Groovy things are on the Horizon

Some really groovy stuff in the works....!
Some of it's secret, (has nothing really to do with me or my current life, just a surprise that I'm working on, so don't go thinking that I'm pregnant or moving or anything like that.) so it'll be a while before the details are revealed!

Also....I'm trying out this incredible Irish Sport Horse named Ronan. Just waiting to see how he's going to do over fences, and trying hard not to fall in love with him. : )

Grant update! He ran 21 miles 2 weeks ago, and now...we're just waiting until the 14th of January for the big day. Just 2 more weeks. He is so absolutely amazing, I just can't believe it.

Lots more later.....but basically, the update is that things are groovy.

Too much Fun???

Is it possible to have too much fun?? I don't think so, but if it is...I guess that I've been doing it here the last few weeks. Crazy, crazy, crazy....
So, of course I've had no time to write in my blog.... or edit/ look at the pictures that I've taken, etc.

Ok..so I've mentioned making the Victorian Gown thing already....then...

Let's take the 1st weekend in December....

Friday: I worked 7-4, did some speed X-mas shopping, got all dressed up, went to my scrapbook Christmas party, left from there, picked up Grant and then drove downtown to Halliburton's Christmas Ball! (that was so awesome..more later), We got home around 1AM, I think...

Saturday: Grant got up around 5AM, and ran 18.6 miles (can you believe it?), I got dressed into my Victorian attire, stopped by my scrapbook book club X-mas party crop, then we left for Dickens on the Strand down in Galveston....Spent the rest of the day at Dickens, and then went to The Diockens Victorian Ball (truly amazing...more later)..Got home well after 1 AM.

Sunday: Woke up at 5AM and went to a horse show all day in the freezing windy cold.

So basically....we had the most awesome, stressful, and exhausting weekend of all time...but all fun stuff, so it was ok, right? Hmmmm...I think that I deserve some "bad wife" points for putting Grant through this sleep deprived, super high energy ringer, but he said it was ok... (I love this man)

The next weekend (of 12/9) went something like this:
Friday night was ok, nothing too stressful...

Saturday...Grant ran at least 10 miles at 6AM, then we drove all of the way to Austin for the Greene's annual X-mas party, then drove all of the way back to Houston, got dressed up and went to our Contra Dance Ball and got home after midnight....so that was the most exciting day..

Sunday: I went out to a friend's house and rode her horse, Lelly, cross country (fun!fun!fun!), then my office party was that night,(where I proved to the world that I completely suck at bowling ),which we left early..then went to Oxford Hall for the end of the Notorious concert...

Whew....

This weekend is going to be much better as far as time goes...
Sunday is our annual Cookie Day!!! Where we bake thousands of cookies while our friends and family stop by to visit. I can't wait.

Oh! and we cut down our Christmas tree on Tuesday night!!! 13-13.5 feet! It's awesome...
(more later)

Ok...so I'm sure that later on, I'll get around to posting about the incredible balls, and our amazing tree...along with pictures, but right now, there's more fun to be had elsewhere.

And why am I doing all of this stuff at once??? Because for some silly reason, everyone and every organization decides to have some sort of fun function during the holiday season, and pretty much does nothing the rest of the year....so.....

Carpe diem.

I wish I were Snoopy...

We're going to the Dickens on the Strand Victorian Ball! This is so amazingly groovy. I have always, always, always wanted to go to a Victorian ball. Well, this year, Grant decided that we were going! How great is that...the dancing, the beautiful gowns....Yeah..that's the problem. No gown.
So.....I used to sew (when I had more time and didn't have a job)....I used to make most of my dresses and gowns....(yeah...in college and high school!) So, I'm making a Victorian gown. Besides, I love to sew, and this gets me back into sewing.

So....Do you remember how in that one Peanuts special Peppermint Pattie somehow decides that she wants to compete in figure skating and she tells Marcie that she's to make her this wonderful figure skating outfit??? And Marcie can't sew? Snoopy ends up coming in at the last minute...measures Peppermint Pattie in lightning speed...throws the fabric up in the air as you hear chop, chop, chop noises, and then goes to the sewing machine and starts in on a sewing frenzy. Basically, in about 60 seconds, Peppermint Pattie has a beautiful figure skating dress. In addition, Snoopy gets to run the zamboni machine.
You know...some times I wish I were Snoopy.

I'm Free !

I'm free.
I'm free,
ands freedom tastes of reality.
I'm free.
I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me.
-The Who

I'm FINALLY off!

I have 3 days off. I'm going to spend tomorrow riding and preparing for the show,spending the night at Mom's, and then I'll be showing on Saturday.

Sunday....I'm doing nothing except sleeping and scrapbooking, maybe a movie.
Yes!

Groovy Picture

This is from the recent "Bit of Britain" add. I just love it.

HI!

Just for everyone to know, that even though I've been stressed and really out of it lately, I'm not always like that, and I'm gonna be just fine. : ) This is me and Ophelia a couple of days ago. Editing inspired by Elsie Flannigan.

Too much work

Ok, so I'm currently on day 8 of working 11 days in a row. I only had 1 day off prior to starting this elongated stretch of veterinary hell...and can you tell that I'm tired?? Yipes!

My brain is toast.

My creativity level has been just lousy, so when I do have a brief second to relax, I can't even do something artful. That's not completely true. I did complete my Christmas tag album from my online class with Melodee Langworthy...she's the coolest. (I'll post pics later, when I actually have time to take them!) I just love all of Danelle Johnson's stamps, and this was a really groovy way to get me using the Christmas ones....kind of a jump start to my Christmas season. But, I was mostly following her instructions...not really coming up with the project on my own.

Yes...I'm starting my Christmas season now. Screw Thanksgiving. Since we moved back to Houston, I've been completely behind in all of my Christmas ventures every year. I haven't sent cards in years, (forget about actually making any)....and I never have the house done, and I'm always shopping at the last minute, etc...Yes, I know that this is all typical of my life and who I've become, but that doesn't mean that I'm happy about it. Every Christmas I keep feeling as though something is missing.....So...This year, I'm starting now. (I used to be a firm believer that anything Christmasy prior to Thanksgiving was sacrilege.) Times have changed. My time is short.

I spend too much time working...which I have to do...and really do love.

I spend so much time riding, which I love, but never enough time to be doing it well, to feel prepared, and that Poker is ready... (Did I mention that after this long stretch of working 11 days, which I haven't been able to ride during either, I have 1 day to ride, and then a show??)Am I crazy??? Yes. Oh well... I had no clue what my work schedule would be like when I signed up.

So now...I just need to just breathe...relax...and start thinking about sugared plums...yeah, right.

This is Halloween

Today is the day, I always waited for all year. More important than Thanksgiving, more important than birthdays, more important than ....Christmas? ......YES!
I love costumes. I love getting dressed up, and the ability to choose a new identity or something different to wear that you might not normally do...I can't think of much that is more groovy and inspiring.
I used to plan all year, and contemplate what I was going to be, or how I was to design my costume, thinking about wigs to wear, fishnet stockings.....yummy.
I've been Batwoman, Marilyn Monroe (in 3rd grade!), scarlet O'Hare, the ghost of John Lennon, Grace Slick, a can-can dancer, Raggedy Ann (at least 4 times), various gypsies.....and tons of other ideas that I can't even begin to remember right now. Last year, Grant and I were Mr. and Mrs. Incredible!

This year....well, not really doing anything, not really dressing up. Time has gotten away from me, again. Things have been complicated....some good, some bad.
With the various health problems that I've had recently, right now, I think that life may be scary enough. And perhaps, instead of being someone else, I'd just rather be me....granted, me a few months ago, but still.
Anyway....I'm working on Halloween...AGAIN! So, no trick-or-treaters, and probably a wild and crazy night at work!
Boo!

Finally Fall?

Wow!
It was in the 60's yesterday! Finally. I actually had to wear a jacket and long sleeves out to ride. This is a good thing. I hate summer in Houston, and it just lasts forever.
Nice to not get all sweaty every time you step out the door.
Now, perhaps our electric bill will start going down. We can only hope!

Tried out some of Club Scrap's assembly line scrapbooking Wed. night.
They had an online event wear they had you use the entire kit. The owner, Tricia sent out periodic instructional and pictoral emails while you worked on the layouts. Tons of people from all over the country participating. Groovy.
It was really fun. Who knows if I'll actually use the layouts, but it's all about the process, so it was worth it. Something new to play with.
Next time, I'd like to try and come up with the layout ideas on my own, and scrap the kit without pictures. Just a new challenge. We'll see.

Recent stuff..

So, here's my layout for this month's Pinecone Press Book Club. The book topic this month was "More Than One Photo". However, I must admit that this month's book did NOTHING for me, and I wasn't too crazy about the paper kits that came with it...(actually I despised 1 of the 2) So, of course, it took me forever, and finally I was like...just do something. This is done using the inspiration paper pack that came with the book, and those groovy Rhonna flourish stamps. (I just love those!)
Just a montage of photos from our recent Greenwood show.

10 for Texas!

Grant ran in the 10 for Texas race on Saturday, which was a 10 mile race starting at Market Street and running through the Woodlands. I t closed Woodlands Parkway down to 1 lane, and I think that they closed off the Market Street area too. Grant said that it caused all sorts of traffic problems. Glad that I wasn't trying to get into work that morning!

He's up to 12 miles now, and almost half-way there!!! The Houston marathon's not until January, so he's still got a chunk of time to go!

That is just so cool.
I'm so very proud of him.

Saw Another Rainbow Today!

Groovy.

This totally awesome picture came in an email from the Disney store to me....Since Figaro sightings are so rare....Just wanted to show off the coolest kitty in the world.

Winning and Losing

Wild show this weekend out at Pine Hill. Riding 2 horses in back to back divisions at a 1 day horse trial is CRAZY Wild! Poor Grant really got a work out, but he was so amazingly helpful. There is no way that I could have done this without him.

I promise to post pictures later.

So the good news is that I took Doc in the novice division for the first time, and WE WON!

Can you believe it? We won the last event that I took him to as well (It was in the beginner novice division) I've been doing this for over 20 years, and I've won a total of 4 events...2 of them being the last 2 shows that I took Doc in! And he's not even my horse, and he's really green.
I have come in second a lot with Poker, so I don't want to be too hard on him. , and he's won 2 events as well, just nothing recently.

Speaking of Poker....well...he was, Poker.
His dressage was actually pretty good, and we got a much better score than we have been getting (a 35!) But stadium was....disastrous...again.
I guess I screwed up last weekend missing that X-country fence, so this was his turn. He actually was jumping very well, and felt good, then he came up to this fence that was in the shadows and just crashed right through it. It was so freaky. Of course, I came off.... :( I don't know if it was because the lighting was weird or what. I brought him back around, and he almost did it again, but luckily stopped himself prior to crashing into the jump this time. (and I stayed on). The 3rd time, he actually did it, so I didn't get eliminated, but he jumped it really, really weird. He then continued on and jumped the rest of the course perfect. He was very confident cross country and did great.

Weird. I just can't figure him out. We came in last.

Oh well.

Look What I Got!!

Check out the new camera (fujifilm f-30)....This is with the natural light setting....taken at 10:00 PM in my kitchen with the fluorescent lights on and...NO FLASH!!!!!
Pretty subject, too....don't ya think?


No more "pet eye" for me!
Just too cool!
Oh...Halfpipe!

I love birthdays.....

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!

Today.....I am 32. Wow.

32 is the first age that I actually remember my mother being. I'm not sure what that says about me.
Hmmmm.

I awoke this morning to a scrumptious breakfast of.....

Made from scratch.....

Boston Creme Pie!

Grant made it overnight while I was sleeping.
Chocolate ganache.... yummmmmmmmy.

It's all gone now.
No, I didn't eat it all myself! I brought it up to my hospital and my staff devoured it. Grant is turning into the Best Friend's Veterinary Hospital gourmet chef.

He's the best.







I will also soon be enjoying my very own copy of The Little Mermaid on DVD (apparently it shipped yesterday!)

First fence-itis

Just returned back from the Greenwood horse trial. Grant got to finally go....yay!!!! (Last fall, we couldn't go on account of hurricane Rita)

It was awesome.

Poker was really good.

Me...not so good.

I had some timing issues during both jumping warmups, which luckily didn't carry over into my courses. However, I did jump the wrong fence #1 for Cross country so it all ended up a wash. Man...what a stupid way to get eliminated.
I think that I've found almost every stupid way to get eliminated yet...
crossed my path during stadium, fallen off and taken too much time to get back on, broken tack, jumped the jump next to the one that I was supposed to jump.....not to mention all of the usual ways to get eliminated.
Oh well.

This horse and I just don't seem to be able to get it together. He's finally on, and now I'm screwing up stupid stuff....I'm chucking it all up to stress. I've been forgetting a lot of things recently, but I've had so much going on at work, that I think that it's just over-saturating me.

Du-na-na-na-na-na You Say It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Grant!!!!!!
The most wonderful, spectacular, and grooviest husband in the entire universe!!!!

I Love you, Dr. Grant Goodyear!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

It seems like years have gone by in the last week.

Lots of stuff has been happening this week....Almost all of it really good, or really, really bad.
However, tomorrow is Grant's birthday, and things are getting better....

Last week, our friend, John "kiwi" Flitcroft died from a heart attack. Leaving behind his wife, our dear friend Kristen, who is also one of my veterinary technicians. He was 33.
For some things, there just aren't enough tears.

So, after that horrible event, our transmission blowing in our pickup, pain in my knee, only getting to go to my conference for a short time, and having them give us the wrong pizza again, just doesn't seem that bad. We are very lucky. I am very, very lucky.

Now...on to the good news...

We went to San Antonio for the first 2 days of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society annual Symposium. Grant had taken a few days off to go with me.


San Antonio, even though we were only there 1 night, was awesome!!!
We stayed at the Marriot Riverwalk.
The lady that checked us in was so nice, and she gave us a room on the 24th floor with a balcony that looked out over the river walk and city.

Check out the view from our hotel room:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Even though we were only there until the next afternoon, we got to....

meet up with our friend Chris (who is also a veterinarian)
Eat at various Mexican restaraunts (yummy queso)
walk along the river
Take a river cruise
Watch a serious lightning storm from our hotel room balcony
eat ice cream
and just have the most romantic time.

Oh...and check this out! Grant got to go jogging along the riverwalk early Monday morning!



I must say, there is nothing like a romantic getaway with your husband. Yes, this is good. We need to do this more often.

I can't believe that I just said that...

So, my cat, who is notorious for tearing up, laying on, and tossing around my scrapbook stuff....was just on top of my Navigator....I heard a ripping sound...Grant said "Oh no"...I turned, saw what the cat was doing and instantly yelled.....

"FIGARO! No Rusty Pickle!!!"

He had just stated to bite and tear at the packing envelope that housed one of my scrapbook kits that was made by Rusty Pickle. Hey, it worked! He jumped down and ran off to find mischief elsewhere.

We love Elsie!!

Ok....so we had just the best time on Monday! Cindy picked me up around 2PM, we headed down to Kemah, stopping at Novel Approach on the way...(my favorite stamping store)

Then, we met up with Toni, Laurel, and Gloria at Scrapbook Junkie, did some groovy shopping, and then all went out to dinner! Mmmmmm....I had snapper.....yummmmmm.

We got to meet Elsie, at the book signing.

She liked my trademark glitter eye makeup, and she also said "you're adorable!" And yes, she really is as cute as she seems....very expressive. She was so patient with everyone.


















The class was just too much fun! The project is adorable...called "Life is Swell" I just love that word....swell. I used to use it a lot when I was in college, never as much as groovy though.

Anyway, back to the book... It has pages of different photo sleeves of various sizes...so basically, lots of different separate pockets., which you could put patterned paper in, embellishments, stamps, photos....whatever you want! Also, leave some of them open to give you that see-through preview window effect. I just love it! No, I didn't get it done, but I will! It's so free and casual, you can just do anything! I've got lots of small pics that I've printed out for other projects and never used that I can use up.....and just have fun with it!

Also, every now and then, Elsie would just pipe up with an "I love you guys!". She is clearly a very talented and sweet young woman, for whom I wish a most wonderful life full of love and art.

Here's my cover page...

If you want to see Elsie's project, look here!




So, to sum up...shopping with Cindy is always an adventure, I love love love going out with these girls, road trips rock, scrapbooking is just the grooviest hobby, Elsie's cute, and I'm adorable (according to Elsie!) : )

September 11th

So here it is, the 5 year anniversary of September 11th, and the world is once again in mourning. I refuse. There is just so much sadness in the world; I will not let this keep bringing me so far down. Otherwise, I might as well give the terrorists another point! I feel so much for the people in which this brings sorrow to their lives everyday....and I know that there are many. But I feel that since I am capable of it, I am going to live! I am going to celebrate my freedoms tomorrow, even if some of them have been taken away since September 11th. Not all of them are gone, and I refuse to let the terrorists and all of their supporters get the pleasure of bringing me down every year on this anniversary.

Carpe Diem.

Tomorrow...... even though I have to be at work at the crack of dawn (aka 7AM) to do my surgery shift, I will celebrate that not only am I a veterinarian, but a woman, with a career, and respect.

Tomorrow..... I will have fun with my friends, take a road trip, make art, and just play!

Life is here. Life is now.

Even though I get scared by many things that are happening in the world and within our politics, this at least is something that I do have a bit of power over. So, it most likely isn't what other people will be doing tomorrow, and believe me, I do not mean it to be disrespectful in any way...everyone should do what they feel is best for them on this day (that's freedom), but I will be having fun, I will be enjoying my life....because luckily, I did not die 5 years ago. I was lucky...and since I was lucky, I think that instead of sulking...I will live.

Take that, anti-americans....

Tomorrow is Elsie Flannigan day!

Tomorrow, Cindy and I will be heading on down to Kemah for a really groovy scrapbook class that Elsie Flannigan will be teaching! She's a guest teacher down at The Scrapbook Junkie since she's in town for CKU this week anyway! We'll be meeting some of our groovy friends, Laurel and Gloria for lunch, and of course we're gonna do some shopping on the way down there! (Hey, I'm going with Cindy...what'd ya expect??)

Lots of my other scrapbooking buddies will be there, and we'll be meeting up with them for the class! So, it's just gonna be one big creative party.

I'm very excited about gleaning inspiration from Elsie...she's just got the neatest outlook on life and art, and I just really like her work. Can't wait! Can't wait!!!!

I'll post my project results after the class!

Riding, head injuries, and scrapbooking or what I did this labor day weekend

Well...It sure was nice to have 4 days off!

We did some of this....



and I did lots of this...


Stormy did lots of this..



Ophelia and Hermione got to spend the weekend doing this...




and Grant RAN 9 MILES on SATURDAY !!!!

By the end of it all on Tuesday, I looked like this.... Thanks to Poker hitting me on the head while jumping on Tuesday AM.He threw his head and neck way up and just whacked me in the face. Broke the brim off of my helmet and everything! Luckily, I did not break my nose, and had minimal swelling. Not even black and blue...which is amazing since my nose, mouth and jaw still hurt like hell...not to mention the whip lash. So all that is obviously visible is a split lip No one can tell that my nose bled like I'd been in a bar brawl. I swear that I'm gonna give Ruth a heart attack one day! Hey, but I cleaned myself up and finished my lesson while my head and face were still numb, and had a pretty decent ride!
Poker, Poker, Poker....




I kicked it off with scrapbooking Friday night with Cindy at the Lone Star Scrapbook Co. ...worked on my Personal Treasuryalbum...(surprise, surprise)...had a blast.

Did I mention that Grant ran 9 MILES!!!!

Sat :
- I rode Poker with Mom...(she's getting better all of the time! Grant ran 9 MILES!!!!
Then I came home and took a nap. Poker's shoe was loose, so I called the farrier. Grant and I went to Target...then had dinner at Los Cucos! mmmmm. Queso del rio (aka shrimp fundido)

Sun:
-We slept in! Amazing! Poker got the day off because of the shoe thing.... Then we went to brunch at Landry's. They changed it all up. We hadn't been in quite a while. It used to be that they had the omlette/waffle station, and then variouos fish and chicken dishes, peel-n-eat jumbo shrimp (mmmm), eggs benedict (for Grant) and various other brunchy items. Now, they have a "brunch" menu, or you can get the waffle/omlette station, which also includes some cottage fries, sausage, bacon, fruit, etc...all breakfast stuff....not really brunch. I hate it when things change. I got the waffle buffet thingy, which was very good, and I got the omlette man to fix me the shrimp and crawfish tails without any egg....so basically just the sauteed stuff that you put inside the omlette. Did I happen to mention that I HATE EGGS! That's why I like brunch, because there is usually a lunch type selection as well, so not everything is focused on the eggs!

Grant and I did some shopping..... Michaels (both of them, hey..I had a 50% off coupon!!), The Apple store, and checked to see if the new Disney store in the mall was open...It wasn't...bummer. Dad came by and picked up Hermione on the way home from Dallas. We hung out at home together while I did some scrapbooking...

Monday:
Went out to the farm with Grant and Mom...rode Poker, who was great again!! and now had a shoe! Grant and I stopped at various Hobby Lobbys on the way home (coupons again) and went back to Michaels to use the 50% off coupon since my mom had given me hers that morning...

Dad and Hermione came back over and we set up a motion sensor for our outside light. Should have been easy....like all things....took forever!































Grant and I went to Red Robin!!! then hung out at home some more.

Tuesday AM...
That's when Poker whacked me...
I was supposed to scrapbook with my friends, but everyone had something unexpected come up, which was probably good because then I went home and took mega doses of ibuprofen and went to bed for like, 5+hours.
Tuesday ended up being pretty much a wash...except that my wonderful husband got me Pasta Davinci from cheesecake factory, along with their fried macaroni and cheese....yummmmm.
He takes such good care of me!

So...in general, it was very relaxing up until the head trauma part...but, hey that wasn't until the last day anyway! I got to spend a ton of time with Grant, I worked a lot on my album, and Poker got ridden 3 times! Not too shabby, huh?
Oh, and of course, Stormy loved having us home so much! See her smiling???

Crazy kitty

So, I just wanted to share a few pictures that make me smile....

Today, Grant and I were headed off to brunch...(yes, Poker threw a shoe again...hence why I was home to go to brunch on a Sunday....but he already has it back on so he'll be ready for tomorrow..) and Figaro always sits in waiting when he knows that we're going to leave. He's ready to pounce and play with his favorite toy "pound puppy". However, he hates for us to see him play with it. If we throw it, he'll run after him with a sound of glee, but when he gets to him, sniffs, and acts like..."no..I'm cool...nothing to see here" He acts the same way if we walk in on him while he's playing. He just drops him, and looks away. But, he's more than happy to play with him while we're gone, or upstairs or in bed, etc. He caries him around in his mouth and does these weird vocalizations, quite loudly...I swear he's talking to him, because they're all different. He carries him all over the house. When I return home or get up in the AM, pound puppy will have been relocated.

So, one of Grant's favorite things to do, is throw pound puppy just as he's walking out the door. Figaro will crouch and stare at him...just waiting for him to throw it and leave....

He throws it, and then Figaro immediately runs off after him, and if we've closed the door by then, he'll start to play.

A Laborless labor day...what a novel idea!

Wow...starting at 4PM, I'm actually off through Tuesday. That's right...4 DAYS IN A ROW!!!
Poker isn't gonna know what's hit him! Besides riding...I plan to scrapbook and work on my Personal Treasury Album from CKU.
I have been steadily working on it, but I'm nowhere close to being done yet...but maybe after this weekend...yeah, right. But the good news is that it is coming out gorgeous! I am so happy with this project!

We'll be having Miss Hermione Robertson staying with us again this weekend. Ophelia and Halfpipe will be thrilled. Figaro....not so much...but it does mean that he gets more Aquari-yums, which are currently his favorite treat.

So, basically, it seems just like your everyday American's labor day weekend...which is just something radical for us. Maybe, I'll go check out that Pirate movie again...(for the 3rd time) or how about The Illusionist....Hmmm. I just love movies.

No More Nickel Creek

It's tragic. One of my absolute favorite bands, Nickel Creek, sent me email yesterday saying that they were going to take a "break of indefinite length". How sucky is that?
Yes, I'll still have my CDs, but the worst part is that they are the best live band that I've ever seen.


I'm mourning.....

"cause I......
Should've known better.
I
Should've seen it coming...
My heart sank
when I read that letter.
Sank like a stone.
Sank like a stone."

Club Scrap wants my layout!

I got this email the other day from club scrap headquarters, about my layout!

Hi Sarah,

I was forwarded over your great layout Riding is my Life by Tricia Morris to post

on the CS website. Your layout is in the Gallery on the website under the

Color in Black & White kit.

If you would please e-mail me your City and State so I can include the information

on the site under your great work.

Thanks for sharing your talent

edie

To go to the clubscrap gallery where my layout is click here!

Here's a picture of the layout....

Careful what you wishfor....yeah right!

So, yesterday, I was thumbing through the yankee candle catalogue, and I was wishing that they'd bring back my favorite scent, "Sugared plums" (They discontinued it a few years ago, but brought it back for the holidays last year, and then took it away again.)

Then, today.....in my inbox is an email from yanke candle that says...

Woo-hoo it's back! You can get it here! I guarantee...it's the best!

"It's getting better all the time....better, better, better!"

Check out my new updated blog! My oh-so-groovy husband, Grant, did some changes for me last night..(I'm too lazy to learn HTML myself)It's looking pretty darn cool! Everything's not
in
an
itty
bitty
little
column
anymore.

See? : ) He's the best! I LOVE YOU GRANT!
Husbands are the best!

Snakes on a Plane man...snakes on a plane

Well, in case you haven't noticed....the movie that I've been waiting for all summer (well.... other than that pirate movie with that oh-so-attractive Depp guy) is out this weekend!
That's right...good, bad, or other....Snakes on a Plane is here.


Of course, being me, I'm going to embrace a campy cult followed film..."The Adveturs of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension", "The Lair of the White Worm", "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"......you know the ones that I mean. I love films that have a sense of culture associated with them. It just adds another dimension to the thrill that is moviedom.... The fact that Snakes on a Plane was a cult classic before it was even released is extraordinary. Wow. What an example of the change that can be brought on by technology. Gotta love it!
Yes, this pre-release internet following can be attributed to the preexisting cult like status of Sam Jackson...but there is just so much more to it. America's been waiting for 2 things.....

1.) A new campy film.....When was the last time that we had one? I mean one that was campy, but actually was pretty good, funny, bearable to watch....one that was made to resemble something a bit more serious. I'm not talking There's Something About Mary....which is made to be stupid. A movie that is so bad or predictable that it's good. That's what all of these fans imagined when they heard the title....."Snakes on a Plane" ....perfect!

2.) A really kick a** sort of character. Yeah, there's been lots of good heroes and villains recently, but we are in desperate need of a take no prisoners, no chance in hell that they're gonna lose, arrogant character, that does it with some sort of style. People are mourning for a character like Samuel L. in Pulp Fiction .

And, the directors, writers, producers all knew this when they came up with and cast this film. I just don't think that they had any idea how right they were!
But hey, any film where they went in and shot additional footage so that the film would meet up to fans expectations is a film that I want to see. That's what campy, non-art0house movie making is all about.

Check out these links...
my favorite NPR interview about this film...

A dance remix made from the NPR interview and clips from the film, etc.

Oh...and check out this interesting fact from the IMDB:

"Samuel L. Jackson only signed on for this film because of the title. It was later changed to "Pacific Air Flight 121", but Jackson demanded that they reverse the change. "We're totally changing that back. That's the only reason that I took the job: I read the title." "

So, who thinks that at the end of the film Sam Jackson's character takes out a "snake skin wallet" that says "Bad Mother F*****" on it??

Gotta love the movies.

It's a Beaver

Saturday we went on a road trip to San Antonio with Peter Suk and Diehl Moran for the San Antonio Contra Dance. Grant had a calling gig, and Evil Genius was playing.
I love road trips....especially with eclectic, geeky people. That way, I can pretty much be my normal self, let loose, and pretty much look standard and normal within the present company.

The highlight of the trip up was stopping at "Bucky's truck stop". There were signs for Bucky's starting somewhere about 1/2 way to San Antonio on I-10, and each one had the "Bucky's" logo, which was a beaver wearing a baseball cap. I swear, there was like, one every 2-3 miles. That's not too uncommon, and I wasn't really paying any attention to it, until Diehl started talking about another time that he made this drive. Apparently, he had missed the other 300 signs, and just happened to notice one that just had the picture on it, and said "It's a Beaver"...so of course, Diehl went off on all sorts of tangents with that one....Then....back to our trip....about 15 minutes later...Grant pointed out..."There's Diehl's sign" and there it was.....Ahhhhh. You see...this is why I love road trips....just for those bizarre kinds of moments. So, of course, we decided then and there that it was a sign....well, literally too...and that we must stop at the infamous Bucky's truck stop.

You know how when you envision something in your mind that's gotten a ton of excessive hype, and then you actually see it and well...it's somewhat of a let down? Yeah...well, that was kind of my first impression of Bucky's because it was all clean, new and sparkly looking. Oh, and the place was huge! . It didn't look like it'd been a "road trip to San Antonio" icon for long. But, it earned back some coolness points by having an enormous kind of deli counter with like tons of different types of jerky....and they had their label on all sorts of things, like their own snacks, etc. They also sold Bucky's truck stop T-shirts...(I drew the line at that one.) And, they also had Dr. Pepper slushies, which of course, Diehl got. I got 2 pieces of Teriyaki jerky, and Peter got some caramel corn puffs or something like that Bucky's own personal brand, of course . They were like corn Pops, the cereal, covered in caramelized sugar.) I don't think that Grant got anything...maybe a drink...but, anyway. That was our amusing stop.

The dance hall was neat. It was on the second floor of the gymnasium in "Our Lady of the Lake College". Who knew that there actually was an Our Lady of the Lake U.... I've seen their billboards and their adds for online courses, etc. I just figured it was one of those degree-o-matic type businesses posing as a college. It was actually a beautiful place...and they had ducks...

Evil Genius was awesome, Grant was awesome, and I, being the only one of us who actually danced, had a groovy time, and met lots of nice people. Hopefully, they'll have us back.
We all drove home that night....skipping Bucky's this time.

Oh, yeah...Peter has the grooviest place now! It's part of an old house in the Heights...very nice. And, he has a movie room..with a kick ass projector and screen...Yes...now I want one. Screw the big screen LCD TV that is outrageously costly that I'll never spend the money on....now, I want a projector that is outrageously costly and I'll never spend the money on.

Good trip...I hadn't been on a road trip in a while, so it was refreshing. Diehl and I decided that next time, we're sticking around another day and going to Schlitterbahn.

Amazing, amazing, amazing trip

I've been back from CKU-A in Atlanta and my Personal Treasury experience for 1 week now, and I'm still completely overwhelmed by the experience (but in a wonderful way.) It was all good.

However, I've wanted to post about it, but my feelings were so intense that I didn't know where to start, and I know that it'll take an enormous amount of time to relay what this experience was for me. Unfortunately, after going on a trip, I was slammed this week, and also had a tripped planned to Greenwood to school cross country yesterday, so there just wasn't any time. Also, I've been so involved with my album, that I've been trying to work on it every chance that I get while I still have all of this wonderful momentum and cku high...the atmosphere, creative ambiance, and overall feeling of how wonderful life is that was present in my Personal Treasury class was unbelievable, and I just don't want to lose that....ever....but especially while I'm working on this album, which when finishd, hopefully will embody these ideals and contain the spirit that I felt while in this class.

So basically, I will discuss it eventually and post lots of pictures, but alas, I will need more time.

Snap Crackle & Pop!

I have finally found something that Halfpipe likes to eat other than his Totally ferret food! Wonders never cease.

Last night, my most wonderful husband made me Rice Krispy Treats to take to my scrapbook convention this week. We tried giving Halfpipe a bit of the leftover in the bowl...and he liked it. He REALLY liked it.

This is the ferret who won't even try Raisins or ferret treats or even peanut butter, but Rice Krispy Treats...now that's something. I guess that he just has good taste.
I wonder if it's the rice Krispies or the marshmallows that he likes....probably the melted marshmallow and butter....
Figaro would agree that marchmallows are the food of the gods.

Mmmmmmm....bummer...why didn't I bring any to work for lunch?

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Off to CKU in Atlanta today! I was up most of the night because I couldn't sleep. So, guess what...now I'm pretty damn tired. Oh well. I'll be sleeping on that jet plane.
I'm in desperate need for a vacation. Sometimes I just get like that, and this month has been one of them.
Looking forward to spending some time with just paper, ink, paints, and stamps...

Hopefully, the kitty will sleep with Grant while I'm gone...that would be nice of him.

For Lovers, For Dreamers, and Me

This morning, when I was driving out to go riding, at a time that was way too early in the morning, making a drive that's ungodly long....
I saw a rainbow.
Right there on 290.
The truth is, no matter what happens, a rainbow just makes the day magical.

You don't see very many of them here in Houston, TX...I'm not sure if it's because of the climate or the topography, or something else, but I've found it to be a rare occasion.
It reminds you that , yes, there is real magic in the world.

Final Countdown to CKU-A

6 DAYS unil I leave for Atlanta!!!
I can't believe that it's already here! I'm going to be working on an album track with Danelle Johnson, who has the Art Warehouse line of scrapbooking supplies! Woo-hoo! She is way groovy, and she does a lot of stamps and texturizing, etc in her artwork, so I'm hoping to gleen a bit of artistic skill while I'm there!

The album that I'll be doing is called "A Personal Treasury from A-Z" and I have to have photos to represent something that I treasure for each letter of the alphabet. This is HARD! I still don't have a "Y" and I have way to many things for "S" (Stormy, Shakespeare, scrapbooking, snow), "M" (Mom, music, and movies); and "F" (Figaro, Ferrets, friends) See what I mean??

The good news is that I've been able to take the time to play more with my photoshop elements, which I love, and to work on downloading new brushes, etc...
This is a picture that I worked on to try out some of the new ones!

Do you love me? Do you, Surfer Girl?

Well, I'm finally off work today...and had a day to go riding. So I left the house around 8:15 drove the hour and 15 minutes to get to Pine Hill....just to find that Poker's thrown a shoe. Being the wimpy horse that he is, of course he is lame without his shoe...so therefore unrideable. grrrrrr. So, I rode Doc, the green horse that I've been working with lately, and drove all of the way back home.

The long drive is really a pain in the neck, but on the other hand, it does give me time for reflection...which is always a good thing. Today, I was listening to a podcast from NPR for the music stories that they have every week, and there was an interview from "Fresh Air" where Terri Gross was interviewing Dave Alvin...he had recently released a cover album of California songs...very eclectic, and a wide range...but the one that I really noticed was when they talked about his cover of Surfer Girl by the Beach Boys. It was very different hearing this deep voiced folk singer vs. the high pitched Brian Wilson...and it was really cool. And, I'm sure like a lot of people, that song just takes me back....

To me, the Beach Boys always mean summer. I remember driving with my parents and one of my friends out to the Poconos a few times every summer. It was always a requirement that the "pirated, 120 minute every song the beach boys ever recorded and ones that no one had ever heard of before, tape from Saudi Arabia" be playing in the car as we drove there and back. Why? because it was summer...we were going to go stay in the mountains and woods...go fishing, water skiing, white water rafting and basically all of the things one thinks of with a trip out to the lake. Yes, this is all true, and what I think of as its significance now, but really.... It was one of the few musical selections that my Dad, Mom, and I could agree on whole heartedly, and we all knew all of the words. Still...I loved those trips, and I loved singing the beach boys in the car, and I miss those wonderful times with my family, and all of the cool things that you get to do when you're young.

Back to the interview....So, as they were discussing why he had covered Surfer Girl he touched on one point that I really liked. Basically it was that there are so many great songs out there from that time period that everyone has heard a million times and know all of the words to, even if they didn't want to, (I'm thinking back on how many times we played "I Get Around" in band, marching band, jazz band, etc. over that 6 year period of Junior high and high school!) ...and basically what he was saying is that people don't really hear the songs any more. It's just there, they can come on the radio and you don't even notice because they are so normal to you because you've heard them so many times! You don't think about them artistically, or what the song means, or the cool harmonics, etc. They're just catchy and familiar. These songs are really great. They are some of the best stuff ever written, yet now, because they're so familiar, you don't really appreciate them any more.

So....listen to those old Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Beatles records etc....and pay attention. This was the music that influenced everyone else...pretty amazing stuff... "and we'll have Fun! Fun! Fun! till her Daddy takes the T-bird away..."

And THIS is the day that I will always remember as the day that I saw them almost catch captain Jack Sparrow....AGAIN!

So, we made a second attempt at the Pirates flick and I actually saw the entire film this time!!
Grant is already chomping at the bit, not wanting to wait another year for the 3rd installment. I can't really blame him, but I'd much rather relish in the glory of the second film (Dead Man's Chest). It just made me want to go back and watch the original again. (Which I've already seen several times, but sinc it's gracing my DVD collection...)
Oh! and Elizabeth's wedding gown, had a striking resemblance to my own! It was cream and gold, long sleeves, etc. Great choice. However, they never revealed what her shoes looked like.... I'll have to remember to get another gold gown sometime. I like that combination. And of course, Johnny Depp was amazing as always, and that cute Orlando Bloom guy....so sweet...and honest. (a lot like Grant. : ) Makes me want to watch Lord of the Rings again, which also happens to be gracing my DVD collection.

That was the day that I will ALWAYS remember as the day that I almost saw them almost catch Captain Jack Sparrow

Yes...last night, Grant and I went at midnight to the first showing for opening day of The Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's chest (the sequel). I've been dying for this movie to come out. We bought our tickets ahead of time...but unfortunately, we only got there about 35 minutes in advance...and the theater was packed. We had to sit in the very front row...pretty much on the floor right in front of the screen...not even in the stadium seating part...."savvy?" Oh, and did I mention that it was the "mega theater" or something like that? The screen was enormous. Alas, I quickly started to get motion sickness from watching the movie....unfortunately, this is an obnoxious defect of mine. I can't go to Imax movies either! The parts that I saw when the room wasn't spinning too badly were great! but about 1/2 way through, I ended up having to run to the bathroom to puke...and that was pretty much it. We left. Talk about a bummer.

Lovely, huh? So, we're going to re-attempt, and hopefully this time I will in the words of Captain Jack Sparrow...."try not to do anything stupid."

Drink up me 'earties...yo-ho!

photo attempt

My first attempt at putting a recent picture into my profile....
Who knows if this will work....

Fireworks

Just testing out the new blog. Aren't fireworks just the greatest thing? Big bonus point for living in Texas. All of our neighbors are out lighting off fireworks in the street. Pretty groovy.