TT Smells I've always liked - aka Where did my brain cells go?

Week # 56, my #11 TT Get the T13 code or view other Thursday Thirteens :)

1. Gasoline ... better sniff it up, it's going fast!
2. Magic Markers ... or are they just called Markers nowadays? Not the washable type. The kind with that .... you know ... smell... not the fruit flavoured ones....well okay, they're next...the kind that I'm sure is bad for you if you sniff it too much.
3. The fruity smelly colourful markers for kids .... actually they're for adults too. We use them at work for team building exercises and HR type training (you know, the ones where they bring out all the toys to stimulate your creativity so you can learn). Cheeky and Pup know what I'm talkin' about.
4. OK I think we're finished with the chemical kinda stuff, on to better things. Fresh baked bread.
5. Coming home from school and smelling cookies or brownies that my mum made.
6. 'Beautiful' by Estee Lauder
7. Coming home and smelling supper already cooked. That's the second thing I notice when I walk in the door after greeting the pups.
8. Bleach ... when I've been cleaning. Let's me know my kitchen is sparkly fresh and void of tea stains in the sink. Otherwise, i don't like the smell of bleach because it makes me think I should be cleaning! (Plus it reminds me of Mum RIP, she was a bleachaholic ... so that's where I get it from?, note to self)
9. The forest
10. coffee ...omg I can't believe I got to 10 before saying this. Flavoured coffees too, Irish Cream, Orange Brandy, Vanilla, Mocha.
11. Babies ... I inhale them...o except when they poop.
12. Freshly laid tar....sorta, kinda ...oh now we're back to chemicals are we? Ok well I'll slip in oil. Not burned oil from a car but fresh car oil.
13. Vitabath or any natural but strong smelling bath product (usually make bubbles too) made from herbs, camomile, lavendar etc.

Done....but I could have thought of more.

What do you like to smell?

26 Years Old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DQ GIRL!

Here she is with a couple of Joey's in Australia!

Manic Monday - Maladies

Do you get sick often? What illness do you come down with the most frequently?

No I don't get sick too often. I may get a head cold once every few years. I usually get the flu shot because I can't afford to be sick - too busy.

Do you believe in "alternative" medicine? If so, what aspects of it appeal to you?

I don't practise it but that doesn't mean that I don't necessarily believe in it. I think there are some merits, but as in everything, taken to an extreme it can be stupid.

How about you? Reply here or play on your blog and tell fleur-de-Lisa that you played.

Slainte
ICL

Bumper Stickers too good to not share...

Go check out Naked Nerd's bumper stickers

They're too funny not to be shared.

http://thenakednerd.blogspot.com/2006/08/bumper-stickers-pt2.html

http://thenakednerd.blogspot.com/2006/08/bumper-stickers-pt1.html

Tell 'em ICL sent ya!

What's in a name?

• mirrors the soul
• "What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other word would smell as sweet."
  --From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) [enotes]
• What's in a name?

Got this from Lisa last week, of course!

Wooty - woot - Woot!

OK not much goin' on. Rainy day but that's okay we need the rain.

Pool Boy just left to drive down to London, Ontario to help our son move from one house to another in the same neighbourhood. He has to drive six hours in the car to do that! (and six hours back) Well that the fact that Mr. Philosopher needs a car on Monday to take his final driving test before his current license expires. He's 23. He was a late driver. Oh and also pick up Nurse-a-baby who is down visiting Mr. P. so at least PB will have company on the way home.

I was going to go with him but because he has to stay to Monday and I have to work tomorrow it wasn't going to work out. So instead I am having a lazy day which is ok by me. Doing laundry, blogging, oh and yesterday I went to the library and got two Janet Evanovich books out - "Manhunt" and "Back to the Bedroom." Are they any good? I've seen so many bloggers raving about her books I thought I would check them out. I wanted to try the Stephanie Plum series, even though I'm not really into mysteries but I thought, why not? However, they didn't have the first one, called One something in the library. I will have to reserve it. They had eight and nine and ten I think. Is it important to read them in order?

Has any one read any Maeve Binchy? I just finished Firefly Summer and I loved it!


So Fleur de Lisa tipped me off to this. She's my dealer for all the fun toys! Thanks Lis!

Oh ya and it changes to a new slogan every 30 seconds! Wooty!

5 weird things about me - compliments of Karen ;)

I volunteered to pick up a tag at Karen's Does She or Doesn't She so here goes:

1. I still don't know how to spell weird yet. When I typed the title of this post I had to go back and correct it and then I had to look it up in the online dictionary because I started wondering if I was in fact right and Karen was wrong. LOL
2. Every time I go for my pap test my doctor comments on how small my cervix is because she's not used to seeing that. I had a C-section for my fourth and my first three kids are adopted from my husband's first marriage. I became an instant Mom of 3 at age 29.
3. I was molested when I was eight by an older boy from school.
4. I hate applesauce. The texture in my mouth makes me gag.
5. I breastfed my kid till she was three years old.
6. I collect happy faces in my office at work.
7. I like to break the rules that aren't important, hence there are 7 things on this list instead of 5.

Now who wants to play? Get in line. Don't push and no butting!

OK you guys are a riot! You think you can break all the unimportant rules too ay?

Oh well then, respond here and go visit the person above you on the list and tell them ICL sent ya!

Toodles~

hahahahahaha my word verification is 'fzyyr' (fuzzier).

Now don't you feel all warm and fzyyr now?

ICL

SPH Blue

This weeks theme is Blue

Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.

~If you play and visit, don't forget to tell TNChick which ones are your favourites~

Here's my down in the dumps "hound" dog. He sure looks blue.

Over what, we're not sure.

If I believed in reincarnation, I would want to come back as a family dog.

Stuff Portrait Fridays!

KRISTINE at Random & Odd

want us to post pictures of the following.

1. Stuff that annoys the living shit out of you.2. YOUR space.3. Something in your life that keeps the makers of Xanax in business.

I'm not putting any commentary.

You need to guess what 1, 2 and 3 are when you comment.

HAPPY SPF!

Thursday Thirteen - If YOU WERE A GIRL IN THE 70'S ... you may remember some of these!

Week # 55, my #10 TT Get the T13 code or view other Thursday Thirteens

Received this from a friend in an email. I've saved my favourite pictures that mean most to me and added some of my own editorial! Hope you enjoy!

1. You had that Fisher Price Doctor 's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked.

2. Your bicycle had a banana seat like this 'cept it also had a plastic basket with flowers on it. 3. Oh, and your rollerblades looked like this.

4. You owned klick-klacks and smacked yourself in the face more than once.



5. You had a bowl cut or pixie and sometimes were mistaken for a boy.

6. As you grew older your toys became more mature and your reading material expanded.

7. Questions like "Will I marry David Cassidy?" were often asked of the great OUIJA board at slumber parties.

8. We used to tape record songs off the radio by holding our portable tape player up to the speaker.


9. Your fashion sense grew and you often sported such classy duds as ponchos and gauchos.
10. Hey gauchos are back in style! I have a pair like this now in brown!


11. And who can forget the ever popular clogs by Dr. Scholls.

Many an ankle bone hurt after being smacked by these babies. But that didn't matter. Style was everything ... hey wait style is still everything! hee

12. We wore Love's Baby Soft cologne ... ...lots of it ... and felt especially pretty!


13. Speaking of Love, our favourite TV show was Loveboat. Who would have thought that such a goofy looking bunch of characters could make us feel so wonderful?!!

Bogland Update & Happy Birthday Mr Philosopher

So the bog seems to be now dry, and they have removed the big fans and heaters and dehumidifer. The guy's coming back to put some anti mildew stuff down. The next step is for the adjuster to come and look at the damage. I'll post some pics as soon as I take them. Still afraid to go down there. yikes!

So today is my son's 23rd birthday on the 23rd of the month. Kool ay?

When he was my ring bearer ~ I had been in his life about about 5 months when this pic was taken.

And taken this summer, don't I look so much younger? ha....it's his gf LOL

He lives in another city but has taken some time to go visit his Grandma and Grandpa and is meeting his sis (Nurse-a-baby) there for a few days. Nice ay? This is the kid who put us through the ringer from age 14 - 18. I could write a book or at least another post on that!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. PHILOSOPHER!

Foto Pherrets

Hello, all of you pherrets out there!

It's Wednesday, or hump day if you prefer, and you know what that means!

The Beach Boys sang:"She'll have fun, fun, fun, 'till her daddy takes her T-bird away..."

Our word for this week is:

Car

I call this shot "Your man and his car"

My uncle on one of our road trips over Connor Pass on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland

Manic Monday - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Photo Date: 13 October 1997Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com - Image courtesy WireImage.com

If you were to pick the one thing that always makes you smile, what would it be? The Doodle and other pets
If you were to name the most clear proof that evil exists in the world, what would you say? The Devil's Advocate OMG I watched this last night and it left quite an impression on me.
If you could trade your derriere for that of someone else, whose would you want?

uh, not hers

compliments of DallasK's Fug Thursday

I'll take Charlize Theron's, upper left

Update to my rant - click here to see the original

So here's the status of bog land.

Insurance company was quite prompt in sending out a guy with a bunch of blowers (ok maybe it's only 2 big fans - no pictures TKW) which have been running non stop in the areas that got damaged. The carpet is pulled up in those areas and he's trying to dry it out. Says the underpad will have to be replaced but "maybe he can save the carpet since it was clean water".

The good news is that it didn't reach the exercise room with the laminate flooring or the bar area so these seem ok. The drywall seems ok. Yippee!!

The contents of the entire furnace room had to be removed. Anything that was on the floor is damaged (but some of it was junk anyways ... sssshhhh!) Kids board games (that were on the floor of the games cupboard) are all ruined... Monopoly and such. A bunch of jigsaw puzzles (my favourite) will no longer fit together, so to speak.

It still smells musty as hell down there and I am afraid to spend any time down there sorting through stuff because I have allergies to mold. The blower guy is supposed to come and do something about the mildew / mold factor on Monday. Maybe then I can venture down more and do a proper inventory and pictures etc. for the insurance.

The house is really hot because Pool Boy does not want to turn on the a/c because with the fans blowing down there he's afraid to blow the circuits. It was happening with just the fans going until he arranged them on different circuits I guess. All has been okay since then. Do you think he's just joshing me because he's too cheap to turn on the a/c?

When I walk by the door to the basement stairs I can just feel the heat humidity rising from that place. It scares me. It's like there must be snakes and bog land creatures having a party down there.

Anyhoo, the weather cooled down quite a bit last night, in fact I was cold when I woke up this morning and when I stepped out of my bedroom which had the door closed, I could really notice the difference. So when I let the dog out I left the screen door open so it should cool things down there too and maybe 'the swamp' will benefit from this change in weather too. Please...

What I didn't realize until last night when we were talking about it with my sis and Dad, is that the water tank kept filling up and more water was dispersed because the water tank is under pressure and once there is a hole, it just keeps refilling.

I wondered why there could be so much water from just a 40 or 60 gallon tank (whatever it is)? Now I am smarter. I guess it's a matter of when it ruptured and when it was discovered and PB shut the water off, that the damage was done.

I think it was a matter of hours only, not more than a day anyways. My daughter had spent some time down there in the evening so unless she was totally clued out and didn't notice anything strange (this is entirely possible), I'm hoping it was just a matter of hours that OLD Yeller was gushing. She was the one who discovered it sometime around midnight so I take back that comment about being clueless (Thank God she was up! ....or .....er.... rather down.).

Feeling a bit stuffed up this morning... I hope it's not the mildew factor kicking in. I have to go into the office for most of the day anyways so maybe that's a good thing to remove myself from the swamp. (I never made it yesterday because I was too wiped from the week).

So that's all I wrote.

Have a good Sunday and a good week everyone!

Laters

ICL

Gracie's got a brand new Blog

Psssst ......Gracie's got a new blog. She dumped blogger yes she did and now is with wordpress. Everyone is going there! So go check it out.

O and she's having a blogwarming party all week to make up for her lack of blogging last week! She's buying the booze and everything!

So go check it out. Southern by Grace And don't laugh at her onion field. It took her years to grow it that perfect!

All Night Long (All Night)
By Lionel Richie
BestAudioCodes.com

SPH Youth

This weeks theme is Youth

Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.

~If you play and visit, don't forget to tell TNChick which ones are your favourites~

I love these photos of my first cousins, once removed. (gotta get that correct, ya know!) They are the children of my first cousins in Ireland. I have six of them and there all boys. Each of my 3 first cousins had 2 each.

They are all such characters and fun and I miss them. They got along fabulously with BatGirl when we were there. I love their names too!

It's been two years now since I saw them and of course they have changed alot. Hopefully they will be coming to Canada to visit us soon!

This is my fav that captures the innocence of youth so well.

Updated with some bonus pics below and name pronounciations as suggested by Karen. Good idea! (BTW - some of them should have accents on them but I can't get the accents to display correctly with my Indonesian Blogger template!)

'Our' Eoghan his mam calls him. (OWEN)

More of the boys- second cousins to BatGirl
Cian (KEE-AN) (Eoghan's older brother), Darragh (DA-RAH) & Cahill (KAH-HILL)(2 bros).

OK this is Breandain (BROWN-DAWN - don't ask) and his brother Gearoid (GA-ROAD - ya how do they get these pronounciations from those spellings? sheesh!) is in his mam's tummy! (Ya and they say Mammy there, or Mam, not Mom or Mum)

BatGirl and the Lads!

Cian was always haming it up for the camera. I had to put this one in of Cahill with his funny face and holding the Spiderman toy I gave him. He was delighted!

FUNNY Lads!

Breandain and his Nana!

OK I'll stop now. I have so many other cute pictures of them as do we all of kids, I am sure!

It's funny how we think our own kids and relatives kids are so cute because we know their personalities so well. I just hope I have been able to capture some of it in these pictures.

Click to see these Bonus shots

Me in my youth

My niece in KID Vogue Magazine

ha ha made ya look!

Happy Saturday Photo Hunt!

It's 3:01 a.m...

Thursday Thirteen below this post. Rant follows.

Warning, this post contains profanity because I'm so pi$$ed off and cannot sleep.

Why am I blogging at 3:01 a.m? Take a guess at which reason:

1. Because my highspeed connection slows right down at 9 p.m. so I can't read or post anything like my TT for next day
2. Because I was so tired that I couldn't stay up to blog last night so I went to bed at 9 p.m.
3. Because my hot water tank broke yesterday evening at 11 p.m. and my basement is flooded and I can't sleep.

So what did you pick? All 3? You are so right!! What do you win? You win the satisfaction of listening to me rant. O but you are so lucky!!!!!!

So ya, #1 is true. Has been happening for weeks. Our high speed provider, Bell Sympatico , not to mention any names, has been giving us the run around. I don't even think they know what the problem is.

The first line help desk has us do all this goofy stuff to no avail, over and over and over. Second level help desk, says it's because we've switched our phone service from Bell over to Primus, and so we have to get some special code from Primus that they load in which we did and are still having exactly the same problem. (Took over a week to go through that long drawn out process).

Pool Boy is so sick of dealing with them that he just wants to switch providers. He's had it. I'm okay with switching but how long will that take? In the meantime, we've done everything they said we should do and we are no better off than when we started. I think we need to go back to them one more time and get them to fix it or threaten to leave while we get our honky a$$es to go ahead and start the process to switch.

They have their hands so up their a$$es that they don't even know what goes on within their company. One guy told us we could not be a customer because they have no record of our billing. Uh ya, you charge us $50 a month on our credit card for this excellent service, a$$ crap so you're right. We are not a customer of yours, we are a customer of VISA. ha ha go back to your freakin' manuals.

Are any other providers just as bad?

Ya so with disgust I went to bed, nothing good on TV and plus I was zonked (very busy at werk but I always complain about that). I planned to get up early and blog before werk but I would have to get up really early because I have a 9 a.m. meeting which I am chairing so I can't be late.

Ah hum, dear Pool Boy, why are you still up at 1:30 a.m. on the laptop when you also said you were so tired because you were up too late the night before? (I'm beginning to think he's reading p-o-r-n).

BTW his laptop fonts are all screwed and he's spent more than a whole day trying to fix it. I think he ended up having to format the hard drive yesterday or something drastic which is why it is taking so long but that's his rant and I'm not gonna do it for him except to say that I hate it when all these computer and household problems take him away from doing his real werk which is selling houses. Moosh Pool Boy!

So I sleepily asked the question, thinking he was still screwing around with said laptop and almost there and just wanted to get it done so that I would shut-the-f$%#-up. I never said anything, I think it just reeks from me.

He responded, "You'll never guess what happened?". Me, expects another laptop tale of woe but is shocked into wakedness to learn that our hot water tank broke last night while I was sleeping!!

Flood all over the finished basement, no hot water.

Oh I am sad. And this is after I had already precomposed by TT below (last weekend, if you must know) and just needed to post it.

PB was on the computer looking up the warranty info for the water tank, we only got it in 2001 or even later. Probably covers the tank only and we have to go through household insurance to get the mess cleaned up. Carpets, laminate flooring, boxes. All that hard work we put into finishing that basement. Nuts!

O I know there's so many worse off and I don't mean to complain. *yes I do* (that was my other personality speaking - ignore her). But can't a guy get a break while a girl is busting her a$$ off to pay the bills, while trying to watch expenses so she doesn't get to shop for stress relief, and werks her butt off because she is the sole (read major) bread winner?

No? Okay well then I'm done then.

Thursday Thirteen ~ Thirteen Things I Think

Week # 54, my #9 TT Get the T13 code or view other Thursday Thirteens

• 1 I think a lot of bloggers suffer from some sort of depression.
• 2 I think material possessions are overrated.
• 3 I think the media is more biased than we think in certain countries.
• 4 I think THE OFFICE is a very funny TV show. Watch clips
• 5 I think I may have another cup of coffee.
• 6 I think there's always more to the story.
• 7 I think I'm not as good a speller as I thought I was.
• 8 I think it is rare for me to miss a typo, however.
• 9 I think Armageddon is coming soon.
• 10 I think God picks my word verifications.
• 11 I think he has a great sense of humour.
• 12 I think I may have a milder form of manic depression.
• 13 I think if cleanliness is next to godliness, then I have a lot of work to do.

O my bog. LOOK at my word verification!!

weeplzz

OK that's not even funny. Dear God please reread #11. Now you're scaring me.

OK, ok, I get it. Thy will be done

Way Back Wednesday ~ I played!!!!

Brought to us by TKW (The Kept Woman) who says "Water, water everywhere!!! Let's cool off with a picture that has something to do with H2O...washing dishes, water balloon fight, wet t-shirt contest, your choice!"

OK I'm excited. I don't usually play WBW because I don't have any old pictures scanned (it's on my to do list, now that my Dad has given me a bunch - Woo hoo!) because I'm too lazy ...because I haven't had time...because my husband hogs the computer with the scanner, ya that's it, that's the reason! :)

But this week I can play because I do have one with water (WOOT!) which I have posted before (one of me favourite posts about FISH [ok my only post about fish, so far that is] so go check it out if you haven't seen it yet [actually it is a special one!]

So here I am fishing with me sister. I'm the cute one (haha!) ... with the rod. See me smiling face? See the size of the one that got away? Notice how much our parents loved us to put us in those big bulky life jackets? See the old wood boat? See the blue sky? Love those days! See the water? Yup I played! {wears satisfied grin conspiciously like the one in the photo}

Now go read the full story about the rod that got away in #8 and #9 of 13 things about FISHES.

{still smiling smuggly}

Hump Day Photo Pherrets

Greetings, Pherreta old and new. The hunt is on!

If it's not down, it must be this week's word:
Up

Batgirl running UP the mountain in Ireland.

Batgirl is the white dot right in the center of the picture.

That's how far back I am taking this picture!

The other white dot above her is either a sheep or a rock.

That's a pretty fat sheep, must be a rock.

Manic Monday ~ Birth Order

Where are you in birth order in your family- first, last, middle, only?

upper middle
Do you think that has any affect upon your personality?

yes
Do you buy into the stereotypes of birth order?

yes, kinda
Just for fun, you can read about birth-order bias - research on birth order stereotypes in Psychology Today here.

It's time to cut those apron strings

Post post edit: This house purchase fell through. But her next one didn't and she closed on May 1, 2007.

Well she did it.

DQ Girl bought her first home. She's moving out September 11. With me granddog. I don't know how to feel.

On the one hand, I'm so happy for her. She's turning 26 this month. Pool Boy and I were actually figuring that she is even younger than we were when we each bought our first homes. He was married at the time to his now deceased first wife, DQ's mom, and was 28. I think I was 27 and single when I bought my first little war-time house, as cute as it was. DQ is paying more than double what I paid then. I didn't expect she would buy one so soon. I thought we had about a year more of 'talking' about it.

I will miss me Doodle.
I know she will be lonely. However DQ is saying she is going to bring her over here in the daytime when she goes to work. Doesn't help me much because I work. Pool Boy works from home so at least he'll get to see her. Me daughter says we will probably see her more. She seems to think she'll be coming over a lot. To eat maybe? She can't cook. LOL. Fergie will miss Doodle. We'll miss our nightly walks.


Usually I like change.

Thankfully it is not too far from where we live. About 2 miles. 5 minute drive. 10 by bike. On my way home from work if I want although not directly if I am biking.

I've already picked out my bedroom. I told her I may leave some clothes there so that if I stop in on the way home and have a bit too much wine I can sleep over. I can also babysit. No charge. OK a glass of wine. Or two. That's my limit.

I was more ready for her to move out 5 years ago than I am now.

DQ Girl and DQ Boy discussing how much she should offer the guy to buy the family room furniture which the owner wants to sell. I think they look like a hawt couple. It's only been 3 months. This is her house. :)



(More pics of new digs on Flickr or see right!)

Depp Impact

With the pirates and other stuff goin' on in me own blog and others, there's lots of mention of Johnny Depp. So I thought I would share with you this video that me daughter sent me when Johnny Depp starred in an episode of the Vicar of Dibley. I've only watched the show once, but enjoyed it.

It's about an woman vicar in a small english town. A British comedy. The one I saw was when Rachel Hunter guest starred in it. This one obviously had Johnny Depp as a guest. She's quite funny (the vicar) along with all the other characters. This scene just has the vicar, her friend and assistant (rather dense) and Johnny. Enjoy you Depp fans!!

Vicar of Dibley Video with Johnny Depp

Party Party Party!

So Carmen at Gone to Plaid is having a blogwarming party this weekend. All are welcome so head on over!

I myself will be partaking, although I am still a wee bit tired today from the birthday party attended for my neighbour last night. OK...ok....I'll fess up. We're all friends here right?
I'm a wee bit hungover.

Nothing like those neighbourhood parties when you don't have to drive. When we know we've had too much but are still having too much fun and are offered another we say "OK twist my arm...one for the ditch" which means we may end up in the ditch on our walk back home.

So I may need to take a nap during the party, ok Carm? But I've got lots of blogs to check up on and Mysterious Lady made me a new prezzie - my own button - which I love, by the way and I will set up on my blog for you all to see. O thank you, thank you, thank you ML. You rock!!

So Carmen, since I didn't have time to shop, I just grabbed your prezzie from something I had around the house. Sorry if you already have one. I'm not bringing any food either. But I will have a margarita though. Had enough champagne and wine last night. I think I'll switch it up.

Now turn up those tunes. Celebrate good times come on. Let's celebrate now.

Celebration
By Kool & the Gang
BestAudioCodes.com

Shake your groove thing, shake your groove thing, yeah, yeah

Show 'em how we do it now (that was lyrics, this is music clip)

Slainte! and Happy Weekend all!!

SPH Funny

This weeks theme is Funny

Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.

~If you play and visit, don't forget to tell TNChick which ones are your favourites~

OK so what would have been really great is if I got a picture of what I blogged about on Wednesday "I wish I got a video or pic of this". Read it, you'll just have to imagine with my highly descriptive words what a great shot that would have made!

Here's what I pulled from me photo gallery which I thought was funny at the time

and still do!

Have you seen any cross yet?

Stuff Portrait Fridays - Theme this week "THE TITLE COMPANY"

from Random & Odd Kristine

1. Song Title: "Stairway to Heaven"

2. Book Title: "My Friend Flicka" by Mara O'Hara

3. Movie Title: "Groundhog Day" [more GD]

thursday thirteen - why (and how) my family room is decorated in the Pirates of the Caribbean Theme

Week # 53, my #8 TT Get the T13 code or view other Thursday Thirteens :)

Mouse over the pictures to find the secret treasure!

1. Because I found this fantastic coffee table and I had to figure out how to decorate around it!


2. And I saw this most bizarre floor vase at Pier1 that reminded me of a Mexico and I thought why not?


3. O and when I went looking for a ship I found this awesome 1920's (they told me) brass ship at an antique dealer that you plug in and it glows a flickering red light as if it's on fire or firing cannons at you!

4. Plus I got this other cool brass stuff to go with it at various places...ok some of it I already owned but the nautical stuff I bought. Ay-aye! RRRRR.... Like me fancy stolen jewels on the right matey?


5. O ya and I found this other treasure chest at Pier1 that we store our remote controls in. Yes that's a basket of sea shells and a turtle ashtray that I got from me sister's MIL (RIP). Not used as an ashtray of course but it was just too cute and fit in with the theme.

6. Like my CD case holder with the nautical knots display?

7. ...and me wall candle holders (I have two of 'em)?
8. Ah the rustic wrought iron fireplace tools, complemented by a brass coloured glass vase recently acquired from me Mum's stuff that originally came from my Aunt. (RIP x 2)

9. O the ship book ends, alas, matey, no books, just one lonely CD.
10. More brass and the lamps are brass too.

11. O my, we're already at 11, I'd better get a move on. Me parrot cage, what pirate ship would be complete without a parrot? Brass fish and another ship and candle and world map photo albums adorn the speaker on top of the TV.


12. The sofa table at the back of the couch is way kool. It's made to look old and rustic looking with grooves in it. I got it at a scratch and dent sale. It had a scratch, but who cared with the style of it and the look I was going for?!!!

13. Now what Pirates of the Caribbean theme would be complete without a real key. Remember the one from the jail cell with the little doggy who would not give it to the criminals? Well alls I'm sayin' is you'd better get your booty out to see the next movie!!

Alas, mateys, there's more to show but no more numbers so I tried to pic my favs for ya!

Now you know where those coins came from for me Saturday Photo Hunt! Find the treasure and you will be rich!

I was always fascinated by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney and have been on it many many times during various visits as a teenager and as an adult with my own kids. (More on the ride)

When the movie came out I was thrilled! It was after the movie that I saw the trunk coffee table and got the idea. Who knew at the time that there would be a sequel and I'm hearing that there will be third as well! LOL at least my design will be 'in style' for a bit!

Oh well, I love it and I love me some Johnny Depp too! More Johnny & More Depp

Hope you enjoyed my visual TT of me Pirates room.

AHOY!

If only I had a video or picture of this...

Hi folks
Just wanted to share me funny episode that happened today.

Many readers know that I ride my bicycle to work as much as possible during the week. Today was no exception.

Often me Pool Boy meets me at work on his bike for the ride home. That's his daily exercise, riding there and back, about 1 hour of biking in total.

Today, we had made arrangements with DQ Girl to stop and look at some townhouses on the way home. She is looking at buying her own first home.

So we had to vary our route to get there, riding on more busy streets, which was an adventure. At one point I lost Pool Boy. He took a different route and I had to phone him on his cell to find out where the hell he was. My route was quicker! na na na boo boo. I ramble.

After we had viewed the homes, I said "So what's the quickest way to get home from here?". He indicated that he wanted to backtrack somewhat and end up on our regular route to go the rest of the way home.

No way, not me. I said it would be faster to go this way and pointed over in the general direction of our home. It meant we would be traveling on more busy streets than the paths that are on most of our usual route.

He said "Why do you want to go that way?" to which I replied. "You know me, I like change!" This is an inside joke because he knows I like change and I often give him this answer to most silly questions he asks.

"Hey, after 17 years of marriage you should know this by now!!. Plus, you're the one who always wanted to go on the busy streets before. I'm the one who mapped out a more scenic (and safer) route to and from work!" (which is quite direct as well, I might add.)

He laughed. "Well, if we don't go that way, we avoid having to cross that open grassy area." He reminded me "And I'm not the one who is always falling off my bike."

Always. OK I fell once, when it was me own fault at a busy 4 way stop intersection. I was saying me prayers. Got distracted, you know. Didn't break anything, but let's just say I'm still working on a deal with some tendonitis caused by this in my forearm. Chiropractor calls it 'bikers elbow' for me but for everyone else, he calls it 'tennis elbow'. "You leave me alone, and I won't call you tennis elbow, okay?"

Oh that other time? Ya well that happened first and I fell because the freakin' kid ran me off the trail. He apologized, using the excuse that he just got a new bike for his birthday. "You're supposed to stay on the right" I warned him annoyingly instead of wishing him a happy birthday. I still have scars on same forearm, who probably invited the 'tennis elbow' to join the party.

The grass was a short well manicured lawn at the edge of the townhouse development. We're not talking a big honkin' field here!

I said "Well we can ride across that grass." To which he shrugged and jumped on his bike because I was already half way across by then.

At the end of the grass, there was a small hump (incline) that separated the townhouse area from a busy intersection. I didn't realize how steep it was until I started to slow down on the approach.

It was probably because of the grass but before I knew it I was pretty much at a standing stop on the incline with my balance falling right at a steady rate. I was on a hill. On my bike. Picture this.

No where to go but down. No not again!!! Save the wrist, save the wrist, avoid pain, avoid injury were the thoughts running through my head.

My body immediately reacted to this situation with a brilliant risk management plan. My project director, would be so proud!

Balls roll. Balls roll faster when going down a hill. There I go! Ejected off the pilot seat, into a nice flip and ball. I probably only rolled once, but it felt like more like a couple after which I quickly stood up from the momentum gained.

Pool Boy saw it all from behind me. It was in slow motion for him. I recall the words "There you go" coming out of his mouth.

My first thought on regaining my upright position was, 'yay, not too much pain. I'm okay. This is good." My second thought was 'Oh the lady across the street waiting for the bus, saw me. How embarrassing?! Quick grab your bike and keep on going!'

And so I did. Jaywalked my bike across the street before the busy intersection and jumped on it to ride, following the lady's bus. As I waited behind said bus, at the busy intersection when the light was red, I turned around and said to PB, "That was pretty funny, me rolling down the hill". He was still laughing, at the sight of me, yes, but also at relief that I wasn't hurt.

Don't tell him that me forearm is talking a little more loudly to me tonight as I write this. O I'll give him some ibuprofren and he'll be asleep in no time. Tennis elbow, not Pool Boy.

Photo Ferrets for the Hump Day!

Welcome back, all of you pherrets out there!

Another hump day, another hunt...

If you're not outside, this week's word must apply...

Our word for the week is:

Inside

It's a good thing this picture is fuzzy so you can't see my mess!

This is my view from my favourite blogging spot, me bed.

I have a breakfast table that I can put my laptop on,

while my floor fan gently breezes on me and has the added benefit

of keeping the laptop cool. LOL

Happy Hump Day!

Idol to Idol

So I last week I blogged about how I really enjoyed last week's Canadian Idol with Cyndi Lauper. This week has been good too. It featured Dennis DeYoung of Styx and Roger Hodgson of Supertramp coaching the kids and tonight they have been performing. Kinda cool for a seventies and eighties young 'un. Cheeky would approve.

I love me the Idol shows. And when this ones over it'll be time for American Idol to start again. Whooopeeeee!

ICL

Manic Monday - Back to School

From the fabulous Fleur de Lisa at http://manicmondaymeme.blogspot.com/

1. Did you look forward to going back to school each year or did you dread it?
2. What was your favorite item of school supplies to purchase each fall?
3. Did you go shopping for new clothes for school, and if so did you enjoy the process?

I always looked forward to it. After goofing off having a busy but relaxing summer, going to the cottage, working as I got older, I was ready to party refreshed and wanting to get back with my friends tackle school again and renew old acquaintances.

I particularly loved getting the trendiest style in jeans and cords new back to school clothes which cost a fortune for my poor mum I graciously offered to pay for from my summer earnings. Part of the gotta look cool renewal process I guess.

My favourite type of school supply was permanent magic markers that I inhaled more than wrote with.

I loved the attention that I used to get from the principals staff when I would be sent to casually hang out in their office(s) pretending as we were such good friends.

I dated talked the a$$ ear off my teacher one year, for which I was graciously rewarded with the best hickymark in the class, because he saw me as so willing to put out mature and good with my mouth eloquent. I never forgot him for what he gave me the - crabs cards to my future, and for this I am ever tainted thankful.

I'm awake ....

... but only because I don't have to work tomorrow! Na na na boo boo!

(plus I had a long nap this evening after some afternoon delight but that's TMI so forget I said that)

Hey if you commented on my Thursday Thirteen about What I love and dislike about blogging go back and check out my comment back to you ~
http://irishandlovingit.blogspot.com/2006/08/tt-what-i-love-about-blogging-what-i.html

What else is on me mind?

I found out yesterday that a lady from our church died of a sudden heart attack last week. She wasn't that old - in her fifties or sixties. There's nothing in the obituaries yet. I knew of her because she was involved in the church and ran the library. I did not know her well.

In late June I went to see her at the library after mass because they were looking for more volunteers and I thought this might be something I would like to do for a change from my usual volunteer work at the church (I'm in a bit of a rut on that ~ more on that some day).

Anyways she was happy to get a volunteer but she wanted me to do it for every 11:00 a.m. mass each Sunday. I told her I was going on holidays and she took my name and number and said for me to come back and see her later in July and she would train me.

Well I never went back to see her. I was intending to after the summer. It makes me sad that I lost this opportunity to interact with her further before she died.

Actually, truth be told, I was a little put off by her request that I needed to do the library every Sunday. I asked her if I could share with another person and we would alternate weeks or something. There was another lady standing right there who was perfectly willing to share the 11 a.m. mass with me.

Pat didn't seem too keen on the idea and so I thought to myself that I needed to think about it a little more but resolved that I would work with her to make sure that I was not on for doing it every week. I probably could do it every week, but I didn't want the pressure of having to do it every week, if you know what I mean!

I'm a little burned out on church volunteer work and politics which is why I thought the library work would just suit me fine. I need something I can do at mass, working with people and interacting with them. I want to get away from the (yawn*[see below]) committee work and finance work that I've been doing lately. I need to know that when I leave my work is done. I don't need the pressure of having to do work at home on top of my job and family, exercising and (god help me) blogging.

Not sure what will happen now. The announcement after mass was that the library would close indefinitely. I don't know anything about librarying. I wonder if they will want me to step in. I could carry on with my plan to work after mass but I don't think I will be able to head it up.

The good Lord knows what he wants me to do so I will wait for him to tell me. (Take your time, Lord)

RIP, Pat.

ICL

* P.S. My word verification is hugeyn (huge yawn!!) ha ha I often think he is talking to me through word verification and he always wants to show me his sense of humour. Either that or I'm nuts! I told you to take yer time, Lord! .......OK, ok, .....I'm know I'm not the boss of you!

Silly Sunday

Had a great salmon and crab dinner last night with champagne for our 17th anniversary with me Pool Boy and 3 darling daughters. (Son lives away).

Thanks to everyone for the wishes!

I hope everyone has a great Sunday!

So above and below is stuff I was playing with from flickr. Me niece above. Me upcoming movie.

Me most recent zoo visit

SPH (Money) and Me 17th Wedding Anniversary!

So funny story here ~

I'm sitting in a bar/restaurant with DQ Girl.

Because we're hungry?

No, well kinda.

Because we're thirsty?

Not especially, but the beer is going down good.

Because it's got wireless internet!!!!

Ours went down today and looks like it will be down all weekend!

I felt sick at the prospect.

Especially since I told you below that I would have special pictures for Saturday.

I spoke too soon in my comments to others today about not having problems with blogger

but having problems with our high speed.

Boy do we now have problems!

So here I am getting me SPH ready and me Wedding Pictures in honour of me 17th

Wedding Anniversary August 5th.

Even though I'm mad as heck at Pool Boy but it's probably not his fault.

So here we go and who know's when I'll talk to you all again!

{Network is back up (for now anyways!). Yay I get to visit SPH's!}

Me and my 3 stepkids. It was a happy (but hot!) day for all of us!

They were 9, 6 and 4 on this day 17 years ago.

DQ Girl was very photogenic!

Mr Philosopher and me. He was so cute! He fell asleep during the mass!

Nurse-a-baby got shy when it was time to walk up the aisle so my sister (Matron of Honour) had to bring her up with her!

Melt my heart all over again!

She hung around me all day!

The happy couple after the ceremony.

Did I say it was hot that day?!

Kinda like the hot spells we've been having this summer.

I almost melted.

Now on to the hunt

This weeks theme is Money

Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.

~If you play and visit, don't forget to tell TNChick which ones are your favourites~

Mexican money on a coaster on my coffee table in my family room. Also an old Canadian penny (the dark brown one) and a Canadian dime in the centre. My earrings are off to the right. Nothing too exciting. Kinda came out blurry. Oh well, it's moulah!

A day off ! ~ SPF this Friday: Tasty!

A ha. I'm off today, took a vacation day! Yay! So if you think I'm blogging at werk, I'm not. Thanks to all you special people (and I mean that sincerely! if you read dislike # 6 from yesterday's TT) who commented on my TT yesterday. Oh I don't mind long comments BTW Gracie! I've been known to do it myself (OMG, maybe other people mind!? Do you?)

OK I've been known to check the odd blog or for comments on my blog from work but I don't make a habit of it because they track everywhere you've been and all. Plus I'm just too damn busy to be honest. I'd never get my work done if I blogged. When I blog it's like a full time commitment. Ask Pool Boy. He thinks I'm nuts! (OK I am, what's yer point?!)

Nothing special planned but wait until tomorrow 'cause it's my 17 year wedding anniversary! Special pics tomorrow!

So I'm just drinkin' me koffee and wewaxing, (no I'm not waxing - I shave, it's just my lazy way of saying relaxin' [aka really relaxing] but I should probably go and get a bikini wax today, ahem! blogging out loud here), reading all the TT's from yesterday that I didn't get time to visit and will visit SPF's today. Onward!

KRISTINE at Random & Odd

gave us this assignment this Friday.

1. Your Spices

2. Salt and Pepper (?, black and white?, your shakers? something black and white?)

3. Add a little spice to your picture.

1 My spice PEPPER my grandchinchilla

in his Hallowe'en costume. Yes he was a cow!

(ok I was trying to get this BW shot of Pepper to go to colour when you hovered on it to add some spice but couldn't get it to work because I suc at CSS so here he is again in his pretty cow costume in purple - I don't dress him - Batgirl does but only on Hallowe'en. The nut doesn't fall far from the tree is alls I'm sayin')

2. Salt and Pepper

Mr. Philosopher (aka Black & White boy) and his gf.

Funny they were both actually wearing black and white

when I took this picture which I turned into a BW shot.

3. Add a little spice to your picture.

Can you see DQ girl?

TT - What I love about blogging / what I dislike about blogging

Hey, thanks for all your comments folks! I've put a comment back to each and every one of you. Where? In the comments of course!

Week # 52, my #7TT
Get the T13 code or view other Thursday Thirteens :)

13 Dislikes about blogging:

1. bloggers who can blog from work - wtf? How come you can do that? I'd be afraid to be fired.

2. not having enough time to visit everyone

3. not having enough time to read people's posts regularly

4. when blogger sucks

5. trying to line up the pics around the text

6. people who don't comment

7. people who comment just for the sake of commenting but don't really have anything important to say or leave lame generic comments

8. people who post too much or too often... can't keep up with the reading

9. memes that are boring

10. cliquey bloggers

11. boring blogs

12. typing a comment or post and losing it

13. it's addictive!

13 Likes about blogging

1. People who are funny

2. People who take good pictures

3. People who write well and are interesting or entertaining

4. People who leave me comments

5. Trying to figure how how to do something new on my blog

6. People who share pretty banners and memes and how to do things

7. When people add me to their links

8. Finding new interesting bloggers

9. Memes that are fun or interesting

10. Finding out interesting information / learning about bloggers, countries

11. Learning different perspectives on a topic, issue

12. Ranting ... it's sometimes necessary

13. Raving ... it's infectious!

Another if Women Controlled the world ...

Hump Day Foto Pherrets

Happy hump day, pherrets far and near!

Get ready to hunt.

It's too hot to be witty today!

Our word for this week is:

Open

My nephew being silly with his mouth open!
Eeewwww! Gross!