Tuesday....original, huh?

 

We are feeling some of the effects from the hurricaine today. Rainy and wet....but nothing like what those poor people that took the direct hit are dealing with. My prayers are with them....such a horrible thing to have to go through. I can't even imagine leaving my home, only to come back to a pile of rubble. God bless them....

Tonight Betsy is going to WWE Smackdown....she is so excited. Ever since she was a little girl, she has watched it. She and her best friend always said that someday they would go....they even wanted to be tag-team wrestlers! LOL....I'm sure she will come home with a paycheck's worth of souveniers. Of course, it won't be the same without the Rock....but tonight she will get to see the Undertaker and Eddie Gurrero....childhood favorites.

Wee one is swimming at a friend's house right now....which means I am sitting here enjoying utter peace and quiet! I'm paying bills, which is not fun, but at least no one is yelling about not being able to find something, and the tv isn't blaring. DH is in the pool, cooling down from trimming the bushes in the front yard, and dinner is cooking in the oven.  Too bad it's meatloaf....ick. But, the rest of the crew likes it. I, on the other hand, will be enjoying a turkey sandwich. Mmmm....I'll "gobble" it up....get it?

Anyhoo....I filled up my gas tank today. $43 freaking dollars! And I know it will be on empty again before too long, being that I have to take and pick up wee one from school every day. Today because of traffic, I had to sit with the engine on for 30 minutes waiting to pick her up. You know how much gas that burns? The line was alllll the way around the school. Betsy doesn't work again until Thursday, which is good....although I made her give me $10 towards gas today. I am starting to wish John would have kept his motorcycle. A fill up was under $10 with that thing and lasted a long time.

Okay, I've put off these bills long enough. I'm going to get back to giving away my money....

Monday Morning....

Monday morning and back to reality....I spent 45 minutes with wee one doing some homework that she "forgot" to do. I should have checked her book bag last night, but between making her lunch and washing the 100 dishes that Betsy didn't do (but she did manage to sleep all evening....thank God for that....*enter sarcasm here), I forgot. So, during her usual cartoon time, we did a spelling sheet through half of Garfield and Friends, questions 1-5 in science through the second half, and then writing the spelling words five times as well as definitions through Arthur. I made her some toaster strudel for breakfast, but forgot about it in the toaster until she came to the word "nourish" whilst writing her definitions. She had eaten them both by the time we got to the word "starve" (*to perish through lack of sufficient nourishment). I tell ya, 5th grade is going to wear me out!

And so, here I sit, ready to start another week. I've got cleaning to do as well as sewing....and I really want to try my new craft. Tomorrow I'm going with my mom to her new condo inspection. It will be the first time I see it from the inside. I'm looking forward to it. I promised her I would help her paint and wallpaper when she gets in. It really is pretty from the outside, so I'm sure it will be nice on the inside.

A few weeks ago I downloaded the "site meter" (little rainbow like box in my about me section). Have you seen this thing? I didn't want it for use as a counter....since AOL provides one....but for the most awesome feature I've ever seen. When you sign into your account, you can choose an option that lets you see, on a world map, where your last 100 visitors come from. I just love that! I've had visitors from Austrailia, Italy, South America and even the Middle East! I love learning about other cultures, and how people live....so, if you are reading this from another country....leave a message in the comments section, along with a link to your own journal or homepage....if you have one. Oh, and if you want a site meter of your own, just click on mine and it will take you to their site.

Before I go, I will leave you with this little reminder....

Only 122 shopping days left! LOL...

 

****Correction....thanks to an observent reader....there are 116 days left. I don't know what I was thinking....just excited I guess! HoHoHo!

This may be the only time I ever say it but....my husband was right....

I really enjoyed the Mighty Eighth Airforce Museum! It was wonderful. So much history, memoribilia, artwork. It really is spectacular. We even got to talk to a man who was a fighter pilot during WWII. He flew a P-51and survived over 60 missions. A walking, talking tribute to the dedication and determination of our servicemen, past and present. It was awe inspiring. I highly recommend it to anyone who is in the Savannah area!

We started off our weekend at the museum, and then went downtown for a while. By the time we had finished the tour, we were hungry, and I had picked out a cute pub on the map for dinner. After parking I realized that Paula Deen's restaurant was just two blocks behind the pub, so we decided to walk past and take some pics for my mom. She loves watching Paula on the Food Network and asked us to try and get some photos. When we got there, we were surprised to see that there was no line....usually it's wrapped around the building. Apparently they were just starting to take reservations for the evening so JB decided what the heck....let's do it! So....we left our name and came back at the designated time....to find the huge line waiting for us! LOL....we didn't have to wait long, and we were hearded inside, up to the 3rd floor. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the buffet for only $17 a plate! Holy smokes....I have to say the food was very good....but nothing out of the ordinary. I was expecting to grab a plate and hear a chorus of angels singing as I ladled up scoop fulls of heaven on a plate....however, all I heard was the scuttle of servers as they filled the pans with fried chicken and shrimp jambalaya. I was disappointed with the desserts though. You could choose from banana pudding (yuck....but dh loves it so that was a score for him), sweet potato butter cake (which I would have liked but I had over dosed on sweet potatoes on the buffet), and peach cobbler. I had that, but it wasn't very good. There was one tiny piece of peach in it, while the rest was hard, semi-burnt topping and a thick cornstarch-sugar filling. All in all I would say the buffet was very good....but you are definately paying for the opportunity to say "I ate at the Lady and Sons restaurant".  I was, however, promised that we would eat at the pub when we go back in the fall!

I think the husband and I are getting old. It was 7:30 Saturday night and we were....sprawled out on the king sized bed in the hotel room, eating vending machine candy and watching "Eight Legged Freaks"....lol. I called the girls to talk to them and Betsy is like, "OMG....you are in the room and it's only 7:30? You guys are PATHETIC!!!!" lol....but you know, the best part of the trip was spending the evening, curled up next to John, watching cheezy movies and just enjoying being together. All together now...."awwwwww". LOL.

This morning we had a great breakfast at the motel. They had a continental breakfast and you could make your own belgian waffles and man....they were awesome. I was trying to figure out the machine when this little old man came up beside me and said, with a twinkle in his eye (I swear, he really did have a twinkle....I'm not just saying it!), "You gonna try that contraption?" LOL....he watched as I cooked a perfectly golden brown waffle. I learned he was from Florida too, and we chatted a bit about the weather, and missing the hurricane. After breakfast we checked out and went back downtown to explore the riverwalk and some of the shops. It was so nice. And the weather wasn't too bad either. It was warm, but not the oppressive humidity we are used to. I even commented to John as we stood in line for the restaurant how we were the only ones not fanning ourselves and commenting about the heat. I guess our blood is now "Florida thin" instead of "Indiana thick"....

We had a nice drive back home, and were greeted at the door by wee one....but not because she missed me. They had locked the door in the garage and I didn't have a key....so after pounding for a few minutes she drug her butt away from the computer to let me in....lol.

There's nothing like being missed by your kids....

Nuttin honey....

 

My poor dog....if old age and ailments don't kill him, I probably will....on accident of course.

Once again Percy has an ear infection. I tell ya, with all the money I have spent on ear drops and antibiotics for that dog, I could afford a full tank of gas! Last night I was cleaning his ears out, getting ready to put his eardrops in. I had him in the perfect position, and got the correct number of drops in his ear when my eye caught something on the worn off lable of the drops. I could make out the words "one drop" which made me think, "That's odd. I know I'm supposed to put in 5 drops. I only put one drop of the eye medi....oh #$&%*@*!!!!" Yes, I generously filled his ear with eye medication. I quickly got the q-tips and toilet paper and wiped out as much as I could. Percy just looked at me like, "You really are stupid, you do know that don't you?" Anyhow, I eventually got the correct medicine in his ears....and he seems to be fine. Of course now I will have to explain to the vet on his next visit why he has 20/20 vision in his ears....

I left the house at 10:00 am yesterday and shopped all day long. I didn't get home until an hour before I had to pick wee one up at school, which gave me just enough time to put the groceries away. I did rather well with shopping and didn't over spend. JB looked in the pantry when he got home and said, "Wow, we haven't had that much stuff in there for a while." I suppose that was his way of complimenting me on a job well done. I went to three stores yesterday and got all the sale items I had planned on. Of course, even though I spent $50 less than usual, I made it up buying craft supplies at Lowe's and Michaels. I'm not going to say what I bought or what I'm making....because then I'll feel the pressure of getting it done. So, I'll just say it's really cute, and I'll take pics when I do my first one.

Today I need to clean and organize for our little trip this weekend. Since I only have to pack for JB and I, it shouldn't be to much of a job....yeah right. I'm the QUEEN of overpacking. (Sorry Lisa, but I'm knocking you off the throne! lol). I have really tried to curb my enthusiasm for packing as though I may be in the middle of a blizzard and a heat wave in the same weekend....but it's so hard! And inevitably, I'm upset with the clothes that I pack so I make sure to pack "backup" outfits. However, I'm never happy with what I'm wearing, so really, I should only pack one outfit per day and save myself the trouble of folding, washing, ironing all that stuff. JB is easy. I just pack his pants, ask him what shirt he wants to take, then tell him, "No, I don't like that one. Wear this instead." and I'm done! LOL. I'm hoping the weather holds out for the weekend and we don't feel the effects of the hurricane until we get home on Sunday. Mom is coming over to stay with the girls for the weekend, so that will be nice.

Okay, I'm off to clean....happy Friday!

I've been hibernating....

Holy smokes, I just realized I haven't written in here since Monday....and I haven't been doing anything interesting either. I guess I'm just lazy....

I'm so mad about Betsy's job. I tell ya, she has the boss from hell. I just read an e-mail from her, telling Betsy she had done a cake order wrong, and how the man was upset, yadda yadda yadda....and Betsy didn't even work that day! She is going on and on about how she needs to pay more attention, so I respond to the e-mail (as Betsy) and say, "If you check the schedule, you will see that I didn't work on ____." LOL....I'm telling you, this woman picks on her like there is no tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, if Betsy did something wrong, I fully expect her to take the blame and try harder to fix it, however, when she is getting blamed for things that happen when she isn't even there???? I don't think so. ::end rant::

Wee one has had two huge tests this week, and another one today. We have been studying every night for at least two hours. I tell ya, I should just homeschool. Really. It would probably be less work that what I do to subsidize the "teaching" she gets now. Here's hoping she did well....she was very confident about the science, but nervous about social studies. I, however, can tell you what distillation is, as well as why the early settlers were angry with the British King! LOL....

I am going grocery shopping in just a bit. I was planning on going straight from dropping wee one off, in order to save gas, however, I wasn't ready. Somehow I got off track this morning, so I had to come home. I don't have my list ready either. I have some of it done, but I have to go through the sale papers. Hmmmm, let's see....a big 10 for 10 sale is going on....10 containers of sour cream? That's a lot of baked potatoes....okay, here's one for Julie....10 packages of Snoopy fruit snacks for $10. Want me to Fed-ex them to you? LOL....

Well, since my train of thought had totally left the station, I supposeI should go. I shall report back with all of my great deals....I'll just bet you can't wait!

Oh, and here's another annoying little reminder from yours truly....only 120 shopping days left! I don't know what is wrong with me....but I'm in a Christmas mood! LOL....

Some "tree"mendous pictures!

As you can see by the above pics, dh is finished putting the walls up on wee one's tree house. I was going to go inside and take pics as well, but it was getting dark out (much darker than in the pics) and I was afraid of spiders....lol. I'm such a wimp. He has really done a great job with the house, and the pics really don't do it justice....but it was late and I can't photograph worth crap. He is going to trim it all out and paint it next and then hook up the electric. I told him wee one will have a great studio apartment by the time he is finished with it....

Tomorrow is grocery shopping day....yippee. Sometimes I can go three weeks without shopping and be fine....and sometimes I can go a week and it seems we are out of everything. This, of course, is one of those weeks. I cleaned out the pantry, fridge and freezer today and found that I have nothing. I am out of everything! And, of course the sales don't start again until Wednesday. But I want to shop tomorrow. And we all know that if I shop tomorrow, I'll miss out on some freaking spectacular sale that starts the next day, or, I will not shop tomorrow and the sales will be total crap on Wednesday. What to do, what to do. It's just that Tuesday and Thursday are my usual "nothing going on run around" days....and I don't think I can squeeze by  until then. So why not just go get a few fillers? Because I can't. I have a certain "shopping pattern" and it can not be altered. (thank you OCD....lol). But I'm out of PLEDGE! Well, I can squeek by if I must....but it makes me nervous knowing that every time I press that nozzle, it may be the last, dying spurt of my poor little can....

Today I got the organizing bug and cleaned/organized my entire desk, including folders and such. I made lists of the girls school schedules in duplicate (one for the desk, one for the car), and I must say....it all looks really nice. No clutter to be found anywhere. I need to organize all of my sewing/craft things but I know where that will lead....straight to Wal-mart for some three drawer carts with wheels. Those things are awesome for organizing. I go nuts with them though, so I have to be very careful. I think if I had a 5000 sq. foot home, 3500 of it would be containers, all full of my belongings categorizedby shape, size, color, alphabetically, etc., etc. Today I stacked my "all occasion" cards by category and size....I just re-read that statement. I think I may need to get out more.

Well, Betsy is home from work, so I can go to bed and stop worrying about her driving at night....until her next shift that is. Night all....

What a weekend....

We had a great time at the office party on Saturday. We picked up two couples and one single (his wife had to work), and took the party bus to St. Augustine....

Once there we had the car valet parked (I was NOT going to walk two blocks in a dress and heels in 90 degree weather!) and went into the hotel. It is absolutely gorgeous....very fancy, very expensive, and very not us (we are Holiday Inn folk! lol). We made our way to the second floor and headed out to the balcony where the party was to be held. It really was lovely, and would have been perfect, had it not been for the 800% humidity. I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time straightening my hair because ten minutes after being out there I was Shirley Temple curly! They had huge fans on the terrace, so dh and I and the couples we were with grabbed the table directly in front of them. Of course, before dinner was served, the fan died....ugh!

The food was....well, interesting. They did have a delicious sangria....which I partook of....8 times! LOL....now, before you lable me a drunk, the glasses were probably only 4 ounces, so in actuality I only had 4 drinks. The best part of the dinner was the bisque they served at the beginning. Now, I know that I'm going to get a lot of "ewwwww's" from this, but trust me, it was delicious. It was pumpkin crab bisque. It was very thick and creamy and I know that sounds like a strange combination....but it worked. It was slightly sweet with a light dusting of nutmeg on top. It smelled heavenly too....the salad was a wedge of iceburg with mozzarella cheese, calamari olives and a house dressing which was very bitter. I didn't care for that. As a garnish, there were these very thinly sliced pink things....which we all guessed were smoked salmon. I decided to be brave and try a bite. I can't really describe the taste....imagine opening a bottle of your grandmothers oldest, strongest perfume and taking a huge swig....yeah, that's what it was like. Dh said it was some sort of marinated ginger. I don't know what it was, but I couldn't do anything but swallow it, being that we had cloth napkins and I couldn't very well spit it out! The woman across from me said something, and I thought she said she liked it. I kind of shook my head and she shoved a huge piece ofit in her mouth. The look on her face was priceless! She didn't have any qualms about using her cloth napkin as she yelled, "Ooooh!" and quickly spit it out....she said, "I thought you said it was good!" I was laughing at this point watching her chug her ice water.

The main course was a filet medallion, mashed potatoes, asparagus and chilean sea bass with some sort of sauce. Thumbs up to the meat (sans sauce) and potatoes. The fish was okay, but would have been much better cooked a bit longer and served with lemon, as the sauce was a bit heavy. Dessert consisted of three different offerings. Three glasses were filled with fresh berries and whipped cream, tiramisu and cream, and chocolate mousse with whipped cream. Needless to say, this reviewer found nothing wrong with any of them! LOL....During the meal there was a man who played acoustic guitar and sang. He was really good....actually, he sings at many of the local restaurants in St. Augustine. My uncle liked him so much that he asked him if he did parties. After dinner we sat and visited, talked and laughed. It was a really good time and so nice to get out with adults!

Today we didn't do much of anything. I had a bit of a headache....serves me right....and wee one had a ton of homework. We worked all afternoon on it while JB finished putting up the walls on her tree house. I will take pics of it tomorrow. It looks so cute!!!! All he has to do is trim it out and paint it. He did a great job. Betsy has been in a benadryl induced sleep all day. Poor kid. She has (I'm not exaggerating, they counted) 26 mosquito bites on one leg, 32 on the other and at least 15 on either arm. I didn't know about it until she showed me today. Apparently when she was helping her dad do the lawn, taking the clippings to the pile we have in the woods, she was attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes! I felt horrible when I saw them!  I bought benadryl today, along with anti-itch spray. She jumped in the pool this afternoon to try and stop the itching for a bit.

Well, it's getting late and I need to get things organized for tomorrow. Week #3 of school....woohoo!