Friday Fragments

Its Friday, Friday...gotta get down on Friday...

Sorry for the Rebecca Black breakout... They play that on the radio every Friday morning & it goes right through me, but it is a dang catchy song.  I need to reword it when it comes on... "Its Friday - Fragments ... gotta get down some fragments" ...everyone sing along...

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Everyone molting where you live?  I cant believe how miserable the heat has been.  I feel so badly for the Hubs as he works outside & in a hot warehouse.  He took a picture of the thermostat in the warehouse this week & it said 112 degrees in there.  That's not even adding in the humidity.  I hate that for him.  He comes home drained of life & soaking wet, even though he takes 3 shirts & changes them during the day.  Man, it makes me thankful my job is in a nice cold office where the temp stays around 74 degrees... Be careful out there folks!  We've even had a 18 yr old boy in our town die from heat stroke last week... & Ricky's friend even had to be put in the hospital for 4 days due to heat stroke.  Its some serious stuff....

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Project Runway... ITS BACK!  It's going to make me want to learn how to use my sewing machine all over again!  For the record, Ricky bought me one for Christmas 2009.  The last Project Runway inspired me to take it out of the box!!!!  So hoping this Project Runway season inspires me to PLUG IT UP & turn it on!  Its all about baby steps... I want to make Tim Gunn proud...

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Debt Ceiling... I never even knew what those words meant until this week... & now, they have me thinking I need to move my 401K to bonds instead of stocks... All of this hassle reminds me why I hate politics so much & why I dont even get involved in listening to it all because it just makes me give up all hope of our leaders of our country.  I love when people say, lets take away their pay, health insurance, benefits & see how quick they can solve the crisis! ... get it together people... you're making this great country look like a bunch of idiots.

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How sad is it that I had to look online how to make iced tea?  I honestly didnt know... How much sugar?  How much water?  How many bags?  My problem is when it comes to thinks like measuring Cups/ounces - any kind of liquid measurements, I get all confused & befuddled.  So you're likely to have 8 cups of water to 1 tsp of tea... but I think I got it down last night.... don't judge... just give me props for trying to learn to make tea instead of drinking more Diet Coke

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SPAT OF THE WEEK:  Cowboys vs. Aliens ... OH.MY.GOSH... does this look like the dumbest movie ever?  Well, apparently not to Ricky.  And apparently not to most men.  I think it looks ridiculous & told Ricky so, while his jaw was hanging to the ground in awe.  "Why is it ridiculous?  Couldnt aliens have been around even in the old cowboy days too?" ... that sentence alone is proof why this is the dumbest movie ever.  I cant tell you how many "debates" we've had over this movie.  The idea of aliens in today's time makes so much more sense.  And again, just shows how stupid this argument is.  I refuse to talk about the movie anymore.

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Speaking of movies, I can NOT believe it... I still have not seen the last Harry Potter... I am in shock myself over that fact....

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I am uber excited about "The Help" coming out soon though!  The casting just in the previews looks spot on!  Anyone else excited about that one?  Because I know 98% of you have read the book & loved it as much as I did.

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I just finished Max Lucado's new book "Max on Life" - (You can see the review on my book blog - click the tab above if you want) - but there was some great stuff in it.  I really loved one thing he said - that people look at death as a "failure" - that its to be avoided at all costs - but its going to happen.  And this was written, "When heaven sees a breathless body, it sees the vacated cocoon & the liberated butterfly" .... isnt that an amazing way to look at death?  ... I still would prefer to hold off on my "liberation" for awhile :)

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Hope everyone has a Fabulous Friday!  I'm off to check to see how won the competition on Big Brother last night...(Come on Jeff & Jordan!!!)

What does your Bible say about you?

Source: notdepthnorheight.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I saw this picture on Pinterest with a quote & LOVED it...

I especially loved it because I'm a big "Bible Writer" ....

I have different colored highlighters, although I forget why I pick a color to do something.  I started off highlighting things in Pink that symbolized "forgiveness" .. things in Blue that were about "new beginnings"... things in green to represent "things to help me GROW"... but then I just forget the reasons, or run into scriptures that fit into all the above & then, the method goes bust...

But I do have a colorful Bible...

...colorful along with written words & notes & arrows & definitions & dates & ... well, you get the idea...

Then the other day, I was listening to a pastor on TV, someone I've never even seen before & he just got my attention.  He was talking about how when he goes to speak at a funeral of someone he doesnt know very well, he always asks to see that persons Bible.

He said, if its brand new, doesnt look like the pages have been turned, doesnt look like there has been time spent in it, he said he can pretty much do a quick funeral by saying, "The Lord giveth & the Lord taketh away"....

But he said if he looks into a Bible & see what people write, or what scripture is highlighted & speaks to them, he can tell so much about the person & their relationship with Jesus & he can give a eulogy that speaks to the heart of the deceased.

That made so much sense to me...

I have my great grandfather's Bible & I love to thumb through it... He was a pastor too, so you can imagine the notes he wrote throughout this Bible.  This was a man who passed away when I was a baby & I have no memory of who he was... but his heart shines through what spoke to him in the words that God gave.

Isnt that a cool thought... &amp such good insight? 

How about your Bible?  Is it marked up?  Full of who you are in God?

"A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't" - Charles Spurgeon

Celebrating my dad :)

Sunday was my dad's birthday.... I just love when the family gets together...

We met up for dinner & it was great because we told the waitress that it was dad's birthday, which meant he got the embarassing situation of all the waiters/waitresses coming over & singing to him.  Me?  I was clapping along, singing.. let me get up & lead the singing... I didnt even take a picture because I was too busy singing with them... & laughing at how red dad actually turned!

Then we headed to my brother's house where the fun was on.... Tony got a new golf cart & took dad riding on it with the twins.  I was laughing so hard because my brother was flying so fast up their driveway (their driveway is like 2 miles long) & he took a corner & I just saw dad hanging on to the seat for what looked like his dear life!  .... Let's see how badly he wants to make it his next birthday...

Well, Ricky couldnt be left out - so I jumped on the back with Sophia, & Madi took the front seat next to her Uncle Ricky & we were off.... it was so much fun... except when Ricky would hit bumps... on purpose! OUCH!!!!

Here's the front seat

Here's the back seat....
me & Sophia are always ready for a camera!  I've taught her well....

Tony's friend ended up coming over... not that we cared to see his friend, but he & his wife just had a baby - THAT's who everyone wanted to really see ;) (KIDDING) ... but who doesnt love to see a little new baby?  I dont think I've ever see a little baby girl look so much like their father either... its crazy!  Not that you can tell from this picture since she obviously doesnt look like a neck or black hair.

My dad just loves babies & couldnt wait to get his hands on her, but his beard scared her... poor little thing.  She just wanted her own daddy to hold her ... a little spoiled?  That's what babies are made for... just to spoil.

Madi couldnt really be bothered with the baby... she was just waiting for the cake... that's my kinda girl that just waits on eating sugar!  And yes, she has on a bathing suit now.  The girls have learned to swim so they wanted to get in their pool... that has drained down to about 2 feet of water.  But they still could show us their swimming moves & how they can hold their breath underwater. 

Here's one of the "mermaids" right here... with a groovy shark ready to attack her head apparently...

But it was finally time for cake... always the best part of a birthday!

Here's dad with his girls... they're wearing his shirts he got for his birthday :)

It was a great day to celebrate my daddy!!!!  Cant wait to do it again next year! :)

Sweet... & sad....

Today would have been my Papaw's 89th birthday....

I'm still in shock over the accident that was so stupid to end his life... I still dont get it... I still get so mad about how something so small can end a life... changing everyone else's life...

We celebrated my dad's birthday on Sunday (Post is coming of that great day with some pictures) & yes, his father's birthday is the day after his. 

So my niece Sophia, being the sweetest little heart ever, made a "card" for her Papaw (my dad) for her Granddad (my Papaw)

It says:   "I love dad (but when she read it to me, she said "granddad" I dont think she knew how to spell 'grand') ... I am sorry he died.... He was the best"

And she told me about the picture at the top, "That's me & Granddad holding hands"

Oh my goodness... is that the sweetest little thing from a 6 yr old heart...

& heart breaking all in one...

Project 365... 2011: Week 29

July 17 - Sunday - Insecurity .... In our youth group today, we had to write on our chest what our biggest insecurity was.  Mine was "weight" ... it was kinda wild to see what everyone wrote on their chest because these kids were so honest - but the things they were insecure about were things I would have never guessed about them.  Then we had a piece of paper on our backs that we couldnt see that others could write on them what THEY see in us.  This was my list... it was so neat to look at it & see how others really see you.  I especially enjoyed seeing these kids faces light up when they saw how others saw them... I think one of my favorites on my list is "love you UR Loud" ... haha!!!

July 18 - Monday - Feels long!!!! ... for some reason, my hair felt REALLY long today.  Dont know why - but it did...

Tuesday - July 19 - the fun of living with a yellow lab .... The bad side of having a yellow lab is their coats in the summer.  The shedding is INSANE!!! I literally sit & pull hair off her everytime I see her.  She hates it, but its gotta be done.  I will take her out & just rub & rub & pull & pull & the hair is never ending.  Just another reason why I'm looking foward to cooler weather.



This is a handfull of pulled out dog hair... fun, huh?

 Wednesday - July 20 - NKOTBSB ... if you havent seen the post from Wednesday - then you missed all the details... it was just awesome... still singing from it


I had posted on Facebook that this is when NKOTB blew up....

 Thursday - July 21 - Day after with a little follower .... I took the day after the concert off work, which I'm glad I did since I didnt get home until after midnight & I have to get up at 5:30 am ... being at home, my little buddy, Bruno, was following me everywhere - so glad to have his 'mommy' home :)  Everywhere I looked, this is what I saw.

He's saying "Pick me up & hold me" in case you dont speak dog language

July 22 - Friday - Invitation .... ahh - the wedding invitations to my friends arrived.  I cant tell you how giddy I am about this wedding...

July 23 - Saturday ... NO PICTURE ... I literally didnt get out of my "sweat shorts" all day.  It was just a lazy movie day.  I watched New Moon - Eclipse - Take me home tonight - You again & caught up on my Big Brother After Dark on Showtime all day... I literally didnt even take over 1,000 steps all day.  Now THATS a lazy day!!!  So believe me, you dont WANT to see a picture of that day... it wasnt pretty.

Hope you've all picture perfect moments this week!

Happy Birthday to my Dad!!!

Just gotta give a big shout out to my daddy-o

His birthday is Sunday... do men get upset about posting the number?  I'm not sure - but to be safe, let's just say that he's old enough to know better - too young to care... right?  Papaw always used to say that ;)

So Happy Birthday Dad... I love you!!!

NKOTBSB

I got tickets months ago & felt like it was going to be forever until the day of the concert... but it arrived.

My friend, Erica & I were so anxious to get to this concert.  I think I was excited to see Erica also see NKOTB with her own eyes.  She said it was a childhood dream of hers to see them... girlfriend will throw down with some NKOTB songs.

First though, we had to stop & get some grub to fuel for the night.

Since neither of our husbands are fans of Panera Bread ... WHAT?  I know!... we decided to go there & grab some good healthy food.  Look at this salad!  Isnt it amazing with all that fresh fruit?

Then we head down to the KFC Yum! Center.  It was the first time I had been in there.  It was cool to see tons of women dressed in 80's wear all around.  If you look close in this picture, you can see a HUGE PINK Limo too... It was the ultimate girls night out!  It was funny too because there was a guy sitting on the side of the road playing his violin - I asked him if he could play any New Kids songs... he just started "plucking" the same strings over & over... Erica & I were like, "Um... ok... no"

I didnt want to lug my big camera around so I just had my little point & shoot so my pictures werent the best, but that's OK - the memories are fantastic.

Some little new "boy band" opened the show... it was funny because everyone was just kinda laughing at them & I told Erica, 'Look, we're all laughing at these kids, but when these older men come on as a "boy band" we're going to be screaming like crazed girls" ... oh, the irony...

Then, the REAL opening act.... Matthew Morrison!!! ****SWOON**** I love me some Mr. Shue.  And he did some songs from Glee so I was about freaking out!  I was disappointed though because I so wanted him to sing "Over the Rainbow" - but he didnt... tear from this fan... but he still didnt disappoint.

I had to laugh... & felt bad for him at the same time... He sang a song about how hard it is to get out of the spotlight of everyone thinking he's JUST "Mr. Shue" & not a real preformer who loves the stage & who loves to sing.  When he finished the song, someone yelled "WE LOVE YOU MR SHUE" .... um, yeah... that was the point he was trying to make.  It did make me chuckle though.

Then it was time....

They flashed all the guys pictures on the stage... it was so cool... I could feel the time warp starting!  By the way - Donnie Walberg - how the heck does he still have those abs at his age?  My jaw literally dropped when he took off his shirt.  So did the guy next to me!... haha!! 

Yes - there were tons of guys at the concert which shocked me - but when I saw this guy next to me, I thought, "he's going to be hating this" - but every time NKOTB was on stage, he was up, getting his GROOVE on.  I was laughing at certain dance moves he was doing.  I even tried to sneak a picture of him, but its too dark to see him.  He was hilarious!

But then they all came on stage...

I just loved seeing Erica's face when they came out too! 

The concert, if you get to go, is AMAZING!!! They took turns performing & it was such a good stage show! 

These were the 2nd highest tickets & they were still that far away?  Geez... but still better then the ones in the top tier section.  How they saw ANYTHING would have been a miracle... but I could see them all still dancing at the top .... I think you just had fun if you were in the building!  I did wish I brought my long lens & good camera in the end though!

I was surprised how many of the Backstreet Boys songs I knew - & really liked... They were pretty awesome too.  It was funny to see them bring their wives & children up on stage.  They were kids just a few years back & here they are as "family men" now... what a world...

For Erica & I though (& the guy next to me) - it was just about the NKOTB ... I was impressed with Jordan Knight & how good he still sounds... & how high his voice actually could still get!... & MOVE!  Dude can still pull out the moves.  They even acknowledged that there were 2 generations there - from 1989 & from 1999.  The 1989 crowd totally dominated though... oh yeah baby.  I dont think concerts in 1989 had so much smell of beer though... the drinks were flowing all around us.  The lady next to Erica, I couldnt believe was still standing at the end of the night.  I think she REALLY thought she was back in 1999!!!

The end was awesome too... woulda made Mr. Shue proud if he was still in the building because they did a mesh-up of a big song from each group. 
The whole concert was just so worth the wait of the months... amazing, awesome, fantastic, spectacular....

Thanks Erica for enjoying the night with me... I couldnt imagine sharing it with anyone else!

Hodepodging....

1. July 20th marks the anniversary of the first time man stood on the moon. Flash forward 42 years to July 8, 2011 which marked the start of the final Space Shuttle mission. Should we continue to explore space? Should nations devote more or fewer of their resources to exploring space? Would you want to go into space if the opportunity arose?

I think it's so sad that it was the last Space Shuttle mission... I think its even sadder that I didnt even KNOW it was the last mission until a few months before it took off.  Thanks to a Blog-buddy who told me, I would have been clueless.  I think that's the problem - people just aren't aware of the space program anymore.  We need people up there - if only to destroy astroids if they're heading to earth!  I've seen enough movies to know that our lives could lay in the hands of astronauts... or oil diggers... (& you wonder how I didnt realize it was the last mission?)

For the record - you couldnt pay me enough to go to space.  I dont even like to get on a plane flying to Houston for 2 hours!  The only reason I do that is to see faces I love... aint no face in space good enough to get me up there!

2. What are three things in your freezer?

1.Cool whip - a life without cool whip is a sad life
2. Super Duper Massive Ice Pack - good for the ole' knee after rough runs
3. Meat - probably left over from when I used to eat meat... since I dont eat it anymore, I should probably think about throwing it out, but then I get sad of the poor cow's life wasted away in my freezer, so I'll just keep it in there in honor of Mr. Cow.
 
3. If you could see any band/artist perform live tonite who would it be? It has to be someone living-no Beatles, Elvis, etc.

Funny you should ask... because TONIGHT - I am going to see a band perform... 2 bands actually.

New Kids on the Block & the Backstreet Boys....

dont be jealous... I may inhale so much Aqua Net from all the people blowing back to the 80's that I could get brain damage.

4. Ice-cubed or crushed? Or are you one of those people who don't like ice?

my dad used to work at a place that made "tube ice" - it was the Da Bomb in the world of ice.  It was easy to crunch like "crushed" ice - wasnt as big as "ice cubed" ice - it was perfection... if frozen water could have a "perfection" about it

5. The owner of a small restaurant outside of Pittsburgh recently announced he was banning children under six, saying they regularly disrupted other customer's meals. You can read the story here in more detail but isn't this a perfect topic to discuss in our Wednesday Hodgepodge? Have at it friends...what are your thoughts

I think people are super-sensitive... but I think it depends on where you're going.  If you go to any everyday, ordinary place & you dont expect children to be there, then get over yourself.  Kids act out & it happens.  But if you are going to a five star place, then people with children who they know cant sit still for 5 minutes probably shouldnt take them there either... I guess its about respect for others really... Personally, I dont think I've ever had a child bother me in a restaurant - even when they're on the floor screaming.  I actually have wanted to join in with them before...

6. What was your first car? How did it come to be yours?


My first car... ahhh - a Toyota Celica... I think it was like a 76. And for the record, it was in the late 80's that I turned 16 - not in the 70's... I wanted to make that clear for my aging ego

I have pictures I need to find.  It was actually my friends first car & she graduated to a better one.  I got it for the bargain price of  $500!!!  My parents theory was, "you're going to wreck your first car anyways so you're not getting a good one" ... for the record, I didnt wreck it - I didnt wreck until my 3rd car... so HA! :)

7. If I had a nickel for every time I ___________ I'd be rich. (Fill in the blank)

*Drank a Diet Coke... HOLY COW - I'd be rich.... Donald Trump - Bill Gates - Steven Spielberg... none of them would be richer then me!  Healthier?  Maybe - but not richer!

8. Insert your own random thought here

Chronic Dry Eyes really bite... you have no idea how painful & how miserable it really is :(  For someone who loves to read, someone who loves to check out computer, someone who likes not having pain in their eyes...  yeah, its something to get used to...my moan & groan of the day.Want to join along in the questions - click the picture above & answer away.  It really is cool to see what everyone thinks on the same topics.

Health Insurance will be the death of me...

I just gotta vent for a second....

You've probably heard me talk about in the past, if you've been around here long enough, that after 15 years on the job, my business took away health insurance from the employees.... or I should say, for 98% of the employees...

I've now been at my job for 19 years ... I KNOW ... that's a long time!  So if you do the math, you realize that this is my 4th year with getting health insurance on my own.

I've had an insurance agent that has yearly brought me new policies with lower prices, because regardless if you use the insurance or not, the price raises sky high each year.  I hadnt been to the doctor, NOR had ONE prescription filled in over 2 years... & still, my policy would raise around $65-$75 a month when renewal came.

And the bad thing with these policies, they stink like my shoes after I run a good 5 miles in this humidity...

The insurance doesnt really cover much & after seeing how it only covered $30 off of a $110 eye drop prescription last week, I knew I was in trouble... afterall, in a few months, I'm turning 40 & according to all the people who are making me feel like life is nearing an end, 40 is when a body starts falling apart.... great...

So the Hubs went to his work today & told them he wants to add me to his policy...

... are you sitting down... I'm still gasping...

Its going to cost an extra $150 a WEEK to add me... not like his insurance is spectacular or anything either... but at least its got a prescription amount & a flat fee for the doctor.  But still... geez...

Ricky told me that a "family policy" is insane too... that a coworker literally makes a check of around $50 at the end of a long week of hard labor... he's just pretty much working for health insurance for his family.

How frustrating is this... & I know I'm not alone.  Heck, I know many just go without insurance & wish for the best....

This is just so sad to me... & frustrating.. & makes me angry & sick all at the same time...

I think this comic just says it all...

Anyone else want to give me any health insurance advice... something to brighten my day?  Some kind of secret that I'm not aware of that will help?  Or do I join the thousands beyond thousands of US citizens that are struggling...

Anyone have a few hundred dollars I can borrow each month? ;)

How many years?!?!

I just wanted to wish my parents a Happy Anniversary...

I'm trying to figure out how long they've been married, & my brother will be 46 this year... (oh yeah big bro... I just outted how OLD you are!).... so they've had to be married 47 years now.

Ahhh - look at this picture before photo programs were created to make pictures look like they are this old...

I can remember when I was in high school & a friend of mine's parents got divorced.  It was like one of the first times I had even heard of "divorce"... & now, its almost rare to find parents that are still together.  I am proud of my parents for sticking it out because marriage aint easy... that's for sure.. & 47 years together?  I expect by that many years, Ricky & I will both be bald from pulling our hair - or each others - out!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!!!

Project 365... 2011: Week 28

July 10 - Sunday - Preview of a bride .... I got to go with a friend who went for a bridal dress fitting.  Of course, I went with my camera so I could capture the moment for her & her family.  And of course, I cant show anything since the wedding is still 2 months away.  So I got this picture for a sneak peek... rest assure, she's a beautiful bride!

Monday - July 11 - Duty or Delight ... the new Bible Study starts.. I've been looking forward to it since I saw Tammie at the Beth Moore conference.  In the first day, I'm already in love with it... looking forward to the 6 weeks that lay ahead.

Tueday - July 12 -Hot & Cold... this is the window at 6:30 am... its already so hot outside & the cold inside (which we keep our house at 80 degrees actually) - makes condensation on the windows EARLY!  There was even condensation on the door handle going into my office at work.  Crazy Heat!!!!

Wednesday - July 13 - Evil Car ... the number on my odometer grabbed my attention on my drive into work... I'm not a fan of the number 6 ... I'm weird I know... but remember, accounting is my profession, so numbers are my life :)

Thursday - July 14 - Chronic Eyes.... I had to go to an opthamologist because my eyes were still bothering me.  He told me I have Chronic Dry Eyes, which he said "Its irritating, it will get on your nerves, its frustrating... & you'll have to live with it for the rest of your life".... great..... but my eyes hurt & feel like there are pebbles constantly in my eyes.  They hurt & ache & the lower lids feel like they are raw.  I'm supposed to put drops in them every 4 hours, sleep with an eye gel in my eyes & learn to adapt with it.  I was also supposed to get an antibiotic eye drop, but I got to the pharmacy & they said it would be $85 AFTER my insurance (my horrible insurance only saved me $30) - but I just told them to put it back - I wasnt paying  $85 for 5 days worth of drops... the fun side of life...

Friday - July 15 - Green Monster ... doesnt that look yummy?  I know it doesnt - but it really is good.  And I've gotten used to making them for breakfast every day.  Cram that blender full of spinach leaves - but when you add fruit, that's all it tastes like - & its quite yummy!  My body is probably freaking out with all the "greens"...

Saturday - July 16 - I have a Web Site!!! .... I worked all day on a new web site for my photography.  I had ordered business cards the day before too which I am in LOVE with... I couldnt get the domain name I wanted, but got the 2nd best thing... http://www.rebeccajophoto.com/  Go check it out.  Its just a start, & I want to do more with it in the future - but its a good start for someone who knows nothing about web sites.

Hope you've all had picture perfect moments this week!!!