mdrai

Just got home from the beach... am now channelling my inner Pam (or is it really my inner Susanne?) and working on the mountains of sandy laundry, putting all the food away (gotta love schlepping it there & then back again), getting caught up w/e-mail & voice mails, etc... TOO FUNNY -- the new PTA Prez called me while I was gone to vent about the budget meeting they had for next year... can't wait 'til he calls back & I say "Yo dude -- NOT MY PROBLEMO ANY MORE!" :smile: (Terry)

Hello from the beach! Internet is spotty... as in, we haven't had it at all yet & even now I think I'm "borrowing" it from the house next door!! Gorgeous weather, relaxing breezes... I've read 2 books already & shopped a bit... all the gals got pedi's yesterday... a nice relaxing time. LOVE the dresses... too bad they're not poofier, tho... TTFN...

A friend sent me this link & it's too cute! Amazing what they can do w/graphics programs these days! I can just picture Carson being one of these dudes!

Oh, & that's not what I wanted or asked for re: the haircut... in fact, I had a pic w/me from Cali, to remind her what she did last time... oh well... it'll grow... so for now I just muss it up w/mousse and go! Figure it's a good style for summer... (I guess I should've had you do it in Ala, Jane!!!)

No I didn't get anything Judy... strange... :thumbup:

Ok, here's me yesterday... quick pics on quickcam (haircut + new glasses...)

Hey girlies... We leave for the beach @ 6am on Saturday so I'm busy running around getting everything & everyone packed up for that... I think we have wifi so I'll check in if we do. Laura, is your dad @ the WSOP now? If so, how's he doing? Keep us updated! (Especially if we have to pack quickly for him to fly us in for final table & 'ritaville!! lol!) B'day was nice yesterday... met a friend for coffee @ 10am @ this little shop in town & we didn't leave 'til 1pm! Oh my! Then browsed in the knitting shop & bought some supplies to try and begin to learn how to make socks... then dh, dd & I went down to my mom's (1 hr away) and everyone (all of us, + ds (who's @ mom's while he's attending jazz band camp this week) + mom + my 22-yr-old cousin (who's staying w/mom over the summer while she's working @ a camp) + another cousin's husband (who's staying w/mom during the weeks while he works on a big highway project in DC (he lives in Va.)) went to the Mongolian Grill for dinner, then back to mom's for homemade Mousse Chocolat... mmmmm. A lovely day! Oh, & they all obviously know me well... I received a SB card, 2 Yankee candles, a Borders card, & a pedicure for next week when we're @ the beach! All nice, relaxing gifts... yay!

Thank you, Suzie! Yep, today's my day... & I awoke to the tones of Mo doing his "I'm constipated" squawck in the hallway. Ah yes, a little feline enema first thing in the morning... lovely... LAURA... I like them all, for different reasons, but I also have tweaks I'd make to each of them. The first one I LOVE but I don't like the straight-across part on the top... I think you need to work that cleavage, girlfriend! Which brings me to #2, which is the same comment... if you could get rid of that little straight-across lacey piece & keep just the V-neck, I think it'd be great... oh, & the cap sleeve thing, too, they can be difficult. I can totally see you floating down the aisle in #3, w/some sort of sleeve action going on. I realize I'm no help at all! Sorry! You have a great eye for beautiful gowns & I know you're going to be beautiful whatever you end up choosing -- even a gunny sack! Make it a great day, everyone -- cake's on me! (my mom's making my all-time fav, mousse chocolat!)

:smile2: Thoughtful words on this Independence Day: "Hello America, Here it is, another Fourth of July. Traditionally, this is a day to gather with friends, maybe fire up the barbeque and play with kids until the sun sets and the fireworks start. But in thinking back on the meaning behind this day, we must never forget that our nation was baptized in the blaze of a very different kind of "fireworks." Yes, this is a day of rest and relaxation, as well it should be, but this year…I'd like to ask you a favor. At some point during the day, I hope you'll take time to think and reflect on what it is we're truly celebrating on the 4th of July -- our Independence Day. Of course the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776 but it's so much more than that. On this day, 233 short years ago, a small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, an ideal they believed in so greatly, they signed their name to its expression and in doing so put their very lives at risk. Never has a simple act of signing one's name carried such weight, such a profound commitment. By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stood in direct defiance of the British government. They became marked men, and willingly so. As I was doing some research on the significance of July 4th, I came across some interesting facts about these men. Today as we all enjoy the freedom our forefathers guaranteed us, join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice of 56 extraordinary Americans. Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence: Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War. If you ever feel like your lone voice can never be heard, that the political system isn't set up for "regular" Americans to change the course of history, remember: The signers were flesh and blood, mortal men with a divinely-inspired aim. Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated, smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were signing their own death warrants. They did it anyway, and God bless them for it. As we enjoy our liberty on this 4th of July, or any day of any month, we must never take that liberty for granted. Too many have given too much. In the words of the Signers themselves, "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor -- I think that's a price paid worth a few minutes of reflection, don't you? But let's not be solemn in that reflection. I say rejoice and share this information with your friends and family, especially your kids. The Signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I say that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own: To remember, to be grateful, and to carry on in their spirit. America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way so long as "we the people" remember that just like in 1776. It's US that surrounds them, and we'll never back down. Happy Independence Day, and God bless America."

Hey! :eek:

Took dd for her 6-mo teeth cleaning & they ended up extracting 2 of her baby teeth that weren't moving out for her permanent teeth that are trying to come in, so the left side of her mouth was a big mess, inflamed, infected, swollen... blech! Not the way we thought that the morning would go!! Poor baby. But... yesterday I took her to get a permanent pink stripe in her hair, so it all balances out, I guess! She looks so cute & trendy. I'm such a cool mom (if I do say so myself!). I think she's liking this "only child" situation. But... we go pick up DS from camp this afternoon. Then he'll go to jazz band camp from Sunday - next Friday, so DD will be an "only" again! Make it a good day!

I think all the celebrities should run & hide! Haydee... the PA told me that flying can "adjust" your band... + it sounds like Pam is having issues as well... I'd give it a day or so to see if it settles down... & enjoy the restriction in the meantime!!

Carl Malden. He was 97!!! :redface: Now THAT I can believe!

Michael Jackson died?!?!?!? Can't be... I *just* saw him in an exclusive little club in 'bama!

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. 2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often. 3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car. 4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. 5. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious. 6. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.) 7. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government programme. 8. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip. 9. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques. 10. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good. 11. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway. 12. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it. Embrace your differences. Love each other. 13. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes. 14. A balanced diet is a cookie i n each hand. 15. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places. 16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed. 17. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it. 18. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on. 19. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again. 20. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends. 21. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator. 22. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world. 23. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat. 24. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and "mental illness." 25. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. 26. You should not confuse your career with your life. 27. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. 28. Never lick a steak knife. 29. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip. 30. You will never find anybody who c an give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time. 31. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment. 32. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers. 33. Your friends love you anyway. 34. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. 35. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Good Weds Morn, Violettas~~ I owe, I owe, so off to work I go!... my theme song today! Make it a good one!

Oh! I got my new glasses!! Finally I can see!! I like them but am not gaga about them. I'll post a pic after I get my hair done tomorrow.

Man, the first day back is like a hangover, huh? Bleh. DS is now in the highest group at goalkeeper camp (even higher than the one they called about on Sunday night!), the "Director's Club" that works directly with the, well, director (duh). So proud of him! This is the reply he sent me to an e-mail I'd sent him last Friday describing our relaxing, "frozen" pursuits of the day: Sounds like some VERY happy women in Alabama. Hope your bail isn't more than a few hundred bucks. He's a hoot huh? He knows his Mama... :tongue2: Ok, back to reality... laundry, work, grocery shopping... at least I know I always have job security here w/this family!! :cursing:

Back home safe & sound... but there's no magical margarita bowl in my freezer here! Waaah. Judy... too funny that I went back, bought that 1/2 price book, and read the entire thing by the time we began our approach to DC! Back to reality tomorrow... starting w/the completely empty 'frig here... evidently they forgot where the grocery store is located! lol... Night night!

Hello ya'll... A lovely relaxing day... reading on the deck, laughing w/the girls, photographing Pammie in her jacuzzi tub w/nothing on but bubbles... oops! giving too much away!! LOL! Janie makes THE BEST margi's!! Carson is a doll baby!!! Michael Jackson died?? Off to find another margi... Judy! You have to share!! :thumbdown:

See you all tomorrow! Laura, I think our plan is once Judy & I land, Janie'll pick us up & we'll head over to your house... hope that's ok!!! So, 11ish?? Sleep fast, everyone!!

Hey Pammie... you have a cute new avatar!

G'night girlies... I'm getting up @ 4:30 as well... see you tomorrow!!

Your 87 different pair???

Hey Vi's~~ Phew! What a day! I've been out running around ALL DAY! I DID get to the Va. office and I DID get 1ml taken out. The PA there was SUPER! really liked him. In Va. they can do the barium xray thingies right in the office! how cool! So I go in, tell him my tale of woe, do the swallow, & he's all surprised when he's looking at the Xray because he says he was sure I had a slip from my symptoms, but I didn't! Yay! Everything is in its proper place, liquid goes through @ the proper rate, etc. & so forth. But we still agreed that he should take some out, so he did. So we shall see how that helps or not. My stomach is growling SO LOUDLY on this "liquids" thing, but you'll be happy to know that I told him all about our weekend and he agreed that yes, margaritas ARE a liquid! Tee hee! People are packed already? People have actually HIT THE ROAD already?? Ay yai yai... I haven't done a thing!! Must get going!! Oh -- One more crazy tale from me... Haydee, remember in Cali how I said that my glasses were getting ready to break at any second... well, they held out for almost 4 weeks, but they just POPPED last night and are KAPUT! I even took them by the eye dr's on the way back and the guy just laughed at me for having the most impossible break to fix. Of course, I ordered new glasses last week and they'll be in TOMORROW!! I even asked if I could call a courier to go to the lab to pick them up, $ no object, but no... SO... I get to use my prescription sunglasses as regular glasses all weekend! In fact, I've got them on now as I type this. A little dark, but I can read! I figure that folks'll just think I'm a celebrity going incognito in Georgia, yeah, that's it! I'm not BLIND without them, I can walk around & stuff, but everything's blurry. Oh well... it's these little things that make life more exciting, huh?? Never a dull moment with me! Ok... TTFN... getting excited!