Happy 100th Birthday Angel Gpa C

I can't believe you've been gone 7 years now. Even though you lived a long and full life of 92.5 years, I still miss:

• your smile
• your laughter
• your humor
• your voice
• your snore
• watching you come back from a walk downtown after having coffee with your classic "Gramps" hat and newspaper
• the smell of your Old Spice after shave
• golfing with you and looking alongside the fairway for lost (&found!) balls
• walking to the library and checking out books with you
• going to the farm and picking strawberries, rhubarb and asparagus
• being treated to dinner out at the Chanticleer with their awesome string onions and Shirley Temples
• watching golf and boxing (while you shuffle your feet along with the boxers trying to avoid the next punch) together while snacking on one of our favorites: Nestle Crunch ice cream bars
• your ability to energize a room with your charisma
• your abilityto make sure everyone was having a good time
• your larger than life presence in a room filled with people
• your life-long interest in learning something new all the time ( I still remember the first time you sent me an email in your late eighties) including skateboarding
• the time you took me to Bambi at the movie theater in Washington
• the time you took me bowling
• all of the times you treated me to Sunday Brunch at Sun-N-Fun
• I miss hearing all of the stories of your life as a child and a young adult and how things have progressed and changed (Some for the better and some for the worst) since then
• sharing happy hour snack time with you--complete with Grandma's "Etta Dip" and Pringles, Fritos and braunschweiger
• listening to you talk of your younger days of "fast driving" in your fast cars!
• tinkering in your garage
• hearing about all of your ole' fishin' stories

I just simply...

miss you...

but...

I am ever so grateful that I had you in my life for so,

so many years.

Happy Birthday Gramps! Hope you're rockin' it in heaven. Tell Grams and all the others hello!

Hugs,

Your Southpaw Suz

Just Playin'

A nightmare...Warning-don't read if you might be offended!

This is a diagram of the proposed US Health Care that democratic House members aren't allowing Republican members to send to their constituents. A complete nightmare!!! I don't care how anyone in the US voted-nationalized health care is a nightmare and wayyyyyy worse than our current system despite it's shortcomings. Just ask any Canadian or European how they like their health care. Every friend that I know from Canada (I have several from optometry school) and elsewhere hate it. And talk about waiting in lines...I've seen first hand (working as an optometric student)at the VA and Air Force base just how awful a system it is. Everyone should be concerned. And for my family and friends that may not have voted as I did, I am writing this out of concern for all of us. ALL OF US. The current administration is trying to rush this health care plan through. Health care; a portion of our government that is a substantial percentage of America's overall operating expenses. I was always raised that big expenditures and big decisions surrounding them should be c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y thought through and not rushed. Big decisions (monumental ones) should not be made rashly. I personally believe the current administration goal is to do just that-rush it through and under the radar so that "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named" can continue pushing his ideologies on all of us. Just my opinion.

I can say I knew her when...

This is my dear friend Lexi. She recently found out she made the design team for Freehand Scraps! She also has projects that will be showcased next week at the Craft and Hobby Association convention in Orlando, FL. The projects are featuring items from a line from Nikki Sivils. I am so proud of her and was happy to come over to her house the other day to take some fun pics and a headshot for a profile pic on her blog. (Note: This pic is SOOC). Our boys had some fun slippin' + slidin' nearby while we had a little photo shoot. Our hubbies were both away on business, so we decided to make the most of "single parenting it" and have some fun.

Congrats Lexi! All the best with your craftiness!

The engine of poverty

A good link to check out:http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2009/07/22/the-engine-of-poverty/.

Poladroid fun

Playing with textures (photography post)

I'm taking an online course while on Va-K and this is one of the homework assignments.

This one's for Meems

The Blues Brothers and Elvis...uh..thank ya...UH thank ya verrrry much! The boys loved the glasses, Meems, and were only too happy to strike a pose for the camera.

Surf's UP

some of these pics I took and some are from my SIL's camera. Will try and post more later.

Getting started

a little caffeine for the long and winding road. We have arrived safely at our final destination after a few stops along the way. Clear roads and good weather made for a pretty smooth trip. We are looking forward to skimboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving and tennis playing to fill up our days...Oh...AND a return visit from the "Cabana Boy" with some iced cold yummy beverages! More pics and posts later!

A little pro...fun with Anna K

So our "Ace" is at it again. Season Two of Ballboying it for the local professional tennis team. And Anna K was in the stadium tonight! Unfortunately, a sprained wrist kept her from playing. We arrived early enough that Ace made the team to help roll and unroll the "green carpet." A much coveted task by the ballkids. He continues to enjoy the roll of ball boy and all of its benefits-getting the players autographs after the match as well as snacks from the concession stand at breaks.

Some sweet boy turned 11 AND....

got himself a new ride! Oh...and so did his Momma and his Daddy! This summer is definitely going to be one to remember. Lots of memory making at the lake.

Mozart vs. Metallica

Yesterday Ian and I were listening to iTunes. American Idol songs, Mozart (from the movie Twilight) and Metallica were played. Ian came to his own conclusion and decided that, indeed, Mozart was far better than Metallica. (Bless you my son!)

Gettin' off my high horse

So, Mick and I had a little "domestic" (thanks for the coined term neighbors Jan and Keith) this morning as I set off the alarm feeding the dogs-who were barking incessantly to be fed-and I, of course, was the only one to hear or, more correctly, to be disturbed by their vociferous barks. Our domestic wasn't about the alarm going off, but the fact that I fed the dogs separately (so they wouldn't fight over the food) and Lily got out of their room and managed to piddle (ok-she's nearly 80 pounds) by the back basement room door (Thank you God for porcelain tile floors and not carpet). I threw one of my hissy fits and went into a tirade about how I'm the only one who has to clean up all the yack, doo-doo and other nasty excrements from these dogs. Everyone benefits from the love-but only me, myself and I get the nastiness. So...Mick, in the process of our heated diatribe decides to tell me to "get off my high horse."  Well...suffice it to say that didn't go over very well with "da Momma." And Da Momma made sure the rest of the morning didn't go over well for anyone from that moment on. 

The funny of all of this is that Ian, the quick-witted soul that he is, took it upon himself to bring the moment back up later in the afternoon. We were HSing a  science lab at a friend's house who had an outdoor horse shaped tire swing. (You probably know where this story is going now). Ian jumps up on it and hollers out," Look, Mom! I'm up on my high horse!"

That son of mine. Always knows how to make me smile!

This says it all!

Makes me sick!

The Newest Flu

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/planning-guide/planning-guide.pdf

Some good info on preparedness.

I agree with everything in this you tube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqkMfToY9Pk&feature=player_embedded

New Furniture's Arrival

Finally...SOME  of our new and completely paid for in full furniture arrived today. Can't wait til it all arrives. 

Was hoping to get the window box flowers planted today-guess that will have to wait until tomorrow along with staining the shutters and window boxes. Mick has a big guy's weekend and Ian will be camping with the Boy Scouts at Roaring River State Park. Scary to have him going alone.  (Lots of prayers going on by the momma for safe travels and good health for my BEBZ and for those traveling with them).

So, since the two eldest BEBZ will be away, I am looking forward to some 1-on-1 time with Boo. Plan to take him out for a "Special" as he calls it. I think we may go out for breakfast Sat. am and perhaps go to the Grand Prix or go bowling. Also plan to take him to play tennis (of course). Still have a lot of spring cleaning and sprucing I want to get done though so maybe I'll enlist his help with that as well.

I did manage to get items donated today. Wish I could send all of the clothing and toys to our sponsored boy in Nicaragua. But at least the items will be put to good use and help many kiddos here in the US.  Need to remember there's lots of people we can help here in the states as well. 

Getting excited about summer and all of our plans. Lots of great memories to be made at the lake and on vacation. Can't wait to get some more beach photos now that I have my 24-70mm lens.  The boys can hardly wait to go to Florida with the cousins again. It was so much fun last time! We booked the same condo and room as last time so we know what to expect.

Gotta get ready for tennis and read some Fudge-A-Mania to the boys. They are really into me reading the story out loud to them b/c they say I do a great "Fudgie voice." I was just reading it to Boo but Ian has really taken a liking to listening along also. Gotta love that!

Time for tennis....later.

Sharing the love of reading

Photobooth fun

Since my laptop crashed yesterday I thought I'd post a pic that was on my mac.

• Today Ian and I have been logging the changes of the tadpoles we've been "growing." There's three of them and I've affectionately named them "The Three Stooges."
  
• Also learning about the stock market, mortgages and fiscal responsibility. 
  
• Just began reading The Number Stars by Lois Lowry and we are revisiting WWII, the holocaust and other topics related to it.
  
• Boys will play tennis this afternoon and then Boo's got scouts and soccer practice
• I am gearing up for awards banquet tonight. Looking forward to seeing the girls again. The speechmaking-not so much.
• NTS: write Science Exam for Ch#8-10 and prepare for Wed's lab
• looking forward to sunny days at the lake with BEBZ at my side