January 2005 Archives

I was so glad to wake up this morning to hear that the election in Iraq went better than expected. I was concerned that the turn out would be low.

Think about it. If we were under threat of violence here on election day...would you have gone to the polls? I would have. This only proves to me that the Iraqi people are not that different than we are. They too want to have a say in what is going to happen to their country. Willing to fight for it.

I read a couple of Iraqi blogs and this post from "The Mesopotamian" hit the nail right on the head for me.

SUICIDE BOMBERS V. SUICIDE VOTERS
Greetings Friends,

I bow in respect and awe to the men and women of our people who, armed only with faith and hope are going to the polls under the very real threats of being blown to pieces. These are the real braves; not the miserable creatures of hate who are attacking one of the noblest things that has ever happened to us. Have you ever seen anything like this? Iraq will be O.K. with so many brave people, it will certainly O.K.; I can say no more just now; I am just filled with pride and moved beyond words. People are turning up not only under the present threat to polling stations but also under future threats to themselves and their families; yet they are coming, and keep coming. Behold the Iraqi people; now you know their true metal. We shall never forget the meanness of these bas…s. After this is over there will be no let up, they must be wiped out. It is our duty and the duty of every decent human to make sure this vermin is no more and that no more innocent decent people are victimized.

My condolences to the Great American people for the tragic recent losses of soldiers. The blood of Iraqis and Americans is being shed on the soil of Mesopotamia; a baptism with blood. A baptism of a lasting friendship and alliance, for many years to come, through thick and thin, we shall never forget the brave soldiers fallen while defending our freedom and future.

This is a very hurried message, while we are witnessing something quite extraordinary. I myself have voted and so did members of my family. Thank God for giving us the chance.

Salaam for now

# posted by Alaa : 3:55 AM

Thanks Alaa for putting it so perfectly.

I love Monsters!

We are just about ready to pick up our nieces ( 8 years and 5 years old) for a day of fun. It was their Christmas present from us.

We are taking them to see Disney on Ice, Monsters INC. at 11:30. Should be full of little kids running around. Hubby is going to have soooo much fun. Good practice for that granddaughter that is due soon.

After the show we will take them out to lunch. Don't know where yet but I think we will let them pick.

Can you say BOO!

We are "babysitting" my mother-in-laws dog for a few days. Buffy fits in well here. She gets along with Beeker the Cat and Kermit the Dog.

Most of the time.

Kermit loves his toys. Kermit doesn't like to share.

Not real fuzzy but read on.

About 2:30 a.m. this morning, the city of Phoenix learned that water leaving its Val Vista plant is violating some federal standards. This was caused by the increase of mud, sludge and other particulates in the water run-off from recent storms. .:

The health and safety of our customers is our number one priority. And our water engineers have assured us that the risk of contamination is low. But in order to be extra cautious, we are asking Phoenix residents to boil their water or use bottled water until noon Wednesday, Jan. 26. .:

This includes any water used for drinking, brushing teeth, food preparation, making ice cubes, and washing dishes. Residents can feel comfortable in showering in the water.

We also are asking residents to conserve water by taking short showers and not watering their lawns as the city continues to refill its reservoirs with clean water.

This morning, I found this out AFTER I got to work. This of course was AFTER I had my coffee (from tap water), took a shower and brushed my teeth, filled up the animals water jug (from the tap) and ate an apple that I washed from the faucet.

We do have two 5 gallons jugs of bottled water that I have used the rest of the day. It's funny how much you take having water running out of the faucet, for granted.

I got a call yesterday from one of my neighbors. She wanted to let me know about her last 9 days.

Her 20 year old daughter, who was born and raised here in AZ and goes to ASU, decided to go "ice climbing" with her friends. So they headed off to Colorado.

To make a long story short since I don't know these details. She fell. They weren't sure if she fell 50 feet or 100 feet but she slipped and fell.

She is now in the hospital in Grand Junction, CO with a broken wrist, broken, ankle, several fractures in her pelvis, a separation of the lower lumbar region. She had a helmet on but still suffered contusions of the head and body. They have already removed her spleen and have temporarily set her broken bones. The doctors feel at this point, she is going to make it. But she is going to have a long recovery.

She could definately use everyones thoughts and prayers right now.

It's Official!

Weight Watchers has a "new tool".

"Weight Watchers On the Go" It is software for my PDA. Woo hoo!

Course you have to be signed up for the "Weight Watchers eTools" if you want to use it but I was already signed up so , WOO HOO!

So now I am "Officially" back on WW.

Starting today! Got my motivation going and I am on my way to a healthier new me.

I will keep you guys posted.

I am waaaay to old to fall down. And waaaay to young to fall down because I am waaaay to old. Got that?

Yesterday. I was using the treadmill and had finished up but hadn't put it up yet. I got up from the desk to let "Kermit the Dog" outside. As I walked past the treadmill the lace on my tennis shoe caught on the end and snagged me up.

I went down hard! Real hard! Full out - sprawled out - full force on my elbows jam the shoulders - hard. I don't even think my knees hit the ground till after I bounce a couple times.

I actually laid there for a few minutes accessing the damage. I didn't see any bones sticking out or blood so I thought I might live. "Kermit the Dog" must have thought I wa playing a new game cause he was licking the crap out of me.

But I lived. The shoulders are very sore and the one elbow is tender but no visible bruising.

What a Dork!

Comedian Johnny Carson, the king of U.S. late-night television as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" for nearly 30 years, died on Sunday at age 79 after a long battle with emphysema.

Quite an amazing man! We will miss him.

We are getting a much needed evening out. We are getting together with some of my old high school friends for dinner at Monti's, and awesome steak house in town. It will be great to just get out for the evening and visit with friends.

Prime rib here I come.

Ever wondered where you money goes?

No I mean literally.

A few years ago I came across a $1 that had red typed words on it. Being curious I read it. It said:

See where I've been
Track where I go next
www.WheresGeorge.com

Well, I went to www.wheresgeorge.com and found that this particular bill had traveled all the way from Glendale to me. (about 5 miles) woo hoo

I actually took the time to add a couple of bills of my own and have had "hits" that they too have traveled very short distances.

But today I found a dollar bill in my washing machine. I am sure that it was put in there as payment for some of the socks the damn thing has eaten but I digress. This bill had the red typed words so I knew it was being tracked.

So I went to WheresGeorge.com I found that this was no slacker bill. It had traveled from Snellville, GA (June 2003) to Seattle, WA (Jan 2004) to me. This $1 bill had traveled 3292 miles in 1 year, 202 days, 19 hours, 48 mins at an average speed of 5.8 miles per day. (yeah WheresGeorge gives you all that information).

So just remember if you see a bill (any denomination) with writing on it, check to see if it has been to Where'sGeorge. It is really kind of fun.

Did you know that as of Dec. 1st 2004, you are able to receive a credit report for FREE! Me either! That is until my bank sent me the information in the mail.

A recent amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

You can order your free annual credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228.
I found out you must type the url into your web browser instead of just clicking the link

This website is the ONLY authorized source for your free annual credit report from the three consumer reporting companies.

With all the credit fraud out there it is always a good idea to check your credit report every year. And now you can do it for FREE!

This has been a public service announcement! Carry on!

p.s. I don't suppose this applies to any other country but the U.S.A. Sorry.

Hubby and I decided to head over to the new IKEA store this afternoon.

IT IS BIG! Yes, we got lost but only for alittle while. I didn't cry to much cause I wasn't that scared. I can see how the contestants on Amazing Race had such a time finding anything.

We did buy something. Cinnamon buns. Yep, we went to a furniture/household store and bought cinnamon buns. Well they bake them right there and have hidden fans that blows the smell all over the store. So who can blame me.

I will have to go back when I have some money to blow.

NO NOT ON MORE CINNAMON BUNS! Okay... maybe one.

I thought I dorked up my comments. But they seem to be okay now.

I have been getting alot of spam so I was trying to change the name of my mt-comment.cgi file. I followed the directions but was getting an internal error. Ouch! The directions didn't remind me to change the chmod (permisisons) of the file once I uploaded it. That was the problem.

Carry on.

If you have comments problems email me.

The baby shower went great. There was 20 people in my livingroom. We were cozy. Real cozy. But I think everyone had fun.

Kaylin now has everything a new baby would need. She will be the best dressed, warmest, cleanest baby girl with bibs and binkies to spare.

Now all she has to do is get here.

To answer debby's questions in the comments:

It wasn't a surprise shower but she was surprised with all the decorations. We had chicken salad croissants, spinach and strawberry salad, fresh fruit and marshamellow cream cheese dip, veggie tray, chips, punch and cake for dessert.

J and I did crafty things today. J is absolutely the best at coming up with cute things to make. Today we set out to make name tags for the baby shower. We made them from felt, shaped them like diapers and wrote the names in fabric paint. Then we added little cute feet and hands and blocks and pacifiers things that she had found at one of the crafty stores she goes to.

But the best part of the day was making this:

I have been so very busy. So busy that I haven't even had time to blog. Either reading or writing.

I have a business website that I am having the hardest time getting started on. It is for a racquetball court builder and I am having a design block. So that is stressing me out.

I have also been trying to get the "guestroom" cleaned up and ready to become not only a guestroom but a nursery. I decided that since I have ONE grandchild coming in 33 (days and counting), I should make the guestroom child ready for the future (not planned yet) grandchildren. Since I plan on having them over often. :)

Then my brother and new sister-in-law came into town for a few days. We went out to dinner on Sunday, to an awesome "Old" steak house called Monti's La Casa Vieja. It has been around since I was a kid, (yeah it is THAT OLD) and is still the best steak in town.

Then the whole gang got together for a spaghetti dinner at Mom's last night. Food was good, company was the best. I have the best family there is.

Today, Brea's best friend, J and I are getting together to do the name tags and diaper cake for the baby shower on Sunday.

I need more hours in the day.

I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve and that the New Year will be a happy and healthy one for everyone.

Being the party animals that we are, Hubby and I laid down about 8:30 and fell asleep. Okay, okay, cut me some slack here with the laughing. WE HAVE BEEN SICK! :) But we did wake up about 11:30 to ring in the New Year.

The neighbors about a block away have a block party each year. Someone got ahold of some fireworks (totally illegal here in AZ) and they were going off from 7:30 to 1am. Kermit the Dog is VERY afraid of loud bangs and spent the entire night either in my lap (all 70 lbs of him) or laying so close to me he was darn near under me.

When we went out at midnight the air was so think with smoke that it looked like the neighborhood had just burned to the ground. Had to retreat back inside to breathe.

So this morning, after I got up I went thru my kitchen and threw away all the left over goodies from Christmas and any junk food I could find.

THE NEW YEARS RESOLUTION HAS BEGUN!

Now there is no food so Hubby and I are going out to breakfast.

Happy New Year all!

I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve and that the New Year will be a happy and healthy one for everyone.

Being the party animals that we are, Hubby and I laid down about 8:30 and fell asleep. Okay, okay, cut me some slack here with the laughing. WE HAVE BEEN SICK! :) But we did wake up about 11:30 to ring in the New Year.

The neighbors about a block away have a block party each year. Someone got ahold of some fireworks (totally illegal here in AZ) and they were going off from 7:30 to 1am. Kermit the Dog is VERY afraid of loud bangs and spent the entire night either in my lap (all 70 lbs of him) or laying so close to me he was darn near under me.

When we went out at midnight the air was so think with smoke that it looked like the neighborhood had just burned to the ground. Had to retreat back inside to breathe.

So this morning, after I got up I went thru my kitchen and threw away all the left over goodies from Christmas and any junk food I could find.

THE NEW YEARS RESOLUTION HAS BEGUN!

So now there is no food so Hubby and I are going out to breakfast.

Happy New Year all!