Webkinz Fun

My nieces introduced me to the world of webkinz. I love it! I know it's not exactly geared toward me, but I confess, I love to play. I decorate virtual rooms, collect virtual charms, earn virtual cash, and search for virtual gems. And I have a little naming theme going on: I name my webkinz after movie characters. It's not as easy as it may first appear. I have to first decide if I have a boy or a girl; then I have to choose a name that suits the little creature. I try to name them after characters in my favorite movies. This of course begs the question, what are my favorite movies? I consider favorite to be a movie I could watch over and over and still enjoy each time.

I would say these are the top 10 movies of all time for me:

1. The Birdcage

2. The Usual Suspects

3. Somethings Gotta Give

4. The American President

5. The Princess Bride

6. Enemy of the State

7. The Fugitive (with Harrison Ford)

8. The Thomas Crown Affair (with Renee Russo)

9. When Harry Met Sally

10. Amelie

I feel there should be an entirely different list for Holiday films. Mine would have to include:

1. It's a Wonderful Life

2. The Family Stone

3. The Gathering (ok, it's a made for TV movie - still counts)

4. Holiday Inn

5. Love Actually

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

7. A Charlie Brown Christmas

So I have a new duck and I just can't decide what to name him/her. I already have:

a little frog named Mimsy,

a googles named Starina,

a chiuaua named Lt. Dan, and

a clydesdale named George Bailey.

Any suggestions?

Back On Line!

After a LONG 2 1/2 weeks without my MacBook Pro, I am finally back on line! It feels like I can return to the land of the living once more. I may still have to address a RAM issue, but this seems like small potatoes compared to a logic board and LCD screen. Thank God for warranty protection!

I tried to stay busy without access to a computer. It was much harder than I imagined it would be. But I did have some time to mess around with my new camera and I am very pleased with the results. I had a beginners class to learn about several of the features. I feel so in control of my photos now! I have several "assignments" I want to complete before I take another class. It's awesome to be able to do things at my own pace.

I also started two trays of seeds while I was waiting around (and a tied up about a hundred other loose ends!). These are our veggies. They took off within a week! I am so anxious to get them in the ground!

It felt like spring might actually have arrived this weekend. We were running around without jackets on Sunday. But just like Indiana, we got another cold blast yesterday. Looks like the planting will have to wait another 3 weeks or so, just like the almanac said.

The Seeds Are Here!!

Yahoo! My seeds and starter kit arrived yesterday! I am so excited to get going. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for evidence that spring is really on it's way and now, I have in-hand my proof. The seeds are here. I was also able to get some netting to hang from the pergola for our cukes and peas this year. No more ugly A-frame that turns the grass under it brown. I can't wait!!

In Praise of Diet Coke

Ah, yes, it's the lenten season again. It snuck up on me again this year -- doesn't it always? So as I rushed to find a sacrifice for this year, it struck me: I love my Diet Coke. Yes, I know it is filled with chemicals and bone-dissolving minerals and will probably be the death of me, but I still love it. I don't smoke; I don't own a gun; I wear my seat belt; I eat my fruits and veggies, many of which I grow at home; I turn off extra lights and we recycle. This is my one vice. And I miss it. And every time I see someone having a Diet Coke (yes, the name brand is important. Pepsi just isn't the same.) or have the inspiration to go get one, I remember the sacrifice that Christ made for me, and look forward to the coming of Easter, when I will pour myself a very large Diet Coke with Lime and savor the resurrection of our Lord.

Update

So I had my mammogram. Wow, and double wow. It was really as awful as they say. The good news is, there is probably nothing going on; the bad news is they are not positive and would like me to come back in 6 months for more torture. 

Seriously, after an hour and a half, 15 x-rays and two swipes with the ultrasound machine they were "pretty sure it's nothing, but there is a possibility that there is a tiny spot in there." So all that for a wait and see. But my mind is much more at ease. I am certain that there is really nothing there. We'll see if they can find new ways to torture me in six months. :)

I've Been Tagged

How fun! I've been tagged by a good friend. Here's how it works:

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more.

Find page 123.

Find the first five sentences.

Post the next three sentences.

Tag five people.

So here are my sentences from (how embarrassing to admit it) Digging Deep, Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening, by Fran Sorin:

"The boundaries in your brain literally stretch. By mentally trying on or rehearsing something, it actually becomes part of your wiring. For instance, a skater who mentally goes through her routine over and over the night before her competition is doing much more than  just memorizing it. She is carving the experience of it into her hardwiring, making it a part of her conditioning."

Ok, so I posted 4 sentences. It's just like me to bend the rules isn't it? The book is a bit hokey, but it was a super resource for the garden blessing we used in last year's church garden. I posted about that day here, for those who want a little refresher. The other book choices were 75 Exciting Vegetables For Your Garden, and The Bountiful Container -- both of which, oddly, had the subject of leeks on pages 123.

And speaking of gardening, I am dreaming (and drooling) about this spring. I've ordered our seeds and plants, I'm planning the positioning of new beds, researching the starting of seeds indoors, doing a little reading, and generally willing the winter weather to pass quickly so I can get outside again soon. And if we are lucky, we may actually be able to put in our patio this spring. But this seems too good to hope for, so I am trying not to think too much about it, incase I have to be crushed by the fact that it won't be able to happen so soon.

Our church, too, is going to have a garden again this year. It makes me so happy. I can't wait to read all about the changing garden in our journal again. I think we will also plan a harvest meal for mid-summer. Seems a bit more appropriate than our fall timing last year. All I can say is, what was I thinking? Here's to summer and big juicy tomatoes.

Dodged a Bullet

1 down, more to go....

This morning my father went out to start his truck and noticed that I had a flat on the van. Lovely. This sort of thing always seems to happen when Richard is away, naturally. So I borrowed my mom's car to take the boy to school and on the way home I called AAA to come and tow me to the Big O Tires in the Burg. The stars must be aligned in my favor, because AAA was here in 20 minutes (not the 1.5 hours they had suggested on the phone); they were able to pump up the tire so I could drive it myself to the Big O; there was no wait at the tire shop; and get this -- they didn't even charge me to take out the screw! 

Perhaps this seems like a normal, run-of-the-mill occurrence to some. But to me, this was a modern day miracle! I never seem to catch a break like this. So let's hope it lasts. Is it possible that this weekend could hold the same for me?

As I said, Richard is out of town and is scheduled to arrive home tomorrow. Sure enough, there is a winter storm on it's way tonight. It could play havoc with the schedule. And of course, I have scheduled a "girls weekend" beginning on Friday. Then there is the low rumbling (like thunder in the distance) that is Hayes when his dad is away. Will he be able to make it until Friday without a major explosion? What if we have a snow day? Last but not least I found a small lump in my breast. I am sure it's nothing, but I have to go get my boob smashed tomorrow to be sure. Fun times. Here's to hoping it all goes as well as my tire experience did this morning.

After A Long Hiatus...

I've been absent from the blog world for a long time. I got a new job at Kohl's, and that, coupled with the holidays, has completely hijacked my time lately. I finally have the luxury of some time to reflect after the departure of our last holiday guests. 

I can't stop thinking about an acquaintance of mine who, between my last blog post and this one, has discovered that she not only has cancer, but has 3 different kinds of cancer. It makes me so incredibly sad for her. How can one person be so riddled with disease? How is it that such an amazing mom and wife and business woman can be staring down such an ugly and unforgiving disease this early in her life? How is she dealing with this, and what can she possibly say to her 3 young children?

She starts chemo in a couple days. Her surgery won't be until this summer. I can't imagine the long haul she has in front of her. Her community has been very supportive. Still, I feel so helpless to do anything significant. Delivering meals and running errands is helpful, but really; she has cancer and a husband and 3 kids. And of course, I can't help feeling guilty that I am just so glad it's not me. (Hayes woke up with pink eye this morning and it wore me out just to take him to the urgent care clinic and the pharmacy this afternoon. Please.) I just don't know how she will manage, how anyone in her shoes could manage.