Happy Birthday ...

to my nephew - the infamous Isaac!

I can't believe it has been 2 years already!





Enjoy your family birthday party tonight!

And I hope that Mommy picked out a "fun" present for you from Aunt Beth !!

Note: Yes, I took the easy way out - sent money and made Mommy do the shopping !!

Which One Would You Like To Wear To Work Today?

Wear One Proudly !!

Fun Monday #9 - Why Do You Blog

Many apologies for this being so jumbled (and vague) but time has gotten away from me today. Long day at work and some errands (stupid washing machine) I had to run. It is almost 10:00 and I haven't seen "dinner" yet - at this point, why bother?

PB&J will probably do the trick (AGAIN)!!




Lisa at Lisa's Chaos is this week's host. Her assignment is:

I’d like to know more about you, what makes you tick. I’d like to know how you started blogging. Did you keep a diary under lock and key safely hidden as a child? Do you still? Do you share the same things on your blog that you would have, or do, in your diary? Why did you start blogging and why do you continue? May as well throw in any roadblocks you have run into while blogging. If you still have your old diaries we’d love to see them.

* What makes me tick - I'm too tired to even attempt this one, so it will have to wait for another time. One thing I will add though is that I am too tough on myself (so I am told). Others seem to notice "what I have done (or accomplished) in my life" I always seem to dwell on the things that "have gone wrong" or what I haven't done. My self-esteem has improved somewhat but it still needs a lot of work.

* I started blogging at the urging of my youngest sister . She let me know what she was doing (her blog). I would check daily. Then I would check the people on her blog list daily. Finally, I said "What the Hell?" and started one myself. I had (and still have) bigger plans for it, but it consumes a lot of time (that I don't seem to have most days). My thoughts and ideas don't flow as easily as her's do. I struggle with ideas - I'm not as creative BUT I shall not give up - I will get there some day!!

* Diary? I don't recall keeping one as a teenager, but do keep somewhat of a journal at the present time. I have had a lot of ups and downs in the last say, 10-15 years that really screwed me up (emotionally) for a while. The journal was (is) a way to keep things in check (see 1st * above). Basically, I look back from time to time to remind myself that I'm not a total failure in all things called "Life". And NO I don't share some of the things that I write (or have written) with the Blogosphere. Some maybe, but not most.

* I started blogging to keep in touch with family who "aren't right up the road". SJ is in CO and now my parents are too. Mom and Dad read (and never comment) but I know they are there. Also, the other sister (who comments anonymously) lives an hour down the road and she reads too. I work outside of the home, she doesn't - so I share with her also because there isn't always time for the "quick" phone call. I don't think any of my brothers read - but they could if they wanted too!!

Even as important as family, I still blog to keep "in touch" with all the "blogger friends" that I have found out there. I have met one in person (other than the obvious) and hope to meet some more soon. And not just in the good 'ole USA either! Because of the Secret Swaps, I have made a blog friend in the UK, another in Ireland and yet another in Canada!! There are many that I read every day - just to keep up with what is going on in their lives. I laugh out loud and sometimes tears come to my eyes and sometimes posts just make me think. I don't always comment, but I do read ...

* Roadblocks - TIME and the feeling that what I post is boring ... PLUS I don't have a clue what I am doing most of the time, hence, no bells or whistles or bling on my site. I can type and download pictures but that is about the extent of my ability.

If you are still here ... go check out Lisa's Chaos for all of the other (timely) participants. It will take me days to check them all out myself - BUT I WILL !

Highway Robbery

Yesterday, as I was looking at the Weekend Section of the local newspaper, I came upon the listings of upcoming performances for a local venue in Northern Virginia called the Birchmere. I saw that Michael Bolton was scheduled for a performance on September 20th.

Back in the day (yes, I am older than most of you that might possibly read), I was a BIG Michael Bolton fan. I went to his concert when Celine Dion opened for him at the now non-existent Capital Centre. I went to his concert with Wynonna at the Nissan Pavilion (which by the way, was very entertaining - country and pop put together - I had my doubts at first but they pulled it off rather well.) I even dragged my little sis to a charity softball game in Washington, DC between the Bolton Bombers and a local Radio station. There were other concerts in between (just can't remember where and with who!).

These were all before he cut his hair!!

Most recently, I saw him perform at the 2006 rehearsal for "A Capitol Fourth" which is held every year in Washington, DC on the 4th of July. That was completely by accident - I had no idea who was performing until after we got to the rehearsal.



Anyways, I have gotten older and he is no longer "an object of my affection". He has gotten older and his popularity is no more. But, I thought this could be a trip back down memory lane, so I checked out the site to see how much the tickets cost. I figured that $25 - $30 was a fair price to go back in the past for a night. (plus it would be a night out which I don't have many of any more). Imagine my surprise when a ticket cost $100. A Freakin $100.00 !!! I don't think so !! For that price, he would have to do A LOT more for me than just sing. And, frankly, I'm just not interested anymore !!

Thursday Nite Thunder

15 weeks ago, I started bowling on a summer league. The next morning, I couldn't move! People ... it had been at least 8 years since I had picked up a bowling ball and bowled 3 games in a row one night a week ! My shoes are probably considered antique and my ball, well, is one of those Columbia Yellow Dots that I don't think anyone uses anymore. Plain black with a yellow dot and my name is engraved into it. With 3 regular holes drilled in it! (Lots of folks nowadays use a finger tip ball). I was rather embarrassed each time I set it in the rack because everyone else's looked so pretty - all swirly in color or all shiny and such. Some people even have bowling balls that are clear and have things suspended inside of them! I remember seeing a skull in one and dice in another. Mine has big gouges in it - looks pretty sad ... but why get a new one when I bowl like crap whether the ball is old or new?

On the first night, you have to pick a team name - ours was "It's All Relative" Why? Because we are all related (I can hear the groaning - give us a break!) ... me, my son, my daughter-in-law and my sister.

The first night I bowled 98/130/112. The last night I bowled 135/120/135. A little bit of improvement, but NOT MUCH .

Today was the night that we received our monetary awards. 10 teams and we came in 7th. Hey, at least it wasn't last. $180 for the team (4 people - $45 each) Not too shabby for a summer league and being down near the bottom. We got a team award too -imagine that? 1st place for High Team Handicap Game - 995 (that's total pinfall plus handicap for the 4 of us combined). The rest of my team probably carried me that night because I bowl like crap on most games. I have no skill - I have no talent - if I get a strike - it's by accident, not a result of my skilled talent. Son and sister are pretty consistent and put me to shame each and every time. DIL improved her average by 12.95 pins. Me ... enough said.

I am rather proud of my team though - they each got at least one individual award. Sister got Most Improved Average for a Female - plus 15.7 pins (152 to 167.07) - AND she got 1st place for Female High Series Scratch - 590 (total pinfall count - no handicap). Son got 1st place for Male High Handicap Series - 812. DIL got 2nd place for Female High Handicap Series - 737. We all have a little extra money in our pockets tonight!

I didn't get any individual award because I SUCK at bowling. But, it was fun and I enjoyed the socializing and such. I got to meet a lot of nice people (except for one team that eventually quit [many complaints from the other bowlers] - they brought their 3 young children with them and let them run wild and they stunk (literally) - they were some dirty, unkempt and disgusting folks - I've seen homeless people roaming the streets with better hygiene).

Plus, I got to see my granddaughter each week - tonight included ...



It's hard to believe she is 5 months old already and has 2 little teeth trying to find their way through her gums. She smiles and makes giggly noises all the time - except for this moment ...



when she was just too busy playing with her feet!

I have my Thursday nights back ... that is until Grey's Anatomy comes back on for a new season. I've so missed McDreamy !! What will they come up with now that Addison and Dr. Burke are gone?

Wordless Wednesday - When Graphic Artists Get Bored ...

Fun Monday #8 - White Lies

This week's host is theotherbear at uncaringbear This is what she has asked us to do:

Share with us a little white lie that you may, or may not, have gotten away with. Perhaps it's something more sinister than a little white lie - maybe even a deep dark secret that you've kept buried for years! All the better! Now's your chance to get it off your chest and confess: "Yes, I did eat that last slice of cheese cake", "No, I wasn't washing my hair that Saturday", "Those pants do make you look fat"!

There IS a little white lie that I often tell.

When I meet someone new, and the conversation turns to my life events, I am not always honest about my wedding date. I will tell them it was December 5, 1975.

This is not the truth !!

It keeps people from judging me before they even have the chance to get to know me.

What I will tell you next is not a family secret - they all know - even my oldest son.

In reality, I got married on December 5, 1976 - about a month and a half after my son was born on October 18, 1976.

And just so you know ... I wasn't forced to get married, it was my choice. It was what I wanted to do (at the time ...if only I had known what the future would bring).

One date that I never tell a white lie about is JANUARY 5th, 1989 - the day my divorce became final !!

Make sure you stop by and visit theotherbear and find out what other's little white lies (or dirty little secrets) are.