I scream! You scream ......

We all scream for Ice Cream!

I first remember seeing this little ditty painted on the wall of our neighborhood ice cream parlor. It's peppy little jingle has stuck with me since I was a little girl enjoying her bubble gum flavor ice cream. (Yuck! I can not even stand the SMELL of bubble gum flavored ice cream these days!)

Tonight however, that catchy tune is hopefully going to help my daughter's dance studio raise funds for their competition dancers. Fund raising is a never ending task, that requires determination, creativity and in many cases hard work. And, with this year's economy it will be even harder.

Leatherby's in Citrus Heights is going to host an ice cream night for our competition students this evening from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm!

The dancers from Cast and Company have been handing out fliers for several weeks, so hopefully this will not only be a fun filled yummy evening, but a productive one, too! The older dancers will actually even get to help seat customers, hand out menus and deliver water glasses to each table.

So this afternoon when you start thinking, "What's for dinner?" Why not check out Leatherby's and come have a delicious meal followed by one of their signature desserts?

P.S. I have to credit fundraising for my recent discovery of blogging. Having a competition dancer, and beign a part of the active parents who fund raise, I was searching for new fund raising ideas and came across the Team HolmRacing (a United States bobsledding team) fund raising promotion materials which lead me to investigate their website and of course their team blog ... and I've been "hooked" on blogging since.

Carl's Garden

My mom sent the following to me:

Carl was a quiet man.

He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake.Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one couldreally say they knew him very well.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lonesight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII.Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner.Without fanfare, he just signed up.

He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked,'Would you like a drink from the hose?'The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, 'Yeah, sure,' with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm,throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him.Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. 'Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?' the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet. Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head. 'Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday.

His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water. Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, 'Carl, what are you doing? ''I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately,' came the calm reply. Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel.

Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose. This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing cat calls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done. Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun,picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.

The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack. 'Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time.' The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl.

As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.'What's this?' Carl asked. 'It's your stuff,' the man explained. 'It's your stuf f back . Even the money in your wallet.' 'I don't understand,' Carl said. 'Why would you help me now?' The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease.'I learned something from you,' he said. 'I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us forhating you. You kept showing love against our hate.

'He stopped for a moment. 'I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back.' He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. 'That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess.'And with that, he walked off down the street. Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.

The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, 'Do your best and make your gardenas beautiful as you can.We will never forget Carl and his garden.'

The following spring another flyer went up. It read: 'Person needed to care for Carl's garden.'

The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer. 'I believe this is my job, if you'll have me,' the young man said.

The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl.He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around.

As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, 'Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him.'The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done.

During that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't carefor the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile,'My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday.

''Well, congratulations!' said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. 'That's wonderful! What's the baby 's name?' 'Carl,' hereplied.

That's the whole gospel message simply stated.

Take 60 seconds give this a shot! Let's just see if Satan stops this one.

All you do is:

1. Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this.

Father,God bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day!?

GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE ANGELS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE THEM TOKNOW THEY ARE THERE

Bailout

I first read the following yesterday when my mom forwarded it. She had received if from my cousin Ralph. As can be typical with forwarded messages, some of the text in the one I received from my mom had been corrupted, making the message hard to read.

But, I wanted to read more. This morning I found an uncorrupted version of the post. Please note that any spelling or mathematical errors existed before I copied the post onto my blog.

The Best Idea I've Heard So Far

LOVE THIS PROPOSAL !!
I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide adults in the U.S. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college – it’ll be there

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car – create jobs

Invest in the market – capital drives growth

Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back.

And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive. If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG – liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.” But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .

And remember, This plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

_________________Treager Texas pit OK Joe's stickburner Pellethead Pitmaster

Life

Life is for living,
Love is for giving,
the beauty of every day is reflected in your heart.

I do not remember the who what where when or why about that particular phrase, but I know I heard it in my teens. And it made enough of an impact that at age 17 in 1984, I used a part of it as my theme motto for my installation as Worthy Advisor of Roseville De-Riemer Assembly #263 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

Simple and sweet, this message really says it all.

Life is for living,
Love is for giving,
the beauty of every day is reflected in your heart.

Peanut Butter and Jelly

What is it about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that is so satisfying? Is it because most people ate them as kids? Is it the sweet and salty smoothness? Is it the classic white bread?

I don't really have an answer to my question, I just know that I really do enjoy a great PB&J once in awhile.

My favorite PB&J is made with white bread, smooth peanut butter (no crunchy for me please!) and a full bodied jam. I really am partial to Smuckers jams and jellies, but I'll enjoy the less expensive brands just as much as long as they are not lacking flavor. As a little girl my mom and grams used to make plum jam that was THE BEST. I even seem to remember a plum cherry mix. Oh! the taste and smell of their jam was yummy. I like apricot, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry jams, but I have to admit, plum is my very favorite.

As an adult I have used plum and apricot jams to cook with. I love chicken slow roasted with apricot jam or pork chops marinated with plum jam. Delicious!

I love peanut butter and jelly on saltine crackers, on a bagel, on toast, pancakes and waffles. Oh! and Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort makes a slightly unusual, but completely yummy PB&J pizza. It's soooo good.

Recently my sister in law turned me on to a great apricot peach preserve that is beyond divine. I have to admit, when it's in the house, no other jam or jelly can compare to its fruity wholesome yummy-ness. The color, the texture the scent alone are very satisfying ~ but the taste is, DEVINE! Check out Sarabeth's

I am so bummed ...

.... and actually bummed does not even begin to cover it!

Yesterday morning, the prong on my eternity ring broke and I lost the top center diamond.
I have looked, searched, looked and searched until I can no longer search. I am heartbroken!

My wedding set is a three piece set that means the world to me. There is nothing flashy, or ostentatious about it, and I am sure many people would think I am upset over nothing. But, Russ gave me each piece with love and that means the entire world to me.

My engagement ring is a beautiful marquis cut blue topaz set into a v - shaped 14k ring. On each side of the topaz are 3 tiny diamonds. I love this ring the very most. It is not a traditional engagement ring, but I like to think that it shows that our love is true blue. Russ gave it to me on my 23rd birthday (after we had only been dating for 4 months) and told me he hoped that our future would be never ending. He hoped that I would always love the simple person he is. And I do!

My wedding band is a very simple, very old fashioned 14k band. I love that it is just this very traditional gold band. When he placed it on my finger during our ceremony, I felt like a bride, shy, loved and cherished ~ branded by the wedding band my husband placed on my finger. I know, that is slightly barbaric in my thought process, but I do belong to my husband. I am his wife; his partner in life and his to love, forever.

When Manda was born two years later, Russell gave me my eternity band. It has marquis cut diamonds in a raised setting and is delicate and sweet, just like my engagement ring. We placed the eternity band between my engagement ring and my wedding band as a symbol of our love for the daughter we had been blessed with. The three pieces are beautiful together and have created a look that is unique as each marriage is.

My wedding rings are a symbol of the three most important stages of our life together:

• our belief that we loved each other and were fully committed after just 4 short months of knowing each other
• our marriage just 10 short months after meeting
• the birth of our miracle child whom we love

So, it'll be off to the jewellery store to have my eternity band fixed. My hand feels naked with out it.

Gracie

So ~ I was not certain I was going to post this, ~ but really I have no choice. Gracie was put to rest on Friday evening. She was a great dog, and I will miss her always.

I can remember how and when she came to be a Pefferle dog. It was eight years ago on September 15. Drew and Jill took Moose to meet Gracie in Santa Rosa where Gracie was living in a Mastiff rescue center.

Moose and Gracie took to each other like a duck to water, or peanut butter and jelly. Those two loved each other instantly. Moose adored Gracie, and Gracie adored Moose.

Grace was a rag tag, under-weight flea infested mess when Drew and Jill brought her home. She was shy and lacked confidence. She would hide when people came into the office and drop her head if you spoke to her. She was used to being ignored by people. She had been fending for herself, and was used to sneaking food to survive. Apparently at one point before Mastiff rescue saved her she was stealing eggs from a near by farm.

Whe I met her, I thought she was one of the homliest creatures I had ever seen. Not only was she under-weight and flea infested, she was loosing hair from the flea infestation, her front teeth were damaged, and she was cross eyed. Yet, under of all that, she was adorable in her own way.

Within months of becoming a Pefferle dog and having regular food, fresh water, and a family to love her, Gracie started transforming. She was securely lock in all of our hearts, and she was beginning to seek out her humans for love. Within a year she has lost all of her former homliness and her adorable personality shined through like the most brilliant of diamonds.

Gracie provided love to each of us. She touched our hearts and our souls. Gracie has been reunited with her beloved Moose in Heaven.

Love you Gracie...

Beagles!

This was too cute not to share. It reminded me of Mr. Beau's Hot Fudge Sundae Surprise. He was our escape artist:




And this is just adorable and reminds me more of Shortstack, Kodi, and Kaci:

Totally Terrifically Thursday!

Happy Thursday!

I am like a little kid today ... totally excited!

Why? Because I get to go stamp with my friends tonight.

Wow!

So last night I watched my baby girl defend her first case in Teen Peer Court.

I can only say that my child continues to amaze me. She handled herself with a grace, poise and confidence that I admire. She handled the prosecuting Teen Peer attorney with polite professional niceness; while at the same time putting cannon sized holes directly into the prosecutors statements.

Her defendant was shown to be exactly what he is: a teen who made an error in judgement and who has learned from his mistake.

I am so PROUD to be her mom and watch her come into her "own" as a maturing young woman.

I am a cat lover....

Yea, we know that I love my cats, and that I am proudly owned by our cats.

This video was amazing, and I am sure some of you have seen it before. But, if not, enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U

Too funny not to share

Sorry, I know it's a political year, and I really should be spending my time investigating the issues at hand, but this ~ this I had to post. It DOES NOT / WILL NOT help me decide who I am voting for in November.

It does show that I like a good laugh, even at the expense of the possible future vice president of our country.

Friends....

I have this REALLY wonderful, REALLY AWESOME, completely, totally TALENTED warm hearted friend who I have to THANK from the BOTTOM of my HEART for making Russell's and my anniversary so SWEET!

CARMEN and COLIN ~ You are amazing!!!!! Thank you from the very bottom of Russ' and my heart.

Carmen, the box you gave Russ to share with me is EXTREMELY adorable! I will get pictures of it and post them here and on SU4Me. I have not stopped looking at it, opening it, looking at each piece of paper, placing the top back on it, and starting the whole process over again since Russ gave it to me at midnight last night.

The box is deliciously beautiful!

Colin, Thank YOU for being the delivery person and helping Russ.

I so appreciate BOTH of you!

Thank you!

Post IT!

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

Happy Anniversary Russ!

I love you!

Wow! Can you believe that 18 years ago today we were the bride and groom?

I will never forget the day, it was sunny and bright outside with gusts of wind that kept us on our toes. Maidu Park had only been open for a short time, we were one of the first dozen couples to use the beautiful facilities for our wedding. The landscaping was fresh, but not mature and provided little to no shade and limited photo background, but we loved the look of the brick walls and the entry foyer.

Our wedding was just about the perfect size. Under 150 people, with our closest family and friends.

There are so many little details that I could share here, but really the most important detail of today is this one very simple and most important fact:

After 18 years, I am still happy to be your wife, to share your love and to continue to share your life.

I love you Russell!

It's ....... Friday!

Celebrate!!!

This weekend is all about family and friends and enjoying life!

Samantha is arriving from Texas for her high school reunion and birthday celebration weekend!

I am sooooooooooooooooooooo very, very, very excited (did I tell you that I am very excited??) to see her!

Not only is Samantha going to be in town, but as normal we have a busy weekend ahead:

1) Manda will be meeting with her defendant for Placer County Juvenile Teen Peer Court after school today. She has drafted a list of questions she needs answered so she can put together her defense. I stipulated that she must:

1. meet the teen in a public place
2. require that the teen's mother remain present during the meeting
3. allow me to arrive at the meeting spot and sit a discreet distance from them

I know this is me just being overly protective, but the only thing I am allowed to know about the teen is that he has been in trouble with the juvenile courts; he has recently moved away from Placer County; he is approximately Amanda's age; and that Manda is his Defense Attorney for Teen Peer Court. Not alot to build trust with, but ~ okay.....

2) Did I mention that Samantha is going to be here from Texas??? Oh yeah!!!!!

3) Manda has a TON of homework this weekend, and a book to finish annotating.

4) I have two cards swaps to complete for SU4Me.

5) Samantha will be here!

6) Manda is babysitting on Saturday.

7) I am going to try to surprise my hubby and take him out to celebrate our 18th anniversary
which is on Monday. I love you Russ!

8) I have to clean house and get the laundry done. (YUCK!)

9) Samantha's birthday bash is on Sunday!

10) I need to make an anniversary card for my hubby.

11) Manda has to finally decide on what she is wearing for court on Tuesday. I have bought her a total of 3 new outfits, she just has to decide.... Not easy. She wants to look professional, but not stuffy and she wants to look like a teen with her act together ~ not a teen pretending to be an adult.

NEVER Forget

9 . 11. 01

This is a date that Americans will never forget.

I will always remember the moment my phone rang, Jenn was on the other end, and she was crying, "Turn on the news ~ hurry turn it on."

As I turned on the news, the horror was there for all to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNNTcHq5Tzk


To this day, I get chills, my eyes fill with tears and my heart thuds with disbelief and sorrow.

A few very talented artists have written/performed/shared songs which really touch my heart and express my feelings with words that I can not find on my own:

Lee Greenwood's song sums up my feelings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RssIN3ustUw




Alan Jackson:



Toby Keith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSWuA-RttGU

and another Toby Keith:

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! IE can be so frustrating!

My workstation pc hates IE; so I have to function in Firefox, which is fine for most things.
Unfortunately several of the programs I run and sites I have to access during the day do not like IE.

When I am using an IE browser, my connection gets dropped at random times. There is no rhyme or reason, no pattern and nothing obvious to cause this. No ~ I just get dropped like a lost cell phone connection.

Ugh!!!! Okay ~ off I go to dust off my bottom, and try try try yet once again.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Tuesday!

That's all folks ......
Happy Tuesday!

Monday, Monday .... what can I say

I honestly believe that the weekends just seem to FLY right on by. Maybe it's because we try and pack so much into those 2 days off.

Friday after work I met my family at Olive Garden for a little salad, pasta and family time. It was a fun evening, our waitress was great and because the restaraunt was not packed, we took our time and just enjoyed our conversation and meals. Not only was dinner delicious, it was fun and relaxing.

After dinner I ran to Target and picked up those all important "things" like toothbrushes and bathsoap. Yeah, that was about the extent of my shopping. I think I found an outfit for Manda to wear for foray as a defense attorney at teen peer court. The verdict is still out.

Saturday we got up early (before 9 am on a Saturday is considered early in our household) and fixed breakfast. Cinnamon pancakes with freshly chopped apples on top. YUM! Then we fed Kodi her Satuday breakfast (she is our only four-legged family member that gets people food) and then just hung out all day long. Okay, well, that was the dream ~ to do nothing all day. But nothing turned out to be laundry and vacuuming the furniture, and dusting.

We did watch several movies together, including "Failure to Launch" with Sarah Jessica Parker (who is NOT and will NOT ever be my favorite actress.) In fact, I think I would have enjoyed the movie much more if Drew Barrymore, or Kate Hudson, or ANY one but SJP had had the female lead.

Manda dabbled with homework off and on all Saturday. Notice I say dabbled.

About 1pm on Sunday afternoon, Manda finally got serious about her homework, and then spent until 9pm actually getting it all done. She had projects in just about every subject ......

Okay, well my morning soda is just about gone, so I guess I need to focus and get back to being productive.

Happy Monday!

Perfectly titled

So it's Friday, and I am feeling totally unfocused.

I looked up "random" in The New Webster's Dictionary and this is what I read:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/random

Main Entry: 1ran·dom
Pronunciation: \ˈran-dəm\
Function: noun
Etymology:
Middle English, succession, surge, from Anglo-French randun, from Old French randir to run, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rinnan to run — more at run
Date: 1561
: a haphazard course
— at random
: without definite aim, direction, rule, or method


Main Entry: random
Function: adjective
Date: 1632
1 a: lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern b: made, done, or chosen at random
2 a: relating to, having, or being elements or events with definite probability of occurrence
b: being or relating to a set or to an element of a set each of whose elements has equal probability of occurrence ; also : characterized by procedures designed to obtain such sets or elements

— ran·dom·ly adverb
— ran·dom·ness noun

synonyms random, haphazard, casual mean determined by accident rather than design. random stresses lack of definite aim, fixed goal, or regular procedure . haphazard applies to what is done without regard for regularity or fitness or ultimate consequence . casual suggests working or acting without deliberation, intention, or purpose .

Top 10 comments by NBC in Summer Olypics

Here are the top 10 comments made by NBC sports commentators during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back but, alas.....

1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria . I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'

2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'

3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.'

4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'

5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.'

6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'

8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field.'

9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them... Oh my God, what have I just said?'

10. Another favorite is during the diving competitions two nights ago the commentator said... 'Look at that... you aren't getting anything between those legs.'

Thursday Thoughts

Okay ~ I am NOT endorsing, or stating any alignment to either of the Presidential candidates or their choices for Vice President, but ~ when I read this (the text of Palin's speech) on KCRA this morning, I have to admit I had chills and tears. Whether or not those were good chills and tears I am reserving to myself, but here is the text of the speech that moved me:

http://www.kcra.com/politics/17386055/detail.html

For those who do not like to read, here is the video version:

http://www.kcra.com/video/17386410/index.html

And for those who want to know what others thought about Palin's speech here is a review:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/04/1342909.aspx

Your Taste in Music:

80's Rock: Highest Influence Country: Highest Influence Adult Alternative: High Influence R&B: High Influence 80's R&B: Medium Influence

How's Your Taste in Music?

You Are 24% Shy

You are slightly shy, but overall, your reactions to social situations are normal. You dread difficult social situations, but you still handle them with grace.

How Shy Are You?

Happy Monday! WHOOPS! make that Tuesday!

Gosh, I love having an extra day off, but I always get confused when Monday falls on Tuesday.

Busy weekend:

Friday night ~ grocery shopping and school supplies. Ended up at the Walmart Super Center in Citrus Heights so we could do it all in one stop. The store was hot, crowded and full of rude people.

Saturday ~ Manda went to Teen Peer Court Attorney training in Newcastle. Had to be there by 10:00 am and was not done until 3:00 pm. She had a blast and was already assigned her first case to defend. (even though she would much rather prosecute!)

After I dropped Manda off in Newcastle (well, technically she dropped herself off) Russ and I shared a quiet morning at home. We watched a little tv (boring) then worked in the garage and played with Kodi.

Russ drove to Newcastle and picked Manda up; she drove home. Did most of her homework and then we watched "College Road Trip" and "27 Dresses."

Sunday ~ Manda worked on an Honors English project. Took her most of the day to complete. Mr. Wallace is not an easy teacher. But, Manda likes him and is determined to earn a decent grade in his class. Her project was on "The Chosen." It turned out great.

I puttered in the scrapbook room, finally managed to get it cleaned up. It was a disaster zone!
I had 10 stamp sets which had not been assembled. Those are all done. The dust was piled way too high, but its all gone now, and I vacuumed the curtain. Next, I really need to tackle the closet. But seriously, that is a project all in and of itself ...... YUCK!

Monday ~ worked in my closet in the master bedroom. I am totally out of space in there. Need to really go through each and every box, piece of clothing and costume bag and see if there are items that could be used productively, or repackaged for posterity in a better way. I seriously have 10 years of Manda's dance costumes stored in my closet.

Manda drove to Sarah and Jeff's off of Madison and Hackmore. Did a great job with the Madison Avenue traffic and handled the freeway pretty well too. A bit slow on the trip to Sarah's but much better on the way home.

I can tell the weather is starting to change and get a little cooler at night. Harley slept snuggled as close as he could get last night, and then moved to the top of my pillow and slept stretched across my head. Silly boy!

Off I go ~~~~ billing and payroll today!