Rain, Dogs, DVRs, & Idol

Driving Home from work in the rain I couldn’t wait to get settled in and watch American Idol with hubby. We like to start watching from the DVR recording about 30 minutes after the show starts so we can fast forward through all the commercials. So I knew I had plenty of time to do some clean up and make dinner before we settled down to watch.

My first speed bump of the evening was coming home to find our dog had torn through the lattice on our deck. First of all I have to tell you that this little dog is terrified of storms. The only place she wants to be when there is a storm going on is in somebody’s lap. But as it would be, she was on the back porch. And just in the last few months; she has decided that is not where she wants to be in a storm! Somewhere in her little dog brain, she thinks it is better to be outside the confinement of our covered, closed in porch – out in the rain amongst the lighting and thunder. Since we have moved any chairs, boxes, etc from around the edge (on which she can climb and then jump to the ground (at least 5 feet) to escape; she wanted out so bad that she chewed, pulled, pushed her way through the lattice! So I get home to a whole in the lattice and my little dog out running wile in the pouring down rain!

So here is how my evening goes: Capture runaway dog. Try to clean up the mess she made of the porch. Start dinner. Give dog a much needed bath and a partial haircut to get rid of the matted knots she has created. Finish dinner. Greet hubby when he comes home. Take a bath myself. Then by 7:30, I am ready to settle next to hubby and watch American Idol.

Next Glitch: I grab the remote and go to Recordings List...and It’s Not There!!!. I go to channel 51 and it clearly shows it is recording! We worked with it a bit...but didn’t have time to figure out what the problem was...we were missing American Idol! So...long story short, we missed the first two competitors – but through text messaging with my co-worker was able to figure out what I missed! I can tell you the biggest surprise of the night for me was Adam (I know he is a bit strange, but he can definitely sing!)...gone was the dark gothic Adam and here he was without the eyeliner, black nail polish and spiky hair – and instead was a rather subdued 50’s looking guy.

For me it’s still too early to tell you who will make it to the final 3...but I can tell you it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if we could just go ahead and get rid of Meagan “dorky” Corkery; Scott “every song sounds the same” Macintyre – I just don’t think I want to hear either of them again next week!

Tonight its American Idol at 7pm and I hope it doesn’t run over that 2-3 minutes it has been, cause its Grey’s Anatomy at 8pm! And boy it is going to be good! Let’s Hope McDreamy saves the day!

Time to Party

I picked up Slayten & Sutton after lunch Friday to spend the night with us. We took both of them to the baseball park to watch 'K' play ball (we didn't win--so not much to say about that). I hated that I didn't take my camera, but honestly I'm not sure I would have had a hand free to take any...those two kept me busy. Slayten found a friend to play with, but they kept getting further and further away! They both went home this morning and that gave me a little time to clean up the house before hubby and I went to town for lunch and some last minute shopping for Sutton's party.

We got there a little early and Thump Daddy had to help blow up the ball pit that Sutton's Mom & Dad got him! But the pit was a big success (and a colorful background for pictures!)


Slayten loved the cupcakes, but Sutton wasn't quite sure what that gooey green stuff was!

Now I'm back home...yard work awaits...but I Need A Nap!

1st Birthday!

Sutton turned "1" last week!

I've been a bit behind on posting...but what can I say...'It's Baseball Season!' Although, not much baseball this week with all the rain! These are a couple pics from Kaleb's 1st District Game against Winona Tuesday. It was a big win (20-1) so he only played the first 3 innings then the starters came out of the game. Don't you love the picture of his grandad watching the game so intently!

Absolutely Free!

To the first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Lucky you!My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
What I create will be just for you.
It'll be done this year.
You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a mask. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Stress

Say some prayers for me -- especially tomorrow morning. I have an extremely stressful situation tomorrow. The stress is inevitable...but how I need to react to it will require alot of strength. I know God is in control; I just don't need to get in His Way.

I picked up the boys Friday when I got off work and brought them to our house for the afternoon. Thump-Daddy was waiting at the house with lunch...Corn Dogs - Yum! (Slayten has decided he doesn't like chicken nuggets anymore -- I do hope he is not becoming a picky eater like his Thump Daddy!) Of course we did have to watch 'Cars' again (for about the 50th time!) but it was also such a nice day we played outside for a while. Sutton is getting so big and walking more! He really wanted to play with the dog; but Smudgie is just a little bit quicker than he is! Ha!

Idol Update -- Hubby is boycotting!

Well, I'm 8 for 9 (I didn't vote for Scott -- although I did think he would get in through the wild card!). My 9th vote went to Von and he ws the first one added to the wild card group -- so I feel pretty good about my choices! But now that I have had more time to think about it; I might have wanted Ju'Not in there instead.

I also felt pretty good about 7 of the 8 choices the judges made for the Wild Card Group; Hubby is boycotting until Tatianna is no longer in it! Seriously, she has a voice; but she is soooo annoying!

I am going to a baseball game tonight in DeKalb, so it will be late when I get home -- hopefully not to late to watch the recording to see who gets in the top 12. Seriously...I don't think I can stand weeks of watching Tatiana....I will go insane!

p.s. It's good that Grey's Anatomy is a re-run tonight -- At least I don't have to stay up late to catch up on that!

Idol, Round 3

I definitely think Lil Rounds will be the top girl tonight! And I am guessing that Jorge Nunez will be the top guy (just my guess). For the 3rd one I’m not very sure at all...my 3rd vote last night went to Von Smith...but I was already doubting that right after I voted. Ju’Not Joyner may be a more likely choice. I like Scott Macintyre (blind), but he didn’t do very well last night; but I know he does so much better behind the piano! And I didn’t vote for him because I really think they will put him in the wild card group next week. There are a couple in this group that I might like to see in the top 12 just because they do have good vocals; but they are in serious need of a makeover & a stylist! (Nathanial; drop the 80’s look!...and Kristen; what decade did you get that dress from?)

No matter how tonight falls out, I would like to see Anoop Desai, and Ricky Braddy from Week 1; and Jesse, Matt, Mishavonna & Jasmine from Week 2 get picked to come back next week for the wild card round!

Home Run!

My latest treasure: Home run ball hit by Kaleb monday night. Final Score (in extra inning) ND 6; Daingerfield 5!

Hidden Treasure

Have you ever reached way back in your closet and pulled out that old jacket you haven’t worn in a long while and you put it on and reach in the pocket and find...Treasure! Usually it is money. It has been common for me to find a dollar or two, on one occasion even a twenty! Yesterday my dear Dad discovered a hidden treasure in an old coat pocket that he gave to me!

Take a look. It’s old and faded, but what a treasure for me. It’s my Mom & Dad’s reserved seat tickets from my very last Football Game my senior year in high school! Not sure if you can read everything on the tickets, but it was from November 14, 1980 and it was our big rival game against Ore City. The reserve seat ticket price was $2.00 (ticket prices have more than doubled in the last 28 years!) My parents had reserve tickets as long as I can remember; Section A, Row 3, Seats 12 & 13 – this was in the old stadium which now would be the location of a grassy parking lot, and new Ag buildings – but I can still picture it and I can remember being with the rest of the twirlers on the sidelines (we didn’t have a track back then) and looking up and seeing my mom & dad sitting right there every game.

Original Value $2.00
Today’s Value $0.00

Memory Value... priceless!

I have a longer version of this post on this "Messages To Myself" site

http://gina-messagestomyself.blogspot.com/2009/03/hidden-treasure.html

Surprise!

We attended a surprise 70th birthday party for my husband's uncle this weekend. He was surprised; not only by the party, but also for the large number of family & friends that were there. We had a great time and I was able to take a couple pics of my hubby and his sister and cousins! The party was at The Reserve. What an awesome place. My son's prom will be held there in April and a friend of mine is having her wedding there in June.

The picture above is Thumper, his sis Becky, and their cousins Nikki, Bryan, Laci an Shelly. The 1st picture below if Thumper & Nikki; the 2nd is Becky, Thumper & Laci