It poured, and I mean POURED rain for nearly an hour here today. We so do not need the precipitation. Our back yard is flooded, and our roof is leaking. We are overdue for a new roof. Now we've got drywall damage. I hate this house. If my husband starts to gripe I'm going to say, "Excuse me but I don't want to hear it. We need a new house and you know it. This one is quite literally falling apart and it's too small. I've been on you for five years about it. Shit or get off the pot already." That's exactly what I'm going to say, too. Our house literally shifted on the foundation about five years ago. There are some holes in some corners. Even our duct work shifted. Of course this house was built 40 years before Moses was born, so you get the picture. There isn't anything to salvage in the way of 'adding on' or 'making improvements', either. *grumbles*

Anyway, no ducks landing on the backyard today, but lots of large lake-like puddles. Oh. Joy.

Today the kids went to daycare and I put some finishing touches on the cleaning. It was still clean from the party this weekend, but I picked up a bit and then vacuumed and did some laundry. I've sort of made it a habit to do a different project of cleaning about the house every week. Damned if this house isn't starting to actually look clean and hygienic instead of merely 'picked up'. I wonder if this can be maintained during the school year? Somehow I'm thinking not. *sigh*

I ruined an Old Navy t-shirt. Dammit. I went out to put chemical in the pool and it splashed on me. Now it's ruined. *grumbles* I loved that shirt, too. Nice and soft. Dammit.

To top it all off, I had turned Buster loose to run about while I did the pool maintenance and fed and watered him. I also removed the carpet from his doghouse as it was wet from the rain. I took him to the front yard to try to get him to learn how to chase a tennis ball (he's not that interested), and he TOOK OFF. Idiot. Ran around the block to the neighbor's house. Nothing like trying to sneak off across yards yelling profanity at your dog in a controlled voice...all as the dog hi-tails it to somewhere else. He is now grounded to a leash whenever he is off his tie out. Furthermore, he is going to be enrolled in obedience training. I will not have a dog who runs off. I will not stand for it. He can learn what is expected of him and he will be happier for it. This will save him from possible injury, not to mention from my displeasure.

( Moving from Webshots to Flickr )

I will admit that I have become addicted to Garrett's new NintendoDS, particularly Nintendogs. I now 'own' a German Shepard named Sasha, a Golden Retriever named Daisy, and Garrett's Beagle named Lucky. Hee. What a totally fun game. You take the dog for walks (and scoop up the poop! LOL!), feed and groom them, enter them in competitions, and train them. It's too cute! I tried his Spongebob Atlantis game, but can't get the hang of it. Garrett has begun to figure out Cory In The House. I think he needs some Mario games. *g*

I've started reading Saving The World by Julia Alvarez. It's sort of a double story going on. The first is about an Latina author and her struggles with writing a story and having the self confidence to believe in her marriage; and the second 'story' is actually what she's writing about, which is the country of Spain's attempt to vaccinate people all over the world against smallpox, using orphans 'voluntarily infected' with cowpox by a royal physician. It's told from the point of view of the rectoress running the foundling home the boys are chosen from. So far the boys have just boarded the ship and the author herself has told her husband to go to Central America on an assignment without her. I find myself annoyed by the interruption of the vaccination story to read about the fictional author's life. Still, the vaccination part of the story is good reading, so I'm going to see it through. I will be reading a book about Katherine Howard next, I just have to decide which one it will be. I am going to get it on library loan to save myself some money (as I did with the one I'm reading now).

I can't remember when I've read this much! I've finished three books on my summer reading list thus far! It's so nice to be able to do this again!

OMFG...as I've typed this it has started to rain AGAIN! *headdesk*

Alright, I'm off to read to the sound of the blasted rain! *eyeroll* Normally that would thrill me, but we don't need the precipitation. It needs to go out west or to Florida, plzkthnks.

So anyway, Garrett had his party today. The menu included BBQ Pork & Beef, chips, macaroni/corn casserole (which is TEH SHIZ), and watermelon...not to mention cake (DUH). They played, swam, busted the pinata, and had an all-around good time. I was too busy filming video to get candid shots of the pinata bust though, darn it! He had a pinata shaped like a dog bone. You can see it in this shot:



We sooo had to 'pose' this photo, because the wind was blowing so hard we couldn't keep the candles lit. We even tried to form a human 'fence' around the cake, but it didn't work. So that's why you'll see some of the candles look as though they were never lit...because some of them weren't! LOL! Garrett thought it was funny.



Then Buster stole the show! LOL! How cute is that?



And finally, here's what I like best about cake decorating:



There was actually more cake consumed than that, but this was the only 'post mortem' shot I got. I like the thought of it being consumed and knowing I can make another delicious piece of art for someone else.

I feel like a bad mom because I only took 7 pictures at Grace's party and I tool over 80 at Garrett's. *sigh* I did have to remind myself that I was a lot less stressed at this party, though, and not running around trying to do every little thing (let alone I was not nearly so tired as I had not been working all week like I had been in May), so I had more time to take pics. Since my parents had come over two weeks ago, they did not come today (and that was less stress...I can't remember the last time I didn't feel additional stress while doing a cake for the kids).

Thanks to adararosey for all of your compliments, support, and for the super duper chat on MSN tonight! You rule, babe!

I thought the kids would be out by now so I could sneak outside and swim by myself, but the little farts are still wide awake! *eyeroll* Oh well. Guess I'll just have to wait until tomorrow to swim.

Some pictures of the 3-D Beagle cake Garrett wanted for his birthday. I used the same pattern as I did for last year's dragon cake, but I modified it quite a bit for a dog's body. I can't give you the exact amount of time it took to complete, because I took some breaks to do stuff around the house. I do know I started baking at 4:00 p.m., and I took the first picture of the completed cake at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty good considering how many breaks I took (cake cooling time, watched a movie, ate some supper, etc.)

You can find the entire tutorial at:

Beagle Birthday Cake: CLICK HERE!

Find out how I went from this...


To this...

...who somehow has managed to turn 7!!! Yipes! How did he get so old already? Which also means I am old...*sigh*

I wish we could all remember John Adams' idea of what a free country truly meant.

Peace.

My niece just left. W.O.W. I think I may have jinxed myself when I said she was behaving herself. Anyway, my kids are currently asleep as they are exhausted from playing.

I've not posted about this previously, but for about the past month we've had a pigeon perched every morning on our garage roof. He studies us wherever we are. Sometimes he stares in the door at us, sometimes he just watches us if we're in the yard. He doesn't startle easy. Today I took a shot of him as he was watching the kids play with the dog. We've christened him "Pigeonwigeon". Say that five times fast, I dare you! LOL!



Here's a pic of my 4th of July pedicure I told you all about:



Have I mentioned I don't like feet? LOL! For some reason I just think they are really icky looking, or maybe it's just mine.

It has been raining off and on over the past three days. As if we really need more rain. The danger of the flood has basically passed, and now those living in areas where the water has regressed are beginning the clean up and recovery phase. I can't even imagine what they are going through.

One of my nieces is here today. This is the first time she has stayed with us. She is just a year younger than Grace, so they play well together. She is an only child (until next month when her baby sister will arrive), so she's got that 'only child' thing going on, but she's behaving herself. I feared severe cabin fever for us today, due to the rain keeping us indoors and out of the pool. However, I have managed to save the day with Playdough. God bless the creators of Playdough. I bought this huge pack complete with rolling mats and a few implements (scissors, garlic press looking thing, etc.), then I got out my pizza cutters and my 100 piece animal cookie cutter set, my fondant rolling pins, and some cupcake wrappers, and the kids are just going to town. Last time my kids played for two hours with it. I hope it lasts that long today, too.

Later, my daughter and my niece want me to paint their toenails. I painted my own red and put blue polka dots on them for the 4th of July, so they thought they wanted that, too. I may post pics of my own feet later. Actually, I spent two hours on Tuesday giving myself a complete pedicure. I not only used my footbath (which is BLISS), but I used the Pedegg and pumice stone to smooth off dead skin (which feels heavenly while it is being done), then used an apricot scrub on my feet, used cuticle oil, polished and dotted and voila! I even read whilst waiting for coats of polish to dry. 'Twas very nice, indeed! Of course, after they were complete dry I got up and cleaned house for three hours, but it was worth it! I plan on doing this at least once every two weeks. Weeee!

Oh, and SQUEEEE! I have finished the second book on my summer reading list and will be starting the third today! I can't remember the last time I had this much time to read. I love it! I finished Daughter of York this morning at 1:30 a.m. Today I am starting Saving The World. The reviews haven't been so good for this novel, but I'm waiting to judge for myself. I have no idea what I will pick to read after this, but I'm so grateful for my Shelfari lislt, because I can keep track of all I want to read. Woohoo!

Anyway, enough jabbering. This is all highly boring.

Dear 'Soccer Type' Parents:

Please shut the fuck up. I don't care if you think your child is THE SHIZ of the team (even if he strikes out loads and misses lots of balls that come his way). I'm so glad you feel the need to truck a huge cheering section to the game for him alone, yet never encourage them to cheer for the rest of the boys on the team, who are playing for the TEAM and not personal glory. Furthermore, just because you have a set of twins and own your own business doesn't mean you are the be all and end all in this county. My son plays just as well as your son. He hits the ball twice as far and twice as often as your son. He also fields more balls than your son and he doesn't walk around bragging about himself. He's part of the team, you see...and there's no "I" in team. Please teach your son this. I hope my son kicks your son's ass when they get to the highschool level of baseball, and I intend to encourage him to stay active in baseball and to send him to as many camps as it takes to keep him ahead of your son.

Also, to the psycho parents among you: Shut the FUCK UP. Don't sit there and bitch about the team one day, then blow in the total opposite direction the next game, just because you happen to be sitting with someone who feels the opposite of how you have verbally let us all know you feel for the ENTIRE season up to now. I was there and heard you all season, so don't flip flop on the last game just to suck up to someone.

For all of the rest of you idiot parents, please shut the FUCK UP. Quit complaining and get off your asses and do something to help your child develop his skills. Please appreciate that some people VOLUNTEER their time to make EVERY practice and to help coach your child. My husband doesn't do it because it's how he wants to fill his free time. He does it because it's important to the kids to learn sportsmanship and teamwork.

I'm afraid all of your attitudes have put me right off my pudding. When was the last time you looked at yourselves in the mirror and told yourselves what being part of a TEAM meant? I'm betting you've never done that and never had anyone teach that to YOU...

Guess what? Some of us WERE taught! Grow up already!

Signed,
Pissed off NON Soccer Type Parent

Yeah, I bet all of you who think I'm a ranting, psycho lunatic are pretty much surprised by this. As for myself, I am not surprised.

Did anyone besides me pick the stripper for the occupation? LOL!

Your result for The Best Thing About You Test...

Intelligence

Take The Best Thing About You Test at HelloQuizzy

As further proof, I offer the fact that I am ( An English Genius )

I just finished watching 10,00 B.C.. Ever since the preview was shown at OotP, I've been DYING to see it. I waited eagerly for the DVD release and had it at the top of my Netflix list as soon as I signed up.

It was the single most disappointing cinematic experience of my life. It even beat out PoA for biggest disappointment.

Not only was the movie full of HUGE liberties and inaccuracies of the archeological record, but I found the shamanistic storyline distracting and demeaning of what could have been a very good film.

Don't waste your time. I now consider it 2 hours of my life I'll never get back.

I was so hoping this would have been well-researched, but it wasn't. Not only was agriculture erroneously introduced, but little details like fine chiffon cloth, building of the pyramids, and the introduction of certain man devouring creatures were ill used throughout. The ending was CRAP and totally sappy.

STOOO.PID. Yes, that about covers it.

Out of five stars I give it a -1. I mean, really, will no one EVER make an acceptable movie about that period of time? Clan of the Cave Bear was an EXCELLENT series, and the movie was ASS. Now, along comes the technology to make an EXCEPTIONAL movie set in this time period, and they totally DROP THE BALL by slapping in all sorts of sappy crap.

How hard is it to freaking get a National Geographic, or go to the library and do some research for crying out loud?

Idiots.

Garrett was supposed to have a Little League game tonight, but we've been hit with a deluge of rain over the past three days...and we absolutely DO NOT need more rain.

Grace did have her T-Ball game last night. It was so muddy we had to play on the nearby football field. Since it was her last game, and since I was busy coaching, I handed my camera to a friend and she took all kinds of candids. Then, after the game, I took some group photos (which weren't the greatest because when was the last time you tried to get 9 3,4,5 year olds to hold a pose...lol!), and I took individual shots. I put them all on Flickr. I am going to print them and send them to the parents since there were no pro pics taken for some reason.

When the rain started this morning, I ran out to the pool and took this shot:


I love how the camera captured water hitting the surface and the resulting splash. The bubble look pretty cool, too. If you click on the larger sized photo, obviously you will see it better.

I got two books on beginning digital photography from the library. One of them is pretty boring and it's telling me all this high dollar stuff I need to be really good. I'm just frankly more interested in photo composition and how to use light to my advantage and stuff at this point. I haven't the funds to upgrade.

I have begun reading "Daughter of York". I must say I am impressed thus far. I did not think I would like this novel at all after I got it home and read a bit of it, but it is actually quite good.

Buster is coming along nicely. He's perking up energy-wise and today the kids ran him around loads. My niece has been here all day and is spending the night. She's a gorgeous little thing and I never even know she's here when she comes over. She and Garrett are very close. They went through an accident together a few years ago, and ever since then they have been as twins. They even look alike. I will try to grab a pic of them at some point. She is just a few weeks short of being a year older than him.

Wish I had more important things to write, but I don't. I did get my hair recolored and cut, but I'm pouting as some of it didn't turn out like I wanted. I hate it when that happens. I had it fixed as much as I could, but I'm still not happy. Oh well, it'll fade in two weeks anyway.

I actually planted snapdragons once. I adore them, although daisies are still my all time favorite.
( I am a snapdragon )

( The Big Read Meme: Please feel free to comment! I could use some adult conversation about literature! I beg you... )

ETA: Looks like I've read 29 of these. Not too shabby, IMO. Plus, I've added several more to my 'plan to read' list on Shelfari, and that's always a good thing! WOOT!

It's sort of fun! But, it's sort of difficult. I don't have a manual that I know of. I'm going to search through all my paperwork again, but I don't think I have a manual. I did find the website with stuff on it, but it's better for me if I have a hard copy to peruse as I work. That's just the sort of person I am. If I have to, I can print bits off the internet.

So, if anyone knows where I might obtain a downloadable version of Windows Movie Maker, please post a link!

I did manage to get a short one going with a title, footage, and "Rio" by Duran Duran as the soundtrack! LOL! I'm just messing about with it at the moment. I figure if I can make short little clips, it will give me good practice for the big project. I have time, and it's very interesting.

I think I need to sit down and sort of sketch out a story board of sorts, so I can be sure to get what I need and not waste a lot of time.

Any experiments I create will be posted, of course, and your concrit will be most welcome!

On the plus side, how about my cupcake layout on my uTube channel? I think it looks summery and yummy! And, if YOU have a uTube account, please friend me, subscribe to me, whatever. Also, post YOUR info and I'll add you to mine! WOOT! The link is in my links list over there <<<<----------- !

I may have to experiment with a family reunions video in July!

So anyway, first thing this morning the kids and I jumped into the van and headed for the pet store to get Buster some things. I decided Buster needed a separate set of 'indoor' toys, because his 'outdoor' toys are too dirty for the house. So, outside he has a rope bone, rawhide bone, and tennis ball. Inside he has a rope bone, rawhide bone, tennis ball, and a 'boo boo' (I don't know if any of you have seen the Petco commercial with the little wiener dog where he comes in looking for a new 'boo boo' or not, but boo boo is a terry cloth animal that is like a wiener dog itself, and it has a squeaker in the butt. It's TEH CUTENESS to see Buster carrying it around in his mouth!). We also made him an ID tag and Garrett thought it was super cool to watch the engraving machine work. We also walked out with three kinds of dog treats and a grooming brush.

Buster seems to be missing my father horribly. He hasn't eaten today and I'm not even sure how much water he's taken. He was fine and frisky this morning with Garrett and Grace and myself, but tonight he's appearing timid and scared. I think he's realizing my father is gone. He was eating grass, so I know his stomach is upset. Poor little guy. He's so polite and will wag at me when I talk softly to him, but I can tell he's sad.

The good news is that he goes to the back part of the yard (in the alfalfa field) to do is 'business', so no puppy bombs in the yard.

I baked liver brownies for him today (which he won't even touch, the poor fella). I had to use beef liver this time. I'd quite forgotten how much like cat sick the batter looks. Um, ew. Still, I'm thinking once he feels more settled in he'll like them. So, into the freezer they go. My house still stinks of the recipe. Ew. But, should I decide to go through with the gourmet treat biz idea, I've picked out a name "Bow Wow Gourmet". How cool is that?

magicalobizuth has suggested me entering a video in a contest, so I'm going to go check into that! WOOT! Wish my video cam was better quality, but oh well!

I keep thinking how, if I'd never started teaching again, I'd be working 8-5 each day and being on call. I'm sooo thankful for the chance to be home with my children over the summer. They're going to remember the fun times when they grow up. It's so great! Not to mention I've got a tan now! WOOT! It's the first time in six years, actually. Although I must say, when going to the grocery store is a treat and an official outing, I have to smile.

ETA: I've now thoroughly read the rules for entering the contest and I'm going to do it. I don't know how great the video will be, but the chance to sleep under the sharks is just too cool. I've also FINALLY updated my uTube channel so it has a cupcake/pink theme, so yay!

Sometimes you just have to make the Tarzan noise to get your swing to go 'just right'!



And, some swimming footage...

Garrett turns a summersault!


Great Grandma Carol got Garrett a snorkel and mask for his bday. He's already mastered how to use it! Grace got the pink goggles...

Here is where Buster meets our other two dogs. I've always thought the black dog looks like what I imagined Sirius Black's animagus form to be!



Here's Garrett & Buster getting close:



Here's Garrett hitting the ball:

Well, he's here. He's just as cute as could be. Such a calm dog! We're enamored already!

Meet Buster! (And I'd like to apologize for the five second blackout at the start...I forgot I had the lens cap on...*snort*)

Check out his shirt, then read what his 'birthday message' was for us on the DD website. I swear it gave me chills...



Birthday Message from John
June 20th, 2008

I’ve never considered myself a political animal. What moves me to tears has always been most likely art; a particularly emotional scene in a movie (I even shed tears in ‘Kung Fu Panda’), or a song whose melody or harmonies cut me like a knife. Rarely, but sometimes, a book I am reading can affect me powerfully, and by that I mean not only induce sadness in me, but can make me laugh out loud. Perhaps the best release is the kind of laughter that keeps on coming until it turns to tears. The best of both (feeling) worlds. I often say, ‘I don’t like real life, I only like art’. For years I avoided newspapers, and even now, I stay away from the news channels on TV.

I’m feeling different about all this today, because ‘real life’ has come and bitten me on the butt, inspired me so to speak. I really just want to take this opportunity of getting to write a Birthday message by telling you all how strongly I feel about Barack Obama. I was recommended to read Obama’s book, ‘The Audacity Of Hope’. I downloaded it off I-tunes. The author read it himself. In my work I rely almost entirely on intuition, I don’t know much about music theory, and I don’t know how to read music. I just know what I like, what thrills me, and makes me want to weep. I’m a lightning rod in a way, rather than a musician, and as I listened to this book, I could not believe how much I liked this guy, and how much hope, literally, he was filling me with, as the virtual pages turned.

I don’t come from an artistic family particularly, although my Mom loved music and music stars. Mom’s idea of a perfect Sunday would be to take a drive around the wealthy estates in Warwickshire, and muse over which house might belong to whom. If ever we spotted a personalized car number (license) plate, we could obsess for hours over whom that car might belong to. Quite what Rod Stewart was doing in Solihull High Street that Sunday in June 1972 I don’t know, but RS 1 was spotted by both of us, and who else could it possibly be? No. That’s not an artistic family.

My mother’s father was an important man in the early life of the English Trade Unions. He came from Liverpool. I never met him. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham was present at his funeral. My own father despised the trade unions. His was a go-ahead personality who had no use for the lowest common denominator, which he believes all unions ultimately serve. Dad went down on the ship, like so many other men from the Midlands, when the British car industry sunk itself, due to unrealistic expectations and the changing economic climate.

Obama is a democrat. He believes in unions. He is also a pragmatist. Listening to him, telling his story, outlining his ideas and ideals, I could not initially believe he was a man that could become leader of the United States, and therefore, the most important man on the planet… But inside my head an idea had been planted, ‘But what if he was?…’

Like I say, I am all about instinct. It’s all about a feeling I get, for people, places… songs. Either I get it or I don’t. There’s no debate. Hopelessly naive? Possibly.

I wasn’t around for Kennedy, but I saw how excited people got about Clinton. Truthfully I was more excited about Hillary back then. Unfortunately for her, time has moved on, and whereas Bill and Hill were the future in 1992, the future now has different needs, and Obama is it. He is America, but he is also all of us. He makes me want to think politically because he is authentic in a world that has an almost total absence of authenticity. And I don’t just mean politics. Look at our TV; the reality crap, the talent show crap. Everyone is acting, saying whatever they think they got to say to get ahead.

Obama raises the bar. The speech he gave on Father’s Day brought a tear to my eye. He is a wake up call, and when America elects him to office (no, I cannot vote) it will send a fantastic signal of hope and change around the world. It will prick up the minds and ears of the most deeply rooted of America-haters. It’s a god-given opportunity.

No one is perfect, I know, and I’m not suggesting he is. I just wanted to use this year’s birthday message to let you know a little of what is going on in my mind regarding the biggest event of the coming year. For those of you who are skeptical I urge you to pick up the book I mentioned and check it out; you’ll believe a pig can fly!

Thanks everyone who sent me good wishes. It’s been an extraordinary year so far (do I ever say anything else?). It’s been hard this last few weeks losing Nick’s father, Roger. He was a very important influence of me when I was a hard-headed teenager. Seeing my oldest friend cope with his loss with such dignity and courage has been a real inspiration. I love being on the road and getting to play night after night, and seeing so much of you guys warms my heart. Thank you for staying with us, we’ll always try and make it worth your while. Thanks to my family who challenge me every day to become a better person, and to my friends who are my guides.

Love and peace,
JT

P.S.: Thanks to semibold, for my blatant gacking of the photo.

Here's what's going on in my neck of the woods...

Remember this picture I took (Memorial Bridge)?


Well, look at it now...we made The Today Show.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25258215#25258215

And the Mayor (the bridge behind him is Bayview, the huge bridge I photographed):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25258250#25258250

Now, we live 25 miles north of Quincy, but Quincy is where I work. We are about ten miles east of the river.

Personally, I don't think many people give a crap that Bush is coming today. If they have faith the he and FEMA are going to really help them, then they've forgotten Katrina.

It sounds most politic, but I'm glad Obama beat him here whilst Bush was off trying to brown nose Europe on his 'farewell tour'. He didn't fly back immediately in time of disaster, much like he didn't leave his vacation during the hurricanes. Doesn't he just reek of caring for 'his countrymen'...puke.

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Last night at 1:30 a.m. (Rodney's first responder pager went off, then phones started ringing like crazy), the Meyer levy failed. Then, three others went, too. I am sure they are all under water by now. They had been voluntarily evacuated beforehand.

Guess what? It just started raining again. *sigh*

I'm thankful we live on high ground, but I'm hurting inside for those who had finally recovered from the Flood of '93 and now are right back where they were.

I wanted to go take pictures by Bayview Bridge for the past three days, but the authorities are clamping down. I can totally understand. I mean, if the bridge would give way or something else, people could be killed. So, I'm afraid there won't be any pics for awhile. There is even a curfew in place now, to keep looters and such out of the area.

Listen, God...enough. We get it. You're pissed off. Please quit pissing in our Cheerios.