Peep Update

Back in September I posted about our participation in the JDRF's Walk for Diabetes. Well yesterday I received a letter with our final total which was $1605, a little more than I calculated. Must have been some stragglers in there. Anyway, we were also informed that we qualified for a bronze level plaque! I guess they give out plaques and awards for what teams raise. So, as team captain my family was invited to the awards banquet next month where they recognize the teams and hand out the plaques. Thanks to all who donated and walked with us!!

I shoulda been a bear!

Because then I could hibernate through the winter and not have to go out in the cold! It's starting, I'm constantly walking around the house in winter saying how cold it is, dressing in a million layers, wrapping up in blankets. I'm wearing socks and slippers and my feet are still cold. And winter's not even technically here yet!

I could handle 6 months of sleep too! Yup, I think I want to go into hibernation :)

What's for supper?

I'm sure you've had those nights. When you haven't planned ahead for supper and everyone is hungry but nobody knows what they want or can agree on anything. We seem to have those quite often! Like tonight.

I ended up with a hamburger and rice. Not fries, not chips, rice. My youngest wanted Chinese. Her idea of Chinese is pretty much anything with white rice. So my hubby made a pot of rice and a package of steamed veggies for her. He had what he called "Chinese Thanksgiving". Some leftover turkey and stuffing along with some rice and veggies covered in turkey gravy. My other daughter had scrambled eggs and cereal or breakfast for supper. We do that a lot too.

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble! Gobble!

I just want to take a minute to wish everyone reading a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving!! We are spending a quiet day at home as a family and will be joined later today by my mom and mother in law for dinner. Most of my family is spread out over the country and it's days like these that I realize how much they mean to me and how much I miss them.

My hubby and younger daughter are working hard on her mouse trap car today. She is in third grade and she joined her school's Einstein club where they learn about different inventors and try inventing and building things themselves. Their assignment over the break is to build a car using a mouse trap. Hmm. Third graders with mouse traps? How many do you think will be crying by the end of that meeting? The teacher provided some websites for help and ideas. Here's a
high school class page, there are some pretty cool ones there.

I'll try to remember to post a picture of the finished product.

All about Rick

Rick Springfield that is. Well, as I mentioned before, my hubby and I went to see RS this past Saturday. What a nice bday present that was!
We left around 1pm to head down to Illinois. Can someone explain to me why I still use mapquest? It sucks. For some reason, unknown to either of us, it took us in a random 10 mile circle. We didn't realize until we were actually driving it that it took us off the highway we knew around in a circle and right back on the the same highway we had just been on. Argh! Other than that it was a nice drive, saw lots of farms along the way and went through some interesting little towns.

We got into town just after 3pm and checked out the venue area, then found our hotel, checked in and called the friends we were meeting for dinner. We went to a local family owned restaurant, it was nice but a little "fancier" and of course pricier that we're used to or feel comfortable in. The hostess was kind of snobby too, so that didn't sit well with me the whole time.

The show was wonderful of course. It was held in the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL. Very nice older theater. Only problem was that it was lacking in the restroom dept. lol We had great seats, 3rd row on the aisle on the right side of the stage. The show was scheduled for 8pm, but Rick didn't come out until about 9:10. The Squirts opened for him, then the owner of the entertainment company spoke for a while and they had one of employees sing at Rick's request. A little more stalling and then some technical difficulties and we were finally underway with the video montage just after 9pm. This was the first time I had seen the video and loved it, would like to see that show up on a DVD sometime. Though maybe with a little more detail.

As soon as Rick come out there was a bit of a stage rush from some fans behind us. I ended up with the this huge dude in front of me. I was not happy about that, but with the looks and the size of this guy I wasn't about to say anything!! lol Luckily a couple songs in the owner and some security came down the aisle and made people return to their seats. There wasn't a problem after that. Just a few people here and there coming down for a closer pic or two. That I can handle, but I just hate the stage rushing!!

The show lasted for close to two hours. Rick seemed in a very good mood and was having fun. So were the rest of the guys. Matt and George were wireless and were wandering all over the place! It was hilarious at times. I'd been fighting a cold for a few days prior and by the end of the night I could barely speak. Well worth it though.

Here's a pic from when Rick was out in the crowd just across the aisle from us. Love the pics where he's looking right at you!



We also got treated to hearing "Christmas with You" live! I have the CD and had caught the video a time or two before the show but loved hearing it live. Here's that video..

You can find out more about the CD on http://www.rickspringfield.com/, the proceeds are going to help the families of fallen soldiers. You can also hear any or all of the songs at many clear channel radio stations (Christmas with you list). A few songs from his "Live in Rockford" DVD are also available for viewing (Live in Rockford list).

And that brings us to the end of my Rick rant........for now!

You cannot lick your own elbow

A proven fact according to my oldest daughter. She and her friends were discussing it at school and saw it on some Disney channel show or something. She had to come home and share this tidbit with me. Obviously a piece of information I could not live without. Now what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't share this info with you? She even provided a demonstration. That was an interesting sight!

So, go ahead.

Try it.

I know you want to.

You know you're getting old..

When you can't pronounce the brand of clothes your daughter wants to wear. I thought I was safe from that whole thing for a while because she has never really cared what she wore or where we shopped or IF we clothes shopped for that matter. One of her best friends is a little shop-a-holic already but my daughter never really gave it much thought.

Until now! I mentioned that while her younger sister was at a girl scout activity this past Friday night we'd hit the mall to kill time. Yeah, whatever mom. But then all of a sudden she came home from school on Friday and she needed to get something from Aeropostale. Seriously, for some dumb reason I really have a hard time saying that name. Obviously it has nothing to do with my age like I said.....cuz I'm NOT getting old. I can't be. I haven't figured out what I want to do with my life yet and I just don't feel like I'm gonna be *cough* 38 this weekend. That's getting dangerously close to the big 4-0.

But at least I get to spend my bday with my two favorite guys!! Hubby is taking me to see Rick Springfield this Saturday! WooHoo! Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it and share a pic or two.

Hey there!

Been out taking some fall colors photos recently. There are still a few trees with leaves remaining. I'll be posting them over the next few days in my photo blog. The link is on the right if you'd like to see them. It was quite chilly out there today with the wind. Still trying to warm up my fingers.

My creepy drive to work

I went in to work for 6 am this morning. Yeah, it sucks, way too early. I am so not a morning person and hate having to work at that ridiculous hour. But anyway, not my point.

It was, of course, still dark out and the clouds were super thick. As I got on the highway heading east I could see the clouds come to an abrupt end in the distance. A straight line across the sky, beyond which was completely clear.

As I was driving I got the weirdest feeling of being enclosed in some sort of box with the lid closing down on it. We were all driving toward the opening. Drive toward the light! Save yourself!! (yes, I'm a little wacko sometimes)

It was like one of those dreams where the faster you run the more you stay in one place. The more you drove the more it seemed like that was so far in the distance that you'd never reach it.

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Just also want to send a little shout out to a friend having gallbladder surgery tonight! My thoughts are with you and hope everything goes smoothly and you feel better real soon!

I send a prayer to Heaven

Today is a sad day in the Rick Springfield community and of course the Aldridge home. I've been following the story of 13 year old Sahara Aldridge's fight with a nasty brain tumor. I'm sad to say that last night she lost that fight, but NOT for lack of trying!

You can read her story here: http://www.saharaaldridge.com/ and to read the beautiful words that Rick wrote, visit his website here: http://www.rickspringfield.com/full/rsmain.html

She was a brave little girl and touched the hearts of many. May she rest in peace.

Blog neglect and a free haircut

Blog neglect is what happens when you work twice as many hours as you're used to. Which is what I did this past week. I was too tired and otherwise preoccupied to think about what I wanted to blog about. Never mind having the time to post it!

I know some of you may laugh at the 33 hours I worked last week, but when you're used to no more than about 15, it's a lot. Especially when you still have all the household stuff to take care of and kids to deal with and cart all over town for various activities and appointments. I worked full time before I had kids and a little while my first was young but quit to be home with the kids and I don't think I could do it again.

I always feel guilty not working more and contributing more to the family finances since hubby works two jobs and tons of hours. But this is what we decided for our family and he's great about it and doesn't mind it. We'd much rather have me around when the kids get home and be able to get them to activities than the alternative of day care. Though my oldest is getting to the point where she is Ok alone and ready to babysit, but she still can't drive and what good are volleyball practices and tennis lessons if you can't get there?

So I have the day off today and have way more I want to get done than the hours available, but what's new? First on my list was a haircut. I've been trying to grow it out for Locks of Love but my hair is super fine and the longer it gets the more unruly it is. It's been driving me crazy but I didn't want to give up just yet. I still had a few inches to go to be able to cut the 10 they require and still have a decent length left. So I went in not sure what I was going to do and mentioned this to the stylist and she measured my hair and told me about another organization they donate to called Wigs for Kids that doesn't have the length requirement. I was able to cut off 7 inches and still have shoulder length hair, donate to kids who need it and on top of that get the haircut for free! I had forgotten about that part.

Not a bad start to a dreary Monday morning with a chance of ............. do I dare say it?.............flurries. Nooooooooooooo!