Spring time

Spring has never been one of my favorite times of year, I know I am crazy. It's leads to summer, and well summer is just hot! Bring me to fall and football and we have a deal. Also, work changes in the summer it is new change of pace and it takes me all summer to get use to it and then it changes again. However this spring has been different, I find myself enjoying new things and filling my time with new actives, I have grilled out with friends and family, gone on walks outside, playing cards with friends, reading (some GREAT books), road trips and taking hikes. I am hoping this Sunday will be the first boat ride of the season! I find myself busy from the moment I wake up till it's time to go to bed and hardly ever having time TV or movies it has been a nice change.

The real reason for this blog is a consumer report. I had a bonfire a few days ago and it was my job to bring the items for s'mores. I attend a local store was amazed to find all the items I need for s'mores right there when I walked in. And seen that they now have Giant marshmallows for campfires... I was SO EXCITED! I LOVE to cook s'mores on campfires, one of the worlds simple joys for me. This marshmallows are BIG! However, they are not good to cook over a campfire, they take to long to cook and it gets so hot it falls off the stick, they are to big to put on the gramcrackers. The outside is done and the inside is still "uncooked". If you try to cook, peal away the top to eat and put back in the fire the marshmallows fall off before you even get half of it eaten. They may looks fantastic (and the idea is) however not a good idea! No matter how you put them on the stick they turn into a hot mess...

Family

This week has been a blessed week in many ways.

Mom and Dad came back from Mexico... I mean their winter home down in Texas. It was so great to see them! They stopped as they drove by and had a few beers with me.

On Thursday night Wade (Brother) and myself drove out to the lake house to spend a little family time together, enjoy Mom's cooking and a few card games. When we got "home" there was no parents to be found. While I waited I sat and looked at this view ..There is a calmness out there this time of year, hardly anyone around, everything around you coming to life. No screaming kids swimming. I forgot how much I missed being at the lake house and the peace that it brings me.

It turns out Dad was at the neighbor Bill's house enjoying a few beers and Mary the Mother of Tonia was at Dave and Jane's house enjoying wine and cheese. About 15min. later both parents arrived home a bit buzzed and happy to see their children.

Dinner conversation consisted of a few dirty jokes, hearing about Wades trip to Florida and about the upcoming summer and next winter plans. As of right now Ray and Mary the Mother of Tonia will be coming home for Christmas in Iowa hosted by yours truly. The menu is already being worked on, I will be cooking the pork that my good friend Andy talks about in this blog.... This leaves Maggie about 8 months to help me come up with some good sides to try out with it. Also, wife, I don't think I told you but my family will be staying with us for a few days over Christmas so you most likely will need 8 months to get ready for this (I know I will). This will also mean that Seth and I will be taking my winter trip down south sometime in February or early March to see the Unites, let me know if you would like to come with us.

I kicked some ass in rummy! It was great to be back together playing cards as a family. This pic. is a bit blurry but you get the idea.

In other news, Thursday April 15th was a day of great sadness b/c it marked the one year anniversary of a very good friends death. (please see this blog for more information.) Mikey, I love and miss you everyday. I think and pray for you every morning and each evening. When I see a "V" shaped bird formation I can't help but think of you. Know you are loved and missed. Please join me in keeping all of Mikey's family and friends in your prayers.

God Bless

Turning Old

My body is falling apart. I have known this for some time now. The newest part of my body that is falling apart is my teeth. It's time for a monologue so sit back and enjoy...

Monday I drank my lunch with my girlfriends at El Redo, the best Mexican restaurant in Des Moines Iowa. (I had Easter Monday off.) Hey, $1.50 drinks, what more do ladies need?

Dinner Monday night was popcorn. As I was eating my popcorn watching the basketball game I noticed that it felt like there was popcorn stuck to my back tooth. Not so much. In fact half of my tooth was no longer in my mouth. I thought oh great a cavity fell off....(back upper left) Called the dentist first thing in the morning and since I was in no pain I had a Wednesday morning appointment.

After a fast x-ray the Doctor came in to chat with me. In fact it was not a cavity that fell off but half of my tooth, the cavity is still there. My tooth has a large crack in it. Solution = tomorrow morning (Friday April 9th) they will be pulling OUT my tooth. Replacing it with NOTHING! After a large flip out attack in the dentist office I was able to leave after being hooked up to air b/c I could not breath. If I find that I miss my tooth they then will DRILL a rod into my jaw and attach a tooth to it at the cost of $1,500 if not more (and that is with dental insurance).

They say the whole thing will take about 2 min. to pull out. They are not putting me to sleep, I find that surprising since he seen how I acted about just the idea of this...

And people question why it takes me 5min. each night to clean my teeth, it's b/c much like my family I was blessed with bad expensive teeth that cause me pain.

I think Mitch Hedburg had the right idea when he talks about the need for spaces between teeth, really we should just all have two big U shaped teeth.

Anyways this will most likely be me tomorrow morning but since I am driving myself I just hope to make it home safe and sound.

Nesting...

I suck at blogging, I am amazing at having an online journal that no one sees. So many great post in the saved setting. However today it came to me about something I should write about that post....here goes I hope it does not suck!!

When Lacy and I moved into our townhouse last August I have two small rooms and Lacy has the gym. One room is a guest room/my office. The other room is my "sleeping room" I have my dresser, bed, prayer chair and bedside table/prayer table. I put my bed at an angle, and truly that is the best location for my bed giving the size vs. window placement vs. air vent. Problem with my bed at an angle is that my head is kinda "floating" with nothing to hold the pillows on the bed and with all the moving I do b/c I can't sleep like an adult the pillows fall on the floor. Also, my head is by the window and now that the sun is coming up earlier and earlier that is just not working. I tried to move things around and I hate it... please see pic.

This is the prayer chair...the prayer table needs to be by it along with the lamp...

This is the other side of the room, it has to much furniture on one wall... the air vent sits dead in the middle under the window..LAME!

Another view...

Now to a "normal" person this would not be a problem..however my OCD/clean person who likes to nest at night for prayer time with my prayer table, lamp and prayer chair this room does NOT work. I could not even go to bed last night b/c I did not know how to pray before bed without being "nested" before bed. I like the bed not against the wall is nice. Really the problem is the prayer area... anyone has any ideas I would like that. Last night I was up till after midnight b/c I just did not know what to do. When I came home from work and walked into my room I did not like that there was no nesting prayer area. Also, to much stuff on one wall. Please see this post for more information about prayer time....

Maybe what I need to do is move it back, buy a headboard and curtains and move on.

In other prayer news I am learning morning prayer with Ligurgy of the Hours. It is going well and I am able to spend an extra 15 min. each morning nested in bed...

Talk to you all in 5 months...

New year, new start?

This Christmas seasons has been unlike any in the past. It kicked off with making gingerbread houses with my good friends, Seth (came in town from Col. to make them, oh and also spend Christmas with his family) my "wife" Lacy, my bestest friend Nikki, and Pat and Erin (there first time!) As always it was a great evening of eating to much candy and frosting and making pretty houses.

Then flew to TX for Christmas down south with Ray and Mary, Mom and Dad, or parental units..Good times, nice to be in warm weather for a few days and go swimming outside.

The new year came with me hanging out with some of my best friends playing with the cutest baby EVER (other then myself), having a few drinks and playing cards. I am thankful for our time together, what an amazing way to bring in a new year.

With that being said, I have always hated New Years. I find it depressing. It's the only night of the year that you are expected to have fun, go out, and be with friends. Also, what about when you are not ready for a new start? I pray for motivation to embrace this New Year, to get my ass moving again and find some ounce of motivation to "start new". I always feel like doing this in the middle of Jan or Feb. Maybe that's better then not doing it all... I have chosen to not do anything new for this year other then work on getting healthy (sooo not going well, it might have to do with the fact is is not the middle of Jan or Feb yet). For those of you who have new year goals, good job, I hope you remember them in March and succeed!

Long lost loves...

When I was in college my fav. drink was Rum and Coke, when I lived in Mississippi I brought Captain into there lives. Shortly after I left it was lost in my life. On my way down to south TX to see my parents I was rerouted with canceled flights to Chicago. I was able to fly first class for the first time ever in my life. When I was asked what to drink Rum and Coke came to mind. I forgot just how good it was. We got a bottle in Mexico.

I am writing this updated blog from my parents home in South TX. Today was 80 and sunny. It is so nice to be in spring like weather again. I do miss hanging out and talking with people that are younger the 55 however. We have been down to Mexico, I remember how I love to bargain with people on the street. I got some great deals and most importantly had a lot of fun doing so.

I have been hit on twice, once by a man that was in his early 60's who's wife left him. Tony I met him in Mexico while getting my pedicure in Mexico. He wanted to Marry a white girl from the states. I turned down both males. I will keep lookin for the man of my dream, however makes a woman feel good to be hit on by someone who can't really see that well and other one who is desperte.

Other TX highlights...
- Swimming outside and doing water aerobics
- Fresh shrimp in South Padre Island
- Seeing my parents
- Going to a polka Catholic Mass
- and the AMAZING weather..

Fall update

I have not been pretty bad about blogging the past few months. A friend told me a few weeks ago that they enjoyed reading my blog b/c it helps them feel connected to my life. I'll try to do better.

I was surprised to find out on Thursday night that we (my roommate and

myself) had tickets to go see the Broadway musical RENT this weekend! After moving some work meetings and other things around I was able to enjoy the musical . It was a nice afternoon with good friends and a nice break from my weekend of work.

As many of you know my parents sold my childhood home in Van Meter and now will be "snow birds" and be spending there winters in TX. I will be joining them for 10 days over my Christmas vacation. I was not quite sure where there new home was so I did some looking online. I did not know that my parents would be moving to Mexico/Taxes really on the border. I am looking forward to spending time with my parents, going to Mexico, South Padres Islands, eating shrimp and enjoy water aerobics with all the old ladies in the pool. The new winter home is close to McAllen TX. If you notice the map to the right, you can look south and see the green star, that's HOME, mostly in Mexico. A few photo highlights of the new house... The front of the house , the kitchen (YES! I know it's PURPLE!), and my parents know own an orange tree...