't frozen shut, and my eyelashes don't freeze and break.

There goes my manicure

2009-01-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

We've been doing a little work around the yard for the last couple weeks. One of the benefits of living here is that it is currently 75 degrees and sunny outside, perfect for yard work.
Last week we, I mean I, dug out a huge tree root that was going across the back yard. After I dug all around it (it took almost 2 hours), Stuntman chopped it up with an ax and pulled it out of the ground in 10 minutes.
Today, I am stuccoing the low wall that runs across the middle of our back yard between our house and the upper level where the playground stands. We've talked about stuccoing the wall since we moved here 13 years ago. Finally. Neither of us have stuccoed before, but I am half done with the scratch coat and it already looks great. I hope that it all doesn't fall off in a year.
Stuntman is building steps to go over the wall, instead of walking around it like we always have. Looks good and it definitely will be useful. We will finish with a walkway of some sort to the steps. I think we will make some type of casual stone pathway.
Cheaper and more effective than going to the gym.
The title to this post may be deceiving because I don't have a manicure. Am I the only woman that thinks manicures are a total waste of time and money?

Happy Moo Ear!

2009-01-01T09:38:00.001-08:00

Or, if you're not E3,
Happy New Year!

Ice Skating

2008-12-31T12:43:00.000-08:00

I broke my rule of venturing anywhere near Old Town Pasadena around the New Year. It wasn't horrible or overcrowded yet when we arrived, but was beginning to get a bit crazy when we left at noon.
The girls and I went ice skating. It's been a few years since E1 and I went last, and E2 has never gone ice skating. I don't think that hockey will be in her future. She had fun, but I am going to have sore muscles in the morning from "helping" her around the ice. E1 did well and had fun with several girls her age that she had met at vacation bible school last year.
It's over 60 degrees outside, but I'm chilled to the bone. I am such a weather wimp from living in SoCal so long. I hope this hot tea helps.

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-24T22:42:00.000-08:00

It is almost Christmas.
According to NORAD, Santa is almost here.

Stuntman arrived home from work just in the nick of time to attend Christmas vigil mass.
I have a few things to finish tonight for the morning, but nothing like last year.
I really have no idea how I did everything last year and held it all together emotionally. I must have been on auto-pilot or something.

For the first year since we have been married, we are staying home for breakfast on Christmas morning. In the past, we drove the 20 miles to Stuntman's mother's home to open presents and have breakfast. For the last 12 of the 13, I have done all of the cooking for everyone. Not this year. We are staying home and enjoying our time together. It just isn't the same down at the "family house" since my mother-in-law passed away 2 years ago. A couple siblings still live there, but I believe the tradition is over. We'll catch up with most of the extended family later in the day.

I feel so blessed to have my family here with me all under one roof.
My prayers go out to all of you that are separated from your loved ones now.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Sleds and snowballs

2008-12-20T23:04:00.000-08:00

We drove a few minutes to the snow today. We hit a few "Road Closed" signs and had to change our route, but eventually we hit a good place with untouched snow.
We knew the area well (it's a great little dirt-biker place that we used to frequent) and we drove off-road for a 1/2 mile or so to the perfect place. E3 wasn't interested in sledding. He was content throwing snowballs at everyone and building a snowman.
The girls, on the other hand, loved sledding down the hill. The hill was steep, so I went first.
It brought back a lot of memories. As a child, I would go sledding almost every day in the winter. All I needed was a heavy frost. I don't think that I've ever mentioned the time that I hit a frozen cowpie with my face. I had abrasions all over my face, but I was still glad that it was frozen and not fresh.
Today was different. The snow was deep (but not too deep) and just the right combination of fluffy and sticky.
Great memories were made today.

EEEK!

2008-12-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

In 3 hours, 25 people will be here for my annual Christmas cookie party.
To Do:
1. CLEAN!
2. Make Frosting
3. find sprinkles
4. Shower
5. Take seeds out of pomegranate to garnish pomegranate martinis
6. bake the brie
7. Arrange tables, etc.
8. scan for and remove any poop in the back yard

Gotta get moving!!

*end of day update*
I finished everything :)
Everyone had a good time and I have a ton of cookies now.

No Snow

2008-12-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

Nada, nothing, no rain, no snow overnight.

darn.

But it is COLD and WINDY

*update at 1:30 pm*
GIANT flakes are coming down between rain drops right now
whoo hoo!!

Anticipation

2008-12-16T15:49:00.001-08:00

The time between posts has been stretching.
It's been a bit busy around here and it seems as if the one moment that I have a chance to type up a quick post, that is the exact same time that E3 has decided that pbskids.com has the perfect game. I really cannot believe how computer-savvy that little kid is. It is so fun watching him click-around like a tiny computer geek.
My paying job has been extremely busy. My backup person, hence, I am her backup as well, is on vacation for a couple weeks. Add in the end-of-the-year-sales-crush, and I have been BUSY. But, ya gotta make hay when the sun shines, doncha know.
I listen to podcasts as I type, and last night I ran out, so I listened to music instead. I heard songs that I listened to on my trip to California to marry Stuntman. (it was on a walkman, not an ipod at that time) After 13 years, he still makes my heart flutter.
I also listened to songs that I played a lot during the deployment. It seems like ages ago.
I cannot believe how happy I am with my life right now. The anticipation for Christmas is as strong as it was when I was a child. Not because of what I'm hoping to see under the tree Christmas morning, but because we are all here as a family.
I feel so very blessed.

There is snow on the local mountains, only a couple hundred feet above us. We can see it from our windows. It is suppose to be even colder tonight, and I am hoping that the precipitation that we receive overnight is in the form of snow.
If so, the kids will be late to school. It's not as if there are a lot of snow days here in Los Angeles.
I hope to post pictures tomorrow of newly fallen snow and kids on sleds. fingers-crossed.

I have half a mind to write a nasty letter to the Hershey's CEO

2008-12-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

Seriously,
the Kiss. Tasty, but not addictive. Did they need to mess with the original?!?!
Now they have all of these other flavors.
Candy Cane... tasty
Cherry Cordial... very tasty
Coconut... waaay too good
Now, I just had a few ~~dozen~~ of the Cheesecake flavor.
COME ON!! They are freaking delicious!!

I didn't know

2008-12-01T21:29:00.001-08:00

Did you know that when pepper spray is used on someone inside a building, the droplets can linger around for some time?... and your eyes burn?
note to self #1: never do anything that would cause me to be pepper-sprayed
note to self#2: Only go to the market in that part of town in the morning, when the hoodlums are still sleeping

Wow

2008-11-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

I was just cleaning the house and heard a BOOM!
I checked outside, no explosions, so I turned on the TV.
Duh, the shuttle just landed at Edwards AFB, it was the sonic boom.
The kids and I watched the landing. We had watched the blast off 16 days ago.
E3 ran to the Christmas tree and grabbed the little Space Shuttle Hallmark Ornament and said "Rocket Ship!!"
Now he's playing with a toy astronaut. His rocket-scientist/Navy pilot grandfather would be proud :)

Black Friday...

2008-11-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

I just returned from my Black Friday shopping trip. Coffee tastes...gooood.
I don't usually venture out before dawn to go to the store. I've shopped early on the day after Christmas, but never on the day after Thanksgiving.
I left the house without even turning on a light. I didn't want to wake anyone before I left, and it worked. The dogs didn't even wake up. My clothes were ready to go, I washed my face and brushed my hair and teeth in the dark, and headed out the door.
I didn't see another car on the road until I was almost to the freeway.
I thought that maybe the cold kept people in the house today. (it was 45 degrees!!)
Once I was close to WalMart, I saw the crowds. Cart after cart was filled with giant flat-screen TV's.
People were pleasant, and I had a fun conversation with the shopper behind me in the electronics line. We agreed that chatting the entire time sure made the hour and a half line go quickly! We figured that we could take the guy in front of us in case the Wii's ran out... but they didn't ;) The laptops and x-box's ran out, but the Wii's were safe. Yes, I finally broke down and purchased a Wii for the family. The kids and I have played it several times at friend's homes, and it is a blast. Probably not for the serious gamer, but a lot of fun for the family. You should have seen E3 boxing on it last week, hilarious.
My workload the last few weeks and the upcoming months will definitely cover todays shopping trip. Actually, I think the next 4 days will cover it... My inbox is stacked about 3 feet high, and I don't see an end. Hopefully, we can catch up after the giant hit our finances took the last year with the deployment and everything. I am so thankful that as far as we know, our jobs are safe. No matter what the economy, people still get sick.

On the drive home, I happened to pass by the mobile home park that was hit in the most recent fire. I don't know what to say. Over 500 homes were lost. The devastation just goes on and on. Two of the people that were at Thanksgiving dinner yesterday had lost their home in the park. They are getting back on their feet and have a good outlook and a new place to stay.

I'm calculating what I saved on my shopping trip today, and I'm splitting it amongst charities (one is on my sidebar).

Only one night

2008-11-26T00:16:00.000-08:00

I hadn't realized that it had been so long since my last post. I guess the day to day excitement around here has kept me entertained. The nonstop hilarity of getting the kids to school, volunteering at the school, housework, diaper changes, cooking, cleaning and working has been keeping me away from my blog.
Tonight is the first night that Stuntman is away since he returned from deployment. He's had several late nights at work, but tonight he will not be home. He's only in San Diego, but it still hit a chord in me. As I was closing up the house for the night.... double-checking the doors, turning off the automatic sprinklers (it's raining, whoohoo!) and setting the alarm for the morning, I had the same empty feeling that I had every night when he was away at war.
I so love that man, and I wish that he was home... I don't want to wait until tomorrow.

Still burning

2008-11-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

The fire from last night has raged due to the tremendous winds around here. Remind me again, why do we live here?!
Stuntman had to go to work for a little while today, so I'm here trying to keep the kids entertained while I go through a box of tissues. The air is so dry, but yet my nose won't stop running.
E3 now needs the computer to play a game online. Have I mentioned that my 2 year old is quite proficient with the mouse? He can't use the toilet, but he can use the computer, priorities, I guess.

*update* what a nightmare today has been for so many people. Please keep up the prayers for everyones safety.
The wind has lessened for now in this area, but I'm not sure if it is only temporary.
*update a few minutes later* the house is shaking again, !@#$%, the wind is back, !@&^%!!

Busy night

2008-11-15T00:24:00.000-08:00

The firefighters are again having a busy night. Please keep them and those in the path in your prayers.
I'm not in the path of this one, but we are watching it from our window. I'm pretty sure our power will be going out tonight, it has been flickering due to the high winds.

TGIF

2008-11-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

I picked up some virus from the kids... can't swallow... feel like crap, but it'll hopefully be short-lived.

It's hot, dry and WINDY today. REALLY windy.

I'm praying that everyone stays safe today.

Project Valor IT time!

2008-11-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

The Valour-IT Veterans Day fundraiser, a friendly competition among blogs, will run through November 27, 2008 (Thanksgiving).
To donate, click the Donate button for ~~your favorite team~~ the Army Team. Division by service branch is for the purpose of friendly competition; all funds ultimately go into the same account.

Soda Pop Shop

2008-11-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

We went to a soda shop today in Highland Park. We had heard about Galco's for years, but never ventured there. They carry all kinds of unique sodas, beers and wines. Stuntman was in the mood for a sugar cane soda instead of a high-fructose corn syrup blend. He acquired a taste for them when in Iraq. The people at the store were as unique as the store. We parked our mini-van between a DeLorean and a Smart Car.
As you can see from the photos, we purchased an array of sodas and beers (you can click the photo for larger). I have the LaBatts Blue chilling right now. I recall the most delicious restaurant meal that I have ever tasted. It included a LaBatts Blue. I ate at a lodge just feet from the Canadian border and was the only one not wearing flannel; I was wearing the standard business skirt, blouse and heels. My mouth waters thinking of the walleye, asparagus and Labatts that I had that evening. Mmmmm.

The Leninade label has a few catchy sayings: "A party in every bottle!" , "Our 5-year plan; drink a bottle a day for five years and become a Hero of Socialist Flavor" , " A taste worth standing in line for!" and, "get really hammered and sickled!"
On the other hand, the Pure John McCain Cola says "What this country needs is natural leadership and a great cola. At Jones Soda we use natural sweeteners, like pure cane sugar. Pure McCain Cola is also made with 100% pure patriot spirit and the love of the red, white and blue."
We purchased a few to share :)

We are sooooo moving

2008-11-06T18:14:00.000-08:00

From the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Los Angeles County will charge shoppers 10.25 percent if the governor's plan is adopted by lawmakers. The sales tax increase would be in effect for three years.

Do they really think that we believe that this would be temporary?
....and I like the Governator.

Resistant vs Proof

2008-11-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

Did you know that if something is marked "chip and break resistant", it can still hit the countertop just so and EXPLODE into a million pieces all over the kitchen?

To those more eloquent...

2008-11-05T16:19:00.000-08:00

So many people have said it better than I can today...

Chuck Z., geez, I wasn't expecting him to say that he's OK with Obama, but I'm glad that he did.

Buck, he's disappointed as I am, but has a great perspective.

El Capitan, agrees that Obama is OUR President, even if we didn't vote for him.

Toy Soldier, His mother should be proud (I know that she already is).

I would love to link more, but real life, and hungry children await...

Disappointed

2008-11-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am disappointed about last night's results.
I am sorry to see that yes, the presidency can be bought.

I will, however, pray that the president-elect does what is best for the country as a whole. I'm going to suck it up and move on.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

;)

huh?

2008-10-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the Obama infomercial and I'm thinking that this may be a bit over the top.
The music and the production... mmmmkay.
When do we text our vote to see who is given immunity and who takes the walk of shame away from the White House?

Early Gift

2008-10-26T10:57:00.001-07:00

I just received my Christmas present from my mom.
Early, yes... but that is because she knows that I will use it for my Christmas cards. I already have so many ideas for projects around the house, and Brownies, and scrapbooking, etc. My mother has had a cricut for over a year (I bought it for her birthday), and E1 used it when we were there visiting. I'm sure that E1 will be jazzing up her school projects as well.
One good thing, I was forced to clean, really clean my office/sewing room/craft room to create a designated space for the thing.

Holiday Ham

2008-10-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

With the holiday season fast approaching, I thought this was the perfect time to repost this recipe. The ham is bargain-priced, but tastes like you waited in line at the ham store and paid 5 times more.
During the holidays, many stores have specials on spiral-sliced hams. Buy two, this recipe is enough to glaze two. Do NOT use the glaze that is often included in the package, use this recipe instead.

1 fully cooked shank half ham, bone in (pre-sliced)
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1/4 teaspoon paprika
dash ground ginger
dash ground allspice

Mix the sugar and spices in a small bowl. Place the ham flat side down onto a large baking sheet. Rub the sugar/spice mixture all over the outside of the ham. Use a blowtorch… yes, a blowtorch, on medium flame, to caramelize the sugar on the outside of the ham. You can use the small little torches that are sold in kitchen supply stores for crème brule, or, you can go to the garage and borrow your husband’s blowtorch.
Carefully wave the flame back and forth over the ham so that the sugar bubbles and browns, but does not burn. Turn the baking sheet around so that the entire outside of the ham is glazed. Rub additional sugar/spice mixture onto the ham and continue with the caramelizing process. Repeat until the entire ham is covered with glaze.
Reheat the ham in the oven as stated on the ham package.
I usually bring one ham to share at a gathering and keep one at home for the family because there are never any leftovers to bring home.
I originally found this recipe on a website some years ago and it is requested by family every holiday.

You can see other delicious recipes at Gayle’s Grocery Cart Challenge
.

If you can

2008-10-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

From the Sky Terrace Fire Victim Relief Website:

The Marek Fire Devastated This Neighborhood
Early Monday morning, October 13th, the Marek Fire stormed through the Sky Terrace Mobile Home Park. Residents were given only minutes to evacuate. Fortunately, all residents were evacuated safely.

Unfortunately, the fire, aided by gusts of Santa Ana winds up to 60 miles per hour, destroyed 40 of the 58 mobile homes in the Park. 40 families lost their homes lost and everything they owned.

Firefighters Did Their Best
Please support these families to rebuild their lives.

Please donate to the Sky Terrace Fire Victim Relief Fund.

Plan B

2008-10-20T20:20:00.000-07:00

In a comment on my last post, Buck asked for photos.
The camera battery was D.E.A.D., but we did catch a couple on the camera phone.
I was not able to ride my bike. As we were loading it, I noticed the front tire was low. It was fine a month ago when I rode down the street just to see if it started. The valve stem is crap and won't hold air. So, there goes my spontaneous trip riding.
We salvaged the day with a fun 4x4 drive around Hungry Valley. The new truck is awesome off-road. The kids had a blast and the weather was perfect. The day reminded me of the many times Stuntman and I drove all over SoCal off-road, except this time we had three kids squealing and laughing in the back seat.

looking down on the valley... see the tiny trucks down there?
Stuntman and the kids tossing rocks down the giant hill that we had just conquered.

Going Riding!

2008-10-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

WhooHoo!
I can't wait!!
My bike has been lonely!
Off to grab my gear, See Ya!

the crappy spa

2008-10-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

One day this week, I sat in a room full of other women. Many of us were wearing matching robes, reading magazines, and drinking tea. It was very similar to my visits to Burke Williams … except… we weren’t waiting in the quiet room for someone to call us for our massage or facial. We were waiting for our mammograms. Otherwise known to me as a b@@b panini.
It was my first time, so I was a little nervous, but the thought of it being a low-grade spa kept my mind entertained. It wasn’t bad, and not painful… uncomfortable, but not painful.
I needed to stick around for additional tests after the initial mammogram, but I was finally told that there was “nothing of concern”.

Can't blink

2008-10-15T17:29:00.001-07:00

The relative humidity is up today from the last few days... up to 12%.
I need to buy a new humidifier.

It was so dry last night that in order to sleep, I hung damp towels all over the bedroom. It looked like some odd voodoo practice or something. Stuntman didn't even notice.

damn Santa Ana Winds

This bugs me

2008-10-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

I've heard similar statements on several newscasts...
"Thankfully, only one home was lost in the fire, blah, blah, blah,... 40 mobile homes were destroyed in the blaze, blah, blah.."

Hey! a mobile home is a mobile HOME! It is still a HOME. Families still live there, all of there possessions, and pets are still there.
Quit writing them off.

Mistaken Identity

2008-10-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

We went to WalMart a few days ago. Somehow (I think I became distracted), we were separated. Stuntman and E1 were looking for me, E2 and E3. E1 ran up to a woman saying “here’s Mom!” but it wasn’t… luckily, I was only an aisle over and they found us:

Stuntman: “E1 ran up to someone else, mistaking her for you”
Me: “awwww, poor girl… who was it?”
Stuntman: “the lady in the next aisle”
Me: (I peek into the next aisle and whisper back to him) “ the 50-something lady with the big rear?”
Stuntman: “wha???” as he looks into the next aisle, then keeps looking into other aisles. “No, the one two aisles over now”

Well, I now realize that I must look like a bleach blonde with giant b@@bs, but she did have a tiny rear, and was obviously younger than 40 ☺

I think E1 may need glasses.

Wind and smoke

2008-10-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

As you may have heard, there is a nasty fire in my area. The wind is horrendous. We had pomegranates, branches and small animals hitting the side of the house all night.
The Marek Fire that was barely smoking by the end of yesterday, flared up overnight.
I have a friend that lives right in the area that has been evacuated. It has been reported that homes have been destroyed in that area as well. I have not been able to reach her since yesterday. If you pray, please keep her, her family and all of those affected in your prayers. Thank you.
Thankfully, we have the best firefighters in the world here in Los Angeles County..

*the photo is from my front yard

*update*
my friend and her family are doing amazingly well. She is very involved in a parenting group around here so everyone has really stepped up to help. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers, they will make it through this. The most difficult thing for them is lost photos, and their lost cats.

Not my turn

2008-10-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

My badger-dog, Emma is obsessed with this little house we have in the back corner of our yard. It's a little brick house that currently contains old lawn equipment. The previous owners used it as a chicken coop. That could explain the blood splatters on the roof of the laundry room when we moved in, right?
This little house is notorious for rat infestations. We have trapped, poisoned, and shot the little suckers, but they keep returning. Emma has been barking at it, circling it, and then barking some more. Yesterday, something must have moved in there, and Emma jumped back 10 feet, then began barking some more.
I hope Stuntman can find a solution this weekend.
That's part of the trade-off with marriage, I do the dishes, and he deals with rodents.
Sounds fair to me.

Recipe

2008-10-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is my family's favorite recipe for chicken. I try to make at least 2 at a time so that I can have leftovers for chicken salad or sandwiches. Great when whole chickens are on sale!

Tasty Roast Chicken

Wash and dry 2 whole chickens.
Rub chicken inside and out with whatever seasoning you prefer. I use lemon pepper seasoning mixed with onion and garlic powder.
Place in large baggies, and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
Place chickens in roasting pan, stuff half of an onion in each chicken cavity.
Roast at 250 degrees F for 5 hours, uncovered. (chicken should be at an internal temp of at least 180)
Let stand 10 minutes prior to carving.

See more delicious recipes here.

A good one

2008-10-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

I saw this Saturday night, and the video hasn't been available on their site the last few days.
Hilarious.

This is cool

2008-10-07T18:58:00.001-07:00

I may need to work a little extra to buy this for Christmas.
I just don't know if I should wrap it for the kids, or Stuntman.

This and that

2008-10-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

I just finished mowing the lawn. I actually enjoy mowing the lawn, except for the occasional rock in the yard. We have rocks everywhere around here. You should see the size of the granite boulders dug out when we had the pool built!
It was worse when Sparky was still around, she carried rocks all over the place and would leave them scattered throughout the grass.
When Stuntman was deployed, I hired a gardener. It was difficult to justify a gardener now that we are fully-staffed at home, so we let him go. Just because the majority of my neighbors don't mow their own lawn, doesn't mean that we can't.

I've revived my thriftyness as of late. I've always been relatively frugal, but the key term here is relative... compared to most people that I know. The deployment and the subsequent pay issues on re-deployment have whittled down our liquid assets. We're not in actual financial trouble like many are right now, so I'm not complaining... OK, our so-called house value dropped $200k, but does that really affect me day-to-day? No. I'm just taking this as a wake-up call.
I remember when I was in college and lived on $5 spending money a month. This broke down to one candy bar (peanut butter Twix) and nine 50 cent beers. OK, not the best financial plan, but it worked.

One of the easiest places to trim our budget has been our food bill. We were never really big on eating out, maybe 2 or 3 times a month, but that has changed to one or zero. I'm planning our meals better, and doing the majority of my shopping at my new favorite store. The produce is ultra-cheap, and fresh. It's a bit of an adventure the first time, but you just need to realize that some people have different definitions of personal space, or courtesy.
I have found a great site, via a comment on Spousebuzz, Gayle, at the Grocery Cart Challenge, has great posts regarding her family's food budget. I have found fresh ideas from the site as well as from those who comment at her site. Plus, I'm always up for new recipes and she has tasty ones each Friday in a recipe Swap.

Though his eyes

2008-10-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

I don't think that E3 remembers rain.
I don't remember the last time that he saw rain.
It rained once on our vacation, but he was asleep at the time, so he missed it.

Today, I looked at the rain through his eyes.
He asked to go outside in the rain. I obliged. He got his jacket and hat, and actually wore shoes.

It's not as if I was going to melt or anything. We played in the sandbox, got soaked, but had fun.

2008-10-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

To whom it may concern:

If you drop your son off at my house for the day, and leave me with a few Pull-ups, please ensure that he has one ON before you leave him here.
I don't tend to check those things right away, especially if the kid is old enough to tell me if his diaper is dirty.
I had asked him if he was wearing a Pull-up, or if he went in the potty now. He thought he was wearing a Pull-up, can't blame the kid for going commando and not noticing.

I shampoo my carpets enough the way it is. I don't need extra work to do.

Also, Pull-ups are a scam by the diaper companies to prolong the need to purchase their product. OK, I have no actual proof on that, but I've devised the theory from observation.

Thrifty

2008-10-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

For her birthday, E1 received $20 from her uncle.
In the past, she's be known to take this money to the store and buy something for herself.
This time, she decided to stretch her dollar a bit and did her shopping on ebay.

Out of the club

2008-09-30T09:23:00.001-07:00

I am no longer a milspouse,
I think.

Stuntman's time is up, and he's not re-enlisting.
We both have mixed feelings about it, but we believe it is what's best.
Several years ago, he saw that the best way to "support the troops" was to become one, again.

I am very proud of what he has done.

If he feels the need to re-enlist, I'll be behind him 100%. I wouldn't be surprised. He said "Infantry is in his blood, but Airborne is in his knees".

Soldier's Angels

2008-09-30T00:57:00.000-07:00

Since I no longer send care packages to Stuntman, I adopted a soldier through Soldier's Angels. I have been lucky enough to receive several letters back from my soldier already.
I am so psyched about sending letters and packages to this soldier that needs my support at this time. It has just been an awesome experience.

A new look

2008-09-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been messing around with my blog layout.
I wanted something a little "prettier"
It's a work in progress, it's still not exactly what I want, but it's on the right path, I think.

I need to get to work, so I'm done messing around for now and will leave it like this until I have more time.

What do you think?

Do I need a cape?

2008-09-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

I sent this email to the parents of the girls that attended E1's birthday party:

To all of the parents of the 3rd-grade girls;

I just want to tell all of you about your amazing kids. I was truly
impressed with their behavior on Friday. They were thoughtful,
polite, and were respectful of each other. It is not by accident
that these girls behave this way. I give all of the credit to you,
their parents. Not only did I survive the evening, I enjoyed having
them all in my home.
Thank you!

Susan

I just received this response:

Thank you Susan, you are a brave woman. God bless you for having the strength for that. I guess being a military wife does give you extra powers that be!!

Calling all moms!

2008-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

E3 has been on antibiotics for 5 days now.. and I think he's ingested almost one full dose... total.

Anyone have any new ideas on how to make a toddler take their medicine?

I've tried forcing it down his throat, most of it ends up on his chest, or me, or the wall.

I've tried hiding it in chocolate milk and smoothies.

I've tried bribery.

I just mixed some in a tablespoon of chocolate frosting, no deal.

Ugh!

What's Next?!

2008-09-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

from the AP:

Cadbury says Chinese-made chocolate have melamine
A Cadbury spokesman says preliminary results show its Chinese-made chocolates contain the industrial chemical melamine.

How greedy and evil can people be?
Melamine can falsely elevate protein levels in foods. The most popular tests measure the protein content in a sample by measuring the nitrogen content. Since melamine is high in nitrogen, it looks like protein to these tests. The only problem is that it should be used to make countertops, not food.

First pet food, then baby formula, now candy bars, next...?

party time

2008-09-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

I just said "goodbye!" to the last of the partygoers.
E1 had a slumber party last night... Nine third-grade girls.
Most of the parents asked if I had been drinking when I sent out the invitations. I must just be crazy.
I think it was the easiest party to date. The girls had a blast, kept busy the entire time, and were respectful of each other.
E2 played right along with the big girls; they included her in everything.
They...
went swimming,
ate pizza,
decorated cupcakes,
ate cupcakes,
played on the playground,
picked tomatoes,
played frisbee,
drove electric cars,
played flashlight tag,
made a music video,
decorated pillowcases with fabric paint,
watched a movie,
ate popcorn,
told scary stories,
slept (yes, they were all out by 10:30),
ate breakfast,
made friendship rings,
and played outside.

I'm sure the neighbors loved hearing Hannah Montana well into the evening... oh ,and the screams during flashlight tag. The dogs are napping right now, they are exhausted from following the girls around all evening and morning.
E1 has been blessed with a great bunch of friends.