Gram's Place

okay - so I was helping Haleigh with her report for school -- me and -- cough cough -- college papers..??? anyway, and I stumbled across this report . Basically, it says that the average American spends more time using media than even sleeping. And often we are guilty of using two types of media at the same time. OF course, the report is quick to point out that women are more capable than men of the media-multi-tasking... and that TV is still the prime choice among Americans. But, the computer is the second choice. AND - I guess we have more time on Fridays - because Fridays are the most-used-media days. So, Heth, guess that's why What Not To Wear is on Friday. It's definately the best show ever.

I am always completely impressed with people who can communicate effectively. Mostly because this is definately not something I am good at. I always think of things I WANTED to say after the fact, I'm certainly not quick on my toes, and I just plain can't think half the time. One of my all time favorite movies is Pride and Prejudice. There is just something about the 18th Century that is intriquing to me. They were so eloquent back then. What happened to us? Somewhere the art of communication was lost, and we have settled for incomplete thoughts and ignorant speech. At least I have. Anyway, where was I? Pride and Prejudice, 18th Century... oh yeah. see what I mean? can't think... The thing that impresses me the most in Pride and Prejudice is their innate ability to insult one another eloquently. Before you knew what hit you, slam! insulted. It leaves you thinking... hey... I was just insulted.. I think. Now that's an art form. I have a book that Shawn bought me for m...

1. 12 1/2 hours later and I'm still at work - downtown trick or treat night. 2. my arm hurts from holding that huge basket of candy all night. 3. My entire family is at work with me. along with the rest of the ciy. 4. There were some great costumes out there. some strange ones too. 5. I'm thinking some of those people were a little old to trick or treat. 6. If you work this long in one day are you entitled to Friday off? 7. I wonder if I got all my work done - nope. 8. I saved some candy (the good stuff) for the end. We didn't use it. now I get to eat it. 9. I can't think of anything more to say and I have to get to 10. 10. I don't know why.

1. Why is the phone bill so hard to read? I called them twice today for deciphers. 2. Where do all these papers in my inbox come from? I swear I just emptied it now it's full again. 3. Why did I eat so much for lunch? I didn't really like the chef salad that much anyway. 4. Where did the trick or treat candy go? I really should have had that for lunch. 5. Should I work on filing or on posting? I really don't want to do either. 6. Why is it so hot in my offfice? Probably because the heater vent is right under my desk blowing on me. 7. What is going on after work? Besides the crazy kids run around and do stuff stuff that is. 8. Where did this headache come from? probably from thinking about this stuff. 9. What am I going to make for supper? too bad I didn't go to Everyonesachef when I wanted to or I'd know. 10. Isn't that Harms customer nice? I really like nice customers.

1. Why did I wake up at 4am this morning and wasn't able to get back to sleep? 2. I'm glad I woke up at 4am this morning, cuz now I have all my laundry done. 3. Why does the early news on KWWL just say the same things over and over and over again? 4. It's cold this morning. 5. I got up at 4am and I still couldn't get to work on time. 9 minutes late. 6. Good grief. What time do I have to get up to make it to work on time? 7. Gas is now $2.29 --- according to the radio guy. 8. How many times did KWWL talk about the cost of tuition at ISU going up 4%? 5 times ? 6 times ? It had to be more like 200 times. 9. I don't know that I ever cared before about the cost of tuition at ISU. Until now. 10. I frosted and decorated an entire cake this morning too. 11. I wish I would have made my cake walk cake better. Emily is going to work really hard to win it. I want her to get someone else's who put a lot of time and energy in theirs. Not mine Em, not mine. It's sweet thou...

Trick or Treat Our city is having a downtown trick or treat night this Thursday. The businesses supply treats and the kids walk trick or treating from business to business. I bought a LOT of candy for this thing. I made a mistake. I opened the candy bags and put them in a basket. A basket that now weighs a hundred pounds. Now, I must eat the candy. Pretty soon, the basket will not be the only thing that gained 100 pounds.

I thought I’d offer my suggestion for Pastor Bill’s next new song to introduce for the Worship Team to learn. This has to be my current favorite. Hear Our Prayer – Hillsong Hear our prayer Spirit, come How I long forYour sweet touch. On my kneesI cry out Jesus, Savior Behold your child. Chorus Like a deer longing for water My soul yearns; Only you can fill my deep hunger My heart burns My heart burns. Oceans deep Mountains high O my God, I cannot live without your love; I cannot live without your love. (Repeat Chorus)

REESES

When I look at the awesome calendar hanging on my office wall, I am reminded of my somewhat sick sense of humor. When we were married just 4 years or so, we went to counseling and the counselor called it “dry”. My sense of humor. I happen to like it. I think it’s funny. This month’s calendar page is called “ACHIEVEMENT” and is sort of like those motivational calendars… it has a beautiful picture of some sand triangle things (Bliggity what are they called?) in Eqypt or somewhere like that where there is lots of sand. The words under the phrase say this: YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO WHEN YOU HAVE VISION, DETERMINATION, AND AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF EXPENDABLE LABOR Am I the only one that thinks that is hilarious? I read ahead on the calendar to this weekend… this calendar is great. It says that on Saturday, October 22, in 1985, Oreste Lodi sued himself in a Shasta County Superior Court for trying to raid his own trust fund. He lost. And He Won. It just makes me laugh.

If you had to choose, which one would you pick? whoppers kit kat reeses hersheys milk chocolate

I created a new blog called 1405 . It’s going to be all about our new house. Hopefully, we’ll be diligent enough to keep it updated. Maybe not daily… but at least when something happens.

We paid off our van yesterday. Officially. It’s now really ours. Not the bank’s. I think we might have to have a party. A no-more-van-payment party. I calculated it out. In the next year, we should have $5076.00 extra… all because we have no van payment. I made a dream list of lots of ways to spend it. furniture cruise wardrobe investments Shawn’s list most likely includes a motorcycle, computer, and guy stuff. Reality is this list though: College education for the kids bills debt groceries But, hey…. It’s fun to dream!

Emily woke up with a tummy ache this morning. I decided to keep her home... just in case. At 8:35 I was already knowing I made the wrong choice. Funny how that is. I guess now I decided she just needs home time.... and mommy time. So, I called work and told them, we're sick.

For those of you carrot cake fans, this is an AWESOME recipe. I’m making it for tomorrow night’s Tapestry Meeting. TASTE OF THE ISLANDS CARROT CAKE 1 ¾ cup plus 4 T flour 2 t. baking soda 2 t. cinnamon ¼ t. salt 1 ½ cup veg oil 1 2/3 cup sugar 3 eggs 4 cups shredded carrots 1 cup chopped pecans ½ cup raisins Preheat oven to 350. Grease 10 inch round baking pan and line bottom with wax paper. Grease the paper and lightly flour the pan and paper. Stir together 1 ¾ plus 2 T flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, beat oil, sugar, and eggs until light in color… about 3 min on low speed. Add flour mixture slowly, beating just until smooth. Combine carrots, nuts, raisins, and remaining 2 T flour. Stir into batter. Pour into pan. Bake 20 min at 350, then reduce to 325 for 50 min. Cool at least 15 min. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Blogger for WORD I downloaded Blogger for Word. I thought I’d check it out and see what it does. So, this is a test blog. I’ll let you know if it does what I want it to do.

I was tagged by the Laundry Lady ... and it has taken me all weekend to figure out what to write. Mostly cuz first I had to figure out what tagging is. So, I finished it finally. 1. Hind’s Feet 2. Dandelions & Roses 3. Lifenut 4. From Under the Laundry Pile 5. Dull as Dishwater What were you doing 10 years ago? In 1995, I was living in a small 2 bedroom bungalow (800 sq. ft) with my husband and 3 small girls, age 8, 6, 3. The house was a real gem. It had no cold water in the kitchen, and no hot water in the bathroom sink. The heat was an old gas stove in the middle of the house, with holes in the second story floor to heat the upstairs. We did laundry at the laundromat every week because there was nowhere for a washer and dryer hookup. I was working at the Best Western in town as a night auditor clerk for somewhere around $4 an hour, and Shawn was doing carpentry work. What were you doing 5 years ago? 4 girls now – ages 1, 8, 11, 13. We had just stepped into the unforgettable teena...

mmmmm......... my breakfast was good this morning! I had a Casey's Cream Cheese Danish and Columbian coffee (with lots of half and half!) Doesn't it sound heavenly? If you know how to make these, I would pay you to deliver them to my house everyday.

I always title my blog entries before I write them. Today was no exception. Except now I am thinking... what exactly does "Ode" mean? I think I'll look it up.... Ode: 1. a lyric poem of some length usually of a serious or meditative nature having an elevated style and formal structure. ut oh... that's not what I'm doing. Should I rename the blog entry? wait... let me read #2: A choric song of classical Greece, often accompanied by a dance and performed at a public festival as part of a drama. hang on.... I'm DEFINATELY not doing that. try #3: a classical Greek poem modeled on the choric ode and usually having a three-part structure consisting of a strophe, an antistrophe, and an epode. If I attempt at this point to rename this blog entry then I would have already typed all of this in vain, and I can't do THAT. So, I'm going with ODE.. and I'll make it work. ODE TO THE PASTORS (this is the poem part minus the serious or meditative nature) For all yo...

Last night Shawn officially took the last load from the old house. unbelievable. 3 weeks and 6 days. one day short of 4 weeks to move. unbelievable. As he was walking around the house, he was saying goodbye. Goodbye memories. Goodbye house. Goodbye soft water. Goodbye gas stove. Goodbye dining room. Goodbye piano. GASP!?!?!?! PIANO?!?!?!?!?!?!Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We forgot about the piano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! unbelievable. 4 weeks exactly. Anyone free this afternoon to move a piano? Is there ANYONE we haven't used up all our favors with for the last four weeks? sigh.....

"Rules Of Work" Never give me work in the morning. Always wait until 4:00 and then bring it to me. The challenge of a deadline is refreshing. If it is really a rush job, run in and interrupt me every 10 minutes to inquire how it is going. That helps. Even better, hover behind me, and advise me at every keystroke. Always leave without telling anyone where you are going. It gives me a chance to be creative when someone asks where you are. If my arms are full of papers, boxes, books or supplies, do not open the door for me. I need to learn how to function as a paraplegic and opening doors with no arms is good training in case I should ever be injured and lose all use of my limbs. If you give me more than one job to do, do not tell me which is priority. I am psychic. Do your best to keep me late. I adore this office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do. I have no life beyond work. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. If that gets out, it could mean a pro...

There is nothing like a great cup of coffee. This mornings flavor is SEATTLE'S BEST CINNABON with Vanilla Carmel Creamer... mmmm... it so good. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy a good cup of coffee? Have I mentioned that it is my favorite hobby? Non-coffee drinkers just don't have any idea what they are missing in this delicious, full-bodied, smooth, aromatic, cup of liquid goodness. When God instructed Paul in Galatians about the fruit of the spirit, he had to be drinking a cup o Joe! I like mine especially STRONG and REALLY HOT. So hot actually that you can feel it burn all the way down..... stop by the office this morning if you're out and about. I'd love to share with you.

oh yeah by the way.. .the dentist today was $527 and no cavities for anyone! yippee!

we have no food in the house. well, i can't really say NO. we have popcorn. we have milk. i wonder how that would taste for breakfast... we're kind of at the point where my family MIGHT turn me in to child services ... BUT, i want to use up the stuff we never use up. i'm trying to see how long i can go on the food we have and see if i can use my creative mind to make interesting meals with peanut butter and beans. not really, but that just came to me and i might do it. i DID, however make banana bread last night. slightly undercooked, but hey, it works. Emily said "it's a little squishy but i'll just put that part in the trash". :) really, i'm a good cook... no kidding. I asked Emily what she wanted for supper. She listed off some things we didn't have so i told her she had to go to the fridge and the cupboard and choose something. Emily (searching): Pancakes! me (to self): easy! (out loud): sounds great! Emily: Can I help? me: sure! Emily (reading...

Most of this post is in code. You know who you are though. this post is actually in honor of my dahhhhhhhrling friend Cher. Hey, Cher, have i told you lately how much i love you? you're so awesome... you are an amazing mom, an amazing friend, a sweet person all around. i'm so glad you missed my posts while i was desperatly trying to move... you made me feel so special :) --- you have the greatest sense of humor, and i'm so thankful you do... cuz sometimes nobody else gets my jokes but you. I just really love you and actually, your entire family. you go about life and you have the best outlook on life in general. you are so optimistic, and so caring. truly, i have always held a special place in my heart for you. partly because we have always wanted a dozen kids and were just too chicken to go for it....so we definately envy you. will you name the 12th one after me? you are truly a proverbs 31 woman in so many more ways than even the proverbs 31 woman is herself. i love you...

this past weekend was family weekend at ISU. ISU was playing Baylor. we surprised haleigh with some t-shirts. they were typical embarrass yourself when your with the fam shirts. we tried real hard. thought it would be fun to wear to the game. we went out to eat at hickory park Fri night. then Sat. we got up and got ready, and decided to skip the game and go shopping. the game went on. we shopped in our shirts. :) ISU lost. our shirts were cool though.

Last month I spent $800 on the eye doctor between three of us. This month, I guess it's dentist. We have 6 appointments. We're at 3 down, 3 to go. Lindsey is 16 1/2 and she had a baby tooth that wouldn't fall out. So, she had to have it pulled. I've been singing hillbilly songs to her all weekend, cuz the permanent tooth hasn't come through yet. Doc said in about a month. She's freaked out and worried they pulled the wrong tooth - says "If they did, I'll sue!". She had novacaine and gas for the first time. She said it was fun. (I agree... the one time I had gas, it was fun.. ). But, she was cracking me up with her numb lip. Em went for her first visit with Shawn. She was a little nervous before she went. She said "It's scary cuz I've never been before". I told her they would take a picture of her teeth and she would get a sticker! That seemed to help a bit. She was still a little nervous. Shawn took her in - and stayed with her f...

Oh Lord, please don't tell me it will take a whole month to move! We've been at it now for nearly three weeks. I actually looked at the calendar today and thought OH NO... WE HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF! We're down to the wire. The new owners are moving in the 13th. We only have one or two things in the house... we have the outdoor furniture and grill... we have the washer and dryer... and we have the ENTIRE garage yet. Anyone planning on moving? Here is some wisdom: don't send your entire company on vacation the same time you plan on moving so you have to work from 7-6 everyday and then move in the evenings. dumb move. really dumb.

I did a taste test today... for Ang. The results are in. IT IS GOOD. Wow. I can't believe I like it. Okay... whole story ... I went to the store... looking for Raspberry Ginger Ale. Its awesome. But, they don't have it anywhere I go. Drives me crazy. So, I ran into Ang. She talked me into trying the new flavored FRESCA. I picked Sparkling Black Cherry Citrus. Good choice. Glad I got that one. It's got that fresh Fresca flavor... with a hint more of spark and an underlying black cherry... not overbearing. Just right. It's good. You should buy some.