Back and Missing My Friends

My trip home was too much fun! I basically lived the single life with my best friend for four, fun-filled days. Now, when I say single, I'm not talking about bar-hopping and running around like some crazed woman. I'm talking about going where I want to go, when I want to go whenever I want to go. I'm saying that I didn't have to put anyone into a booster or car seat, buckle them up and make sure the strap wasn't too tight. I didn't have to wait for kiddlings to finally get out of the car, only to realize they left some scrap of clothing or (heaven forbid) their shoes.

I could also go into places and not worry about hands touching and picking up everything. I could spend time browsing and not worry about brattiness ("Don't touch me!" "She's not listening, mom!" "Why can't we go there?" "I'm hungry!") I missed my girls, but I didn't miss all of this.

I arrived in Nashville, the Friday before last, at around 10:30pm. I picked up my car (a Hyundai Elantra in grey) and drove over to the hotel. Once I checked in, I discovered that I had two, double beds instead of the single King I thought I was going to get. Sweet! I called my friend and told her to bring a bag. Slumber party! When she arrived, we went to pick up a late dinner, came back to the room and talked, talked, talked. The next day, she had to get her hair done. I worked out while she was gone, talked to my dad, and arranged a lunch with my sorority sister. At lunch, my soror, my best friend and I talked, and talked and talked for nearly three hours. I'm sure the wait-staff was ready for us to go.

We hit nearly every hair shop where I spent way too much money. For that Saturday evening? Bowling and Captain D's for dinner. Sunday, it was off to her church for morning service. We left and went to IHOP, where we connected with my dad. He was nearly 45 minutes late (CP time for real!) and then he wouldn't let us leave. Two hours later and lots of rain, we headed back to the room to recuperate. Later, we went back out for dinner and watched "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" on my computer. We were planning on going to a haunted house, but we didn't want to stand in the rain.

Monday, we went to my high school friend's, daughter's junior high to speak for their college week. It was a lot of fun and they asked a lot of very intelligent questions (for the most part). It's junior high, after all. Afterwards, we kidnapped my friend and had lunch at Long John Silvers. Then, it was time to see Zombieland. Awesome! I haven't had that much fun at a movie in a long time. We were the only ones in the theater, talking loud and cracking jokes. It was the best! (I went to see it again with hubby two days later). There are so many great one-liners. We're still quoting them, ever chance we get.

We went to the mall for slurpees and strolled through our childhood hang out, now nearly deserted (due to our lovely economic climate). Her hubby was eager to have her back, so we took her home around five. For Monday night? BB King's House of Blues. Oh, yeah. It was the perfect end to a fantastic trip. We saw the Stacy Mitchhart band and turned into groupies for the evening, grabbing autographs and buying CDs. I love live music and I really hate that I don't get enough of it at home. That's gotta change.

Tuesday was a bit depressing. We picked up breakfast and turned in my car. After which, we hung out at Opry Mills and then had lunch. Then, off to the airport to come home. It's always so hard to leave. My best friend said it best when she described our friendship; "The longer we remain friends, the more we appreciate each other...the harder it is to separate." Ugh! If only I could beam them here when I need them.

So, I don't go again until 2011. She wants to try the skiing thing the next time she's here (2010). I'll be pricing that out, along with hospital stays for when limbs are broken. I told her, "Only the bunny slopes for me!" I just don't want to meet my end tumbling down a mountain, you know?

When Good Weekends Disappear

It was just wonderful! We didn't do anything spectacular, but we spent a lot of time together. I think, for the first time in a long time, hubby dear saw the benefits of having that precious time we've been missing. I've been trying to tell him for months that it's the most important thing to me, in regards to our relationship. The weekend flew by and, this time, I wasn't depressed about a bad weekend turning into just another week at work. This time, I was elated at having such a great weekend but sad at seeing it disappear. I believe hubby felt the same way.

My trip home is in a couple of weeks and he's already getting mopey about it. He's anticipating missing me, which I think is sweet and a bit sad. I don't feel it yet because, as is always the case with me, I don't feel the effects until I'm right at the cliff. It will be the day I leave getting onto the airplane that I'll fee the twangs of sadness. He's already talking about, "When you're gone..." and the things he'll try to do to keep himself occupied. I keep reminding him that the kids will be with him and, when they're at school, he'll have all that time to himself. I don't think he's seeing the benefits right now but I'm hoping he will in the next few days.

The first day of fall is just about here! I'm so excited and I keep looking for all the wonderful colors. Some trees have started to change, but not many. We did wake up to 49 degrees this morning (a sure sign that fall is on the way). Hubby keeps asking me when it is so he can turn on the Halloween lights. Halloween lights? For real?! He cracks me up. Again, he's said, "I'm not going to put up a lot of stuff this Christmas." Okay, he says this every year. No kidding! Track back to old posts around this time? Sure as I'm breathing, I've typed this before. He just can't help himself. He's got a 10 year-old kid living inside him that just loves holidays.

The babe is getting challenged in dance, now. The group is nearly double at 13 as opposed to the 6 strong they were last year. The routine is harder, but oh so cute. They had a 3.5 hour choreography session on Saturday. They were dead, when I picked her up, but happy. I'm glad she's still enjoying all this. Some of them looked like they weren't there for good times. I wonder how long they will remain 13, with all of what I saw Saturday?

I got my hair done on Saturday as well and it's longer than I normally keep it. This was due to the general consensus of the shop, that day. My beautician asked if I wanted to trim it and I asked the ladies currently there what they thought. All agreed that I should keep it long, so I did. As soon as I stepped inside the house, my hubby was in awe. He was happy she finished early, but also happy it was so long (about the middle of my back)...claiming it would be great to pull um, later on. Nice. It's still a bit tender and it's starting to itch. The first week is always uncomfortable.

Friday, the babe and I will see A Chorus Line. Of course, she has no idea but I think she'll enjoy it immensely. I just hope my sister maintains herself. She can be oh, so irritating.

The Pacific Northwest and Major Bodybuilding Beefcake Pt.2

As the judging progressed, I paid close attention to the look of the competitors. Not their physiques so much as their faces. I can only assume that the "supplements" they use make them look like they look. Some of the women appeared so gaunt and angular, I had to do double-takes for some, just to be sure they were women. Here is the difference between the natural shows; women are sure to look like women in the natural world.

Hubby's class was huge, but he did well. We left after the judging and journeyed to the outskirts of Bellevue to take in the sights. First, we headed over to the Factoria outlet stores which weren't all that exciting. Then, across the street to a local cantina for lunch. It was wonderful! Their strawberry margarita was as big as my plate and my afternoon was quite mellow after that. A discount store was next and their weren't a lot of discounts to be had, although hubby found a nice bottle of cologne for not too expensive.

The snow and rain began to fall (again) so, it was back to town for us. We rested a bit before the show then set out to the events center again. The displays were in full swing and hundreds of people were walking around the booths. Hubby decided he needed to buy more stuff and hung out with me in the audience until show time.

I was pleased with how organized everything was. The host kept the pace and contestants were held to their 60 second routines. I wasn't happy with all the breaks, though. We heard the same announcements about twenty times (this or that show being held in this or that state). I was getting a bit bored about mid-way through. People need to remember to bring their personalities to those performances. Some of them were so dull. I can count on one hand how many actually got some excitement out of people. Maybe it's just that the show is made up of so many out-of-towners that the crowds just don't know who the athletes are.

By the end, I was happy to see hubby and then get out of there. We tried to find a restaurant that was open, but Bellevue is apparently a sleepy town and only the Jack in the Box and the Denny's had bright lights. We ended up at the pre-planned, after party restaurant which turned out to be very good. Hubby and I shared a 25oz. Sangria that made us all warm and toasty. We didn't get back to the hotel till close to 1:00pm (another late night for me).

Up at 5:00am, we finished packing up and headed back to Seattle to return the car (a brand-new Dodge, Caliber) and catch our flights. I was looking forward to getting back and seeing my girls, but also sad that I didn't have more time to spend with hubby alone. We pretty much decided during this trip that separate flights would be something to avoid in the future. It's certainly nice to meet new people on flights (and I did on the flight there - Jo) but it's nice to have the time for bonding with loved ones, too.

The next show? End of May. This one is natural and I'm looking forward to it.

The Pacific Northwest and Major Bodybuilding Beefcake Pt. 1

My trip was lovely...for the most part. Hubby and I awoke at 3:30am Friday morning, got ready and finished packing the car with our luggage. We traveled 30 minutes to the airport and got through security almost flawlessly. If "yours truly" had remembered her Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter was in her carry on, it would have been flawless. So, $16.00 into the trash. I was hot! That stuff ain't cheap and I was so getting used to the way it made my hair feel. I'm not ready to order another jar again. I need to save some allowance, first.

Once we made it through security, we headed to the United terminal to wait for hubby's flight to leave. The attendant came on the loud-speaker to announce that the flight was overbooked (now, we know airlines do this but it always kills me how surprised they sound when they announce it) and would anyone take the next flight in exchange for one, round-trip ticket to anywhere in the continental U.S. Hubby was all about it. It would shorten his layover in San Francisco, and he would get to Seattle at the same time. No one counted on weather issues in San Fran. Ugh!

My flight with Southwest was gone and in the air by 10:00...hubby was still in the airport in Salt Lake. I arrived in Seattle at 11:40 am. Hubby didn't get to San Fran until close to 1:00pm. Ultimately, I was hanging out at the airport for hours waiting for him. When he finally deplaned, he looked like he'd been through the ringer, poor guy. We got our car and left for Bellevue with only an hour to get to the event center for his registration. Talk about hectic! I'm trying to navigate with the rental car map while hubby is steering a car he's not used to through mad, Seattle traffic in the rain. Despite the craziness, we made it to the hotel and then to the event center with minutes to spare.

We spent Friday night taking in the sights of the city. Washington is gorgeous! The green was so spectacular (you forget about green when you live in a desert). Lake Washington?Absolutely beautiful and the skylines? Exquisite. My only gripe was that I could certainly feel the humidity. The wind had a bite to it that I hadn't felt since leaving Nashville. Frigid! Other than that, wine to be purchased at grocery stores (what a novel idea? Get a clue, Utah) and the people were very friendly. We ate dinner at an amazing Thai place (Thai Grille)...a hole in the wall where I could swear I saw some one's grandmother in the kitchen cooking. I had the Samara Noodles (Vermicelli noodles with spinach, tofu and peanut sauce). I ate half and then felt like I needed to be rolled outta there.

Being without the kids was hard, at first, but hubby kept reminding me that it was just us. We could do whatever we wanted and not have to worry about car seats, juice, runny noses, crying and people being tired at 8:00pm. We had a glass of wine at 10:30 and didn't go to sleep till after one (we weren't out anywhere, we just weren't sleeping...draw your own conclusions).

After our night of passion, we arose to go to the prejudging session. The venue was quite large with several vendors stationed in the back selling all kinds of stuff. Supplements, replacement meals, sports wear, posing attire you name it. We spent quite a bit of money and I got an up close and personal look at the items these athletes have to purchase and wear. The judging began and the over 70 category was quite the surprise! How about being a 79 year old bodybuilder? If that's what I've got to look forward to, I will be one happy wife in my old age.

Ready to Go?

Nope, not in the least. Before I go on a trip, I like for my house to be clean (spotless, if possible). If there's one thing I can't deal with is coming home to a trashed house. My house hasn't seen a mop in weeks and it's getting pretty grungee, especially with the new dog in the house (did I mention that Mastiffs tend to slobber? Fun, slimy times). Besides the floors, the bathrooms are gross, my bedroom is a fright and the basement has dust bunnies that kick up every time someone walks around.

Hubby asked me to try and tidy this morning, but of course we were running behind. The eldest decided to do her sloppiest work for her practice spelling test. Mom wasn't having it, so we started over. She was ticked. Oh, well. No sloppy pants in my house (just a sloppy house, right?)

I haven't even begun to pack. The girls aren't packed either, so that will be priority task one when I get home, since they're leaving for their grandmother's this evening. The other trick is how do we get two, massive dogs into our sedan to transport to the baby sitter's? Hubby thinks everyone will be able to fit, including the dogs. I think he's smoking crack.

The weather this weekend in Salt Lake will be in the 70s. Too bad where we're going, it will be in the 40's in Washington. Rats! I'm still convinced will have a good time, despite the frosty temps. There are quite a few places within walking distance of where we'll be staying. Hubby thought ahead and rented a car which I thoroughly relieved about. Now, we can travel around the city and beyond (without getting rained on). I'm really intrigued because this is one of the places we've thought about moving to in the future. I love the west and embrace it's mentality completely. Utah has been good, but there's a lot my kids can't experience here because of the culture. I'm hoping to get a nice enough "sample" of Washington so that we can make a possible decision for our future.

Right now, I'm eating subway sandwiches from our performance lunch. I did get an oatmeal cookie and half of a chocolate chip cookie. My Fresca is bubbling and all is right with the world.

A New Dog and He Paces

We drove nearly an hour south of home to pick up our new dog, yesterday. He's gorgeous! Friendly, obedient, lovable and playful our current dog has definitely found a new friend. Unfortunately, our new addition was having a time adjusting to his new surroundings last night, so he paced and paced and paced. It's not cool to wake up several times a night to the sound of huge feet trotting along through your house sounding like a big-butt horse. Hubby and I also weren't thrilled to wake up to big Mastiff eyes bearing down upon us as if to say, "Where's my mommy?" He should settle in, I hope, over the next few days.

In other news, hubby isn't nearly as nervous about his up coming show as he was the last show. He's low carbing, but not insanely like last time. His temper is more even and he doesn't seem to have the ego that came with the last time (not sure what that was about). I checked the weather and it's supposed to be snowing in Tacoma this weekend. So much for looking like "spring youth" when we go. I'll probably have to pack my snow boots and trench coat. So sexy! I so wanted to wear my cute duds, but I don't do the "cute and cold" bit anymore. Gone are my college days.

I'm getting anxious about what may happen with my work situation. I'm hoping I'll get approved for full-time telecommuting at the end of the month. My boss's new boss, however, doesn't seem like the understanding "family friendly" type and I'm hoping I don't have to go back to the office. I think I may have to leave my job if that happens, not because of the work itself, but because (after all this time) my own boss may not fight for me to have this opportunity. I wouldn't be able to stand that. Pray for me!

Back from Vacation

I've been back since Sunday, but it's been hard getting back into the rhythm of things, which also includes my attempts at exercising. I had started off well before I left, getting in a walk here or there or doing a workout video. It was a good habit in progress and then...vacation. Vacation to the south which equals to lots and lots of double-dipped, super fried craziness. I didn't go as overboard as I thought but it's still damage to work off.

Hubby and I missed each other during the five day hiatus, but we survived as did my eldest daughter (I took Indy with me. Hey, it's only a few more months before she's too old to fly for free. I definitely took advantage). He managed to get homework stuff done and house work. Amazing! She was happy to have her mom back and I was happy to see her, when I returned.

The trip was very nostalgic for me. I saw my sorority sisters, my best friend from high school, my best friend from college, my father and his wife and all the places I grew up going to and loving. Indy didn't do so well, intestinally that is. She was runny most of the trip. Hubby believes it had to do with the altitude change. That may be, but I also think the difference in food and it's preparation was major. We ate things she's never had before and I'm sure her stomach was rebelling.

As for seeing all my friends, it really made me miss those connections. At times, I thought I was intruding in the normal activities of their lives but it turns out, they never get together. Only a few miles apart, and no lunches, play dates or dinners to be had. Would that be different for me if I was there. I kind of think it would. I miss them tremendously, but I have no plans of ever moving back there.

The city had changed some, but not much. When I went back to my college town, I saw more changes there than anywhere. The street was heavily congested when I left but going back? It was terrible! They've built tons of new restaurants and stores on the major drag and there's just not enough room for everything and daily traffic. They're going to have to do something soon, if the population keeps growing (which it will). So much for the quaint, little college town I remember.

I'll be working out momentarily. I realized that my waist line is really struggling from the C-section I had. It's been hard getting that area toned up so, it's back to the Firm for me and perhaps a bit of Jane Fonda (I know it's dated, but I love her workouts!).

Birthday Celebrations and Big, Big Balloons

The babe had her 7th birthday last Thursday. We surprised her with a birthday party at the local skating rink. She had a blast! (her poor parents, however, will never do this again). There were little kids everywhere! Not to mention the Bounce Zone, the Pirates Cove and near complete darkness, we could barely tell where anyone was. This made hubby very nervous, for fear predators would try and bother the little sweethearts. Despite the pandemonium, the babe made out like a bandit and we established contacts with other parents in the neighborhood. I feel better knowing that there are others I can call on, besides our "stand-by" neighbors. I'm sure they get tired of us.

Friday, I took the day off to spend with the birthday girl. We took her to the mall and she got her first manicure (complete with stickers). She loved it! Then, off to run errands with the parents. Friday evening, I hog tied her to the ground and redid her hair (it was rough!). She looks great, now. I won't let it go so long, next time. Hubby brought Chinese home for dinner to surprise me. What a guy.

Saturday, we were up bright and early to watch the Balloon launch (Ogden City Balloon Festival) complete with all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. The girls loved it, even Indy...who pointed up in the sky at the Balloons floating through the air. Her first experience with hot air balloons. We walked around a bit, but the displays weren't really available (they usually appear later in the day). The babe had a birthday party to attend, so we couldn't hang around and wait for vendors to appear.

She went to her first bowling party while her sister, father and I stayed home and took a breather from the morning events (Dad actually got the neighbor and they worked on sprinkler heads...I guess me and Indy were the only ones taking a breather). The party was a success and she learned how to bowl! I'm hoping to take the family before summer vacation officially ends (school starts next Wednesday). Craziness!

Saturday afternoon, off to grandmother's house we went (grandma wasn't able to join us for the birthday party and felt really bad about it. She decided a sleepover was a great way to make it up to the birthday girl). Hubby and I put the little one to bed early and enjoyed cocktails and a movie. Sunday, we went to church as a family and in the afternoon, shopped a bit for school supplies and clothes. The week has been pretty busy with work stuff and meetings, but I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize (at least ten pounds off before my trip). Yes. I know I won't get there eating birthday cake and pounds upon pounds of Chinese food. TOM is on the way too so, if I can rise above my cravings for the next few days, I think I'll be okay.

Two Days of Bliss

The lummox has been at my sister-in-law's for the past two nights, and my home has been absolute bliss without him. It's so nice to be able to do things around the house knowing that I don't have him potentially lumbering in to destroy my good mood. The evenings are quiet and event-less (no microwave coming on at all hours of the night, no lights on all over the place, no phone calls to awake a slumbering baby). It's been marvelous! Hubby and I are so ready for his big ass to be gone for good, it's not even funny.

My big girl (the babe) is off on an adventure. She went with friends of my hubby's to a lake just north of here (okay, not "just" north...it's Idaho, so a bit of a drive). She will be joined by other family members of the friends for fun in the sun and splashing in the lake. I hope she enjoys herself and doesn't cause too much trouble for them. They have a son and are probably not used to the sensitive nature of a cry-baby six year old. She was to stay the night at their house last night, then make the drive this morning to the lake.

*Update! Hubby just called and said that they (his friends) said she did really well last night. The played and played, then went downstairs to watch t.v. When hubby's friend looked over, they had both crashed. He also said, as they were packing the RV last night and the babe was wondering around in the splendor of it she said, "Are we ready to go, now?". To which he responded, "No, not yet, honey. We'll be going in the morning. "

"Well, I get up early. I can get you guys up."

Too funny! Hubby told his friend that she definitely wasn't lying about the getting up early. Five o'clock and she's ready for action. I hope she does well for the remainder of the trip.

It's storming in various places in Utah, but not where I work or live. It's sort of a bummer because there have been all of these flash flood warnings and I have yet to see any water. Cars are apparently floating away in these places, but still nothing here. Now, I'm looking out the window and a mass of dark clouds are looming over the area. I'm ready for the rain!

Half a Tank and Forty Dollars Later...

Hubby and I were reunited. Not in the way I'd wished, but it still turned out okay. We spent Friday evening talking about how much we missed each other and all the things I had wanted to tell him while he was away. We discussed my honey-do list (which I think surprised him that I'd kept up with so well). I showed him the office minus the ugly border. When he saw it, he pinned me against the wall and tried to have his wicked way with me. Hmm...if that's all it takes, I need to put up ugly border everywhere and take it down!

Next, I showed him how sparkling clean I'd made the spare bedroom. Down on the bed we went. Wait! I just cleaned the linen on this bed! Okay, so back upstairs where I showed him the list I was keeping up with, magnetically clinging to the fridge. Pinned against the fridge...not exactly comfortable, but I wasn't going to complain. We had a lovely evening and I hated that he'd scheduled to work someone's shift this weekend. That was indeed poor planning. After Friday, I only saw him in spurts.

We had a little episode yesterday after he got home from work. He's been frustrated with some things, but he's only talking about them in bits and pieces. I suppose he'll dump when he's ready, but it made me quite frustrated. Just tell me the issue, man? In time...patience is a virtue.

On an unrelated topic, they keep showing footage of Miss U.S.A. taking a fall on her butt during last night's Miss Universe pageant. She totally played it off, stood up and kept on smiling and walking. That's the way to do it, but do we have to relieve this woman's embarrassment for the rest of the day? Oh, well. Miss Universe is lovely.

Playing the Role of Single Mother

It's been weird and lonely not having hubby around. He flew out on Saturday and yours truly tried hard to hold back the water-works but was oh, so unsuccessful. I did wipe the tears away before getting back into the car with the kids. I really didn't have to...the babe turned into a fountain herself as we pulled out of the airport parking lot.

He arrived safely and called once before leaving Atlanta (his layover city) and once when he arrived in Nashville. I received another call, once he had his rental and was on his way to the hotel. He hard night, after taking his friends around town. All they wanted to do is drink and club hop. He's just not that type of person anymore. He called again when he'd left them downtown and told them to take a taxi home. He wound up back at the hotel on the phone with me again, a bit sad and a little miffed that he still had six more days to go. The last call was to say good night...that he missed me and loved me. His sadness was palpable.

This all changed yesterday, when he got to see his brother (who he hasn't seen in years). This brother is married with two little children whom hubby and I have never met in person. Hubby was so happy to see them and the kids. His spirits were rejuvenated and the sadness in his voice was nearly absent when I talked to him. I told him that once he started seeing friends and family he'd feel better and (of course!) I was right. He even spoke a bit about how it would be nice to live closer to his brother. I remained silent and he heard my silence and responded:

"I know this is more my feelings since your sort of anti-south." I wouldn't say anti-south, but I really have no desire to go back. It was hard enough living there the first time, but to do it again and subject my children to some of it's backward mentality? No, thank you.

Meanwhile, we've (the girls and I) have had episodes: the babe has been "acting out" a bit since her father left. Yesterday, I made it very clear that whether daddy was here or not, she couldn't just do whatever she wanted. I also reminded her that if she thinks he won't know, she's sadly mistaken. He's asking about her with every call and I give him a full report. I hope that she heard me last night because I don't want anymore phone calls from school (yes...I got one on Friday...ugh!). There are two full weeks of school left (OMG! I can't believe it!) and I don't want her ending on a sour note. She's really a good kid and I know she was "acting out" as a result of her sadness, but she's got to suck-it-up and be the good kid that I know she is. She's not like some kids who don't have a father or only have a weekend dad or a dad who travels and is gone months at a time.

Hubby left me a "honey-do" list and I've yet to begin. There's a new shade to put up in the living room. We have a window-seat that's quite lovely and the dog and cats make themselves very comfortable there, through out the day. Currently, burgundy curtains hang there getting covered in animal hair. The shade will add beauty to the living room and a break to the drapes; however, I suppose we'll be dusting this shade regularly because I don't think the animals will be giving up their hang out on account of a window-covering change. I'm also supposed to take down the border in our office downstairs, tidy up the "blue room" (the extra bedroom where my brothers-in-law will stay while here this summer) and mow the lawn. What?! Yeah, never done that before in my life. Never had to. Pretty sure the lawnmower is going to blow up after I use it.

Then there's the normal stuff that hubby attends to because I always have to see about the kids; litter change, garbage day, house cleaning. You know? I've really got it good. I hear about my coworkers hubbies all the time and mine is in a league all his own. He may make me absolutely nuts sometimes, but he's a good egg. I'm missing him lots (and not just because he scrubs the toilets). ;)

Things are Better

Hubby and I had a several hour, heart-to-heart last night after I sent him my email of incoherent/coherent thoughts. It began with a call to my cell phone, as I traveled home from work and ended in the best possible way (four hours later...that was some talk!). We have promised to try to communicate better with each other, especially when arguments bring up old stuff that we thought had been squashed.

Random stuff:

• I've been listening to The Evolution of Robin Thicke, a CD I purchased exactly one week ago today. Being the son of actor/musician parents, he's got all the goods and I'm digging his style. Favorite tracks: "I Need Love", "2 the Sky", "Ask Myself", "Everything that I Can't Have", "Angel", and "Shooter". Really, the whole CD is amazing. Sample some tracks, if you have a moment.

• It's spring rain-time here in Utah. I like it and it's warm enough not to distract from the springiness that's happening all around (my Quaking Aspens look like they'll have leaves very soon).

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• We went to the IRS page yesterday to see when our refund is coming. Huh, now we know...technology, man. Gotta love it.

• I wear lipstick more than any other makeup and have found Maybelline Wet Diamond Shine colors look the best on me. I find them sporadically now. Do they even make this line anymore?
  

• I've been feeling more and more like my old self again. Still not working out as much as I'd like to, i.e., the weight is not falling off as fast I'd like it to, but my body has changed shape again. That's the best part. Things don't swing, roll or bounce as much. Funny that I notice these things and nobody else, does...including my husband, who has seen every part of me.

• I wore a simple pink blouse yesterday and received compliments from people I don't even know. I knew pink looked fairly good on me but, wow! Mental note: Gotta buy more pink.

• Many of the newscasters on our Fox network affiliate wear too much make-up and try too be to "hip" for their own good (transition music from and to commercials could be anything from Kool and the Gang to Gwen Stefani). I know movie companies own many of the news stations now, but come on. What happened to class and style...and Connie Chung, since I'm on the subject?
  

• This Farel print is in my bedroom and we have plans to add others. They remind me a bit of the smokey jazz clubs from my childhood, or at least, the glamorized memories I have of them.

• Why do so many children get lost in the woods, lately? Do their parents not tell them to keep up? Stay with a buddy? I heard that all the time when we were out on field trips or away from home.

• Sexual slavery is alive and well. How sad.

• My eldest brought her report card home, yesterday. She did quite well, but is struggling a bit in math. I've put hubby on the case, since that's his specialty. They were drilling on math flash cards, when I got home yesterday (very cute).

• I'm in the mood for a cappuccino...it sounds pretty good right now.

• I want to go the balloon festival this year and hope to secure a room before they're all taken. Keep your fingers crossed for me!