Rose Cottage Lane

The best kind of Tuesday

2010-11-16T10:19:00.007-06:00

It's the best kind of Tuesday. I slept well, woke up pain-free and have a sweet memory in my heart.

It was 19 years ago today that my best friend asked me to marry him. I'd do it all over again - the trials, the triumphs, the joy, the pain, the laughs and the tears. The longer we're together, the more I love him. We've weathered a lot of storms. We've had a lot of adventures. And it feels like just yesterday that were young kids in love. Now we're older kids in love, just with a few more aches and pains. The family we've created together, with God's help, brings me more joy than I could have ever imagined. I love you My Bradley.

I can't wait to see what the next 19 years brings. May it be filled with many more years of love and lots more trips to Vegas (photo above taken at Mon Ami Gabi, our favorite breakfast spot in Vegas).

Needles and Threads and Hoops, Oh My!

2010-10-19T10:23:00.002-05:00

I've spent much of the past year trying to come up with a hobby to keep myself busy and keep my mind active. I thought about photography but that's a lot of junk to carry around. And I am not all that good at it. Oh, I know you get better as you practice something, but I am one that thinks there needs to be some sort of innate talent toward that thing to begin with. I am probably wrong about that, but for now, I still believe it. I thought about just having my blog as my hobby again, but that didn't seem very relaxing or soothing. Then I got interested in art journals. I saw blogs about them, checked out books from the library, sought out the cost of supplies and then I realized just how much paper and "stuff" and space I'd need to work on the darn thing, what with glues and paints and markers and such. Suddenly, I lost interest. And I still had no hobby.

Yesterday, I was browsing through my blog list and came across a lovely post about hand-embroidered pillowcases over at Pleasant View Schoolhouse. If you haven't visited Anna's lovely blog home, you are missing a beautiful place filled with lovely inspiration. Anyway, Anna posted about some pillowcases she embellished with embroidery. I was inspired. I did a little bit of embroidery as a teenager. My aunt used to embroider a lot and I have a few of her handmade pieces. Embroidery is portable, fairly inexpensive since it's really just the hoop, needles and thread. So many free patterns are available online and from lovely ladies all around the blogosphere. I'm eager to get started. But I also need to remember to be patient with myself.

If any of you have tips about embroidery, feel free to pass them along.

And On We Go...

2010-10-04T15:41:00.002-05:00

Just an update on how I'm doing.

I saw a medical doctor that I love and looking forward to having him as my new primary care physician. He diagnosed me with Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder. It's odd because I knew he was right as soon as he said it. A lot of people would feel freaked out with that kind of diagnosis. To me, it is a huge relief. He prescribed Celexa and said I'd need to be on it for a year and a half more than likely. The first week, with side effects, was tough, but now that my body has adjusted to it, it's great. I still have thoughts go through my head but the medicine helps me be able to easily dismiss them without it all snowballing into a huge knot that ties up my entire body.

I also started therapy last week and am looking forward to dealing with the issues and getting to the root of the problem. It will not always be an easy journey. But I feel so much better knowing I've got help. I've always been a proponent of asking for help when you need it. I didn't want to need it. But I'm so thankful that my husband and other friends insisted I get help for this.

If you are dealing with anxiety, please don't be afraid to ask for help. It's so worth it!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

2010-09-19T09:36:00.003-05:00

This week I signed up for a free mini-session for anxiety help through email. I do not plan to "buy" her program, just use the few weeks of free advice until I start with my own therapist. In the very first email the lady says, this is a process. She also makes sure to say it's sometimes a case of one step forward and two steps back. This week has been a perfect example of that priniciple. Work went well the last part of this week. I think in some ways I do better at work because I'm distracted more and not at the location of the source of my anxiety. Friday evening, the anxiety started and I'm still battling it. I've had to up my medication this weekend from what I'd done the previous few days. Today I'm finally realizing that that's okay. That's what I need right now, since I'm trying to handle this on my own until my therapy appointment. So, maybe I can look at it as dancing - one step forward and two steps back - at least I'm going somewhere, right? And maybe in the process, I can make someone else feel like they aren't going stag at this life's dance - we have to use our experiences to help others. I'm grateful for the people God has sent my way for such a time as this.

Never Say Never

2010-09-15T19:27:00.007-05:00

I believe in being a life-long student - never stop learning. I don't mean traditional school or classes but I do believe that each of us must continue to learn and train and retrain. For me, this is a time of retraining. Much of the past year has been spent allowing my mind and soul to atrophy. I'd gotten lazy and comfortable and interested in only what was fun and easy and okay. My soul had become uprooted and ungrounded and I was searching for something to latch onto again. I "never" thought I'd reach that point in life where my faith was on such a back-burner. Don't get me wrong - it's been a fun year. I've learned how to shoot a gun (and I'm darn good at it) despite saying I'd never own one or touch one. I have been to Vegas 4 times. Another "never" I've accomplished is getting my first tattoo which I love and don't regret at all. In fact, I'm already planning my second one for my 40th birthday. I've done a lot of stuff the good girl inside me said I would never do. And I've loved this year.

And then, a couple of weeks ago, I suddenly hit a brick wall and have gotten knocked flat on my size 12 butt. I have had somewhat of an emotional breakdown. One story on the news caused me to develop an anxiety problem that has turned me into a proverbial puddle. In the midst of the anxiety was discouragement because I "never" thought this would happen to me. Yes, I've hit emotional walls before, but rarely this hard or that left me feeling this helpless to fix it myself. One of the good things about it, is that I recognized that I've been in what I've called a "funk" for months. In the midst of all the fun, I was really feeling numb. I started putting two and two together and realized it could be a side affect of a daily medication I have taken for about a year.

Thankfully, God has surrounded me with help. I started taking an anti-anxiety medication this week and that has been a HUGE life-saver. I "never" thought I'd have to take a pill to help my mind work right. But since I started taking it, even just 2 days ago, I feel like smiling again, I can go an hour without crying. I can function without a single topic consuming every other thought that comes through my head. I can suddenly see the faulty logic behind some of my thought processes. Suddenly with the anxiety under control, I'm going to be able to start learning where these things took root and how to combat them. I know the issues have been there ready to pop up for awhile. It's not the first anxiety issue I've faced. But before, I was always able, eventually, to get rid of it. This time I need help. I'm going to see a therapist to learn how to effectively prevent and/or fight the battles. I'm going to see a medical doctor to find out if my body is producing chemicals out of balance and partially causing my mind to go a bit doollally. It will take time. I'm not fooling myself into thinking that because I take a half a pill I'm suddenly cured. I'm in this for the long haul. I'm eager to learn how to be okay when things aren't okay.

I've also found, and rediscovered, some things that calm me and bring me happiness. Music, worship, God's Word, favorite books, the smell of coffee, nature sounds (waves, rain, forests), favorite blogs and sites, writing.

What things help you step back from the emotional brink when you feel one step further would send you into oblivion? What quiets your mind? What refreshes your soul? I'd love for you to share! But remember - never say never.

Come Weary Saints

2010-09-13T20:24:00.004-05:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged, written or even visited my own site. I kept it live simply because I knew at some point I'd want to come back. Life has a way of bringing us back full circle, doesn't it?

More than anything, I'm a weary saint and right now I feel the need to write, blog, journal my goings-on. A lot has changed. I am finding my life upside down, emotionally. I'm learning to put the puzzle pieces back together, to let the Master Puzzle-Solver help me again and to ask for encouragement and help in the people He has called to be in my life right now, whether they are my best friend (who is also my husband), co-workers, doctors, therapists or pharmacists.

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting. I don't want to give myself a set deadline or schedule. It only leads to failure and disappointment in myself. This will be something I do when the urge hits. It might be several times a day, once a day, once a month. Who knows.

I've had faithful readers in the past. I don't know if any of you are still around. But even if not, I'm still writing, even if only for an audience of One.

There is a verse that speaks to my soul's condition and gives me hope that I am not alone and that this won't last forever.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

I purchased this amazing, comforting album from iTunes this evening - Come Weary Saints (cover pictured above). I've never heard of this group or publisher (Sovereign Grace Music) but it is just right for my heart at this moment.

Is There Anybody Out There?

2009-07-12T08:08:00.001-05:00

Just wondering if anyone is still out there?
I know I put this blog to bed about a year ago,
but here I again, seeing if anyone is left.

That's Hot! Warning: This Post Contains Photos That Are Not For The Squeamish

2008-05-22T20:22:00.006-05:00

In the words of Paris Hilton....that's hot! My arm is what's hot, now that it's been deep-fried. We had a slight cooking catastrophe at our house last night and I wound up with 1st and 2nd degree burns on my right arm. I'm okay. I've not gone to a doctor, but I might go to an urgent care clinic near work tomorrow if the blistered area looks any worse.

Last night, Sarah and I were frying churros for her Spanish class project that was today. The first batch went fine. The oil was about 20˚ below what it called for. I was using a thermometer to keep close watch of things. When we went to put the 2nd batch in, they cooked for a little while then suddenly - BOOM - one exploded all over the place, sending 350+˚ oil into the air, onto the stove and the ceiling and the floor. My first instinct was to step backwards, as the oil caught fire when it hit the burner. Unfortunately, this also meant I stepped into a puddle of grease on the floor and fell smack dab on my bottom. I managed to get up, and Brad had already lept to his feet with the swiftness of a super-hero. He was in the kitchen immediately, grabbed the fire extinguisher from next to the kitchen sink (mounted on a cabinet) and began spraying the stove, where the oil and remaining churros were still exploding and catching fire. When it finally died down, he was able to turn off the burner, the controls of which are "ingeniously" placed on the back of the stove, where one has to reach across the flaming pot to turn off the heat.

Brad wouldn't let me help much, even though I wanted to and kept trying to sneak in to help anyway. He and Ashley cleaned up the entire countertop and stove area. Everything that had been on the counter top had to be washed. The cabinet doors had to be washed, the stove pulled out and mopped under and behind, the walls wiped down, the ceiling had to be de-churroed and the floor was mopped twice - all by Brad and Ashley. I did a little wiping down. Our 6-month-old $80 toaster was trashed, because dust from the extinguisher was in every nook and cranny. (That'll teach me to buy an expensive toaster, huh?) There was also a pile of cooking magazines, most as-of-yet-unread, and recipes untried, on the microwave that I didn't even mess with, just tossed them. Minor loss. No heartaches there.

Needless to say, Sarah did not take churros for her project. Her teacher was very understanding and excused that portion for her. She did get a small burn on her arm, but thankfully, I took most of the injuries. I would feel so much worse if it had been she who was hurt. I had Ashley take pictures for me. The blister on my elbow just started this morning and has ballooned up over the course of the day. If it doesn't look better, or looks worse tomorrow, I'll be heading over to an urgent care near work. Thankfully it doesn't hurt really. That concerns Brad a little as he thinks I've probably got some tissue damage. Stay tuned for photos.

I don't know how I'd have gotten out of this in such good shape and such a clean kitchen without my personal super-hero. Brad was wonderful and I know cleaning up all the extinguisher dust-covered oil goop was no fun. He said, I guess it's spring cleaning just a little late. I told him this evening it wasn't really an accident, I just wanted someone else to clean the kitchen for me. Seriously though, he never complained last night even though I know his back and knees were killing him, he was hot and sweaty and exhausted by the time we all went to bed at almost midnight. I love you Brad - thank you.

You can get more of the story, with more bits I probably left out, at Brad's blog. He tells a much better story than I do.

In the meantime - let this be a reminder. Do you have WORKING smoke detectors in your home? Are the batteries fresh? Do you have a kitchen fire extinguisher in a handy, easy to reach place? Do you know how to use it? Is it still good? Go check these things immediately!! If we hadn't had the extinguisher handy, we would have had a much more dangerous situation on our hands. Check with your local fire department if you need help - they are more than happy to help keep you safe.

And now, if you're squeamish, look away. If you're a medical trauma fan (like my favorite mother-in-law - hi Judy!) here's your chance at some good icky photos (all photos were taken by our new resident photographer, Ashley):

Rollin' on the River

2008-05-21T18:08:00.004-05:00

My new place of employment is owned by wonderful men who believe in taking care of their employees and who understand that without employees, they wouldn't be a company.

Every month they have a monthly meeting, usually off-site, to discuss the monthly "numbers". They print out the monthly profit/loss statement and each employee gets a copy, so that we can all see the bottom line. There is also a profit-sharing program, where the eligible employees share a percentage of the profit. They also want to make sure there are no secrets. In addition, having the employees know the bottom line means they are more likely to watch waste, mistakes, etc.

When we have a record-breaking sales month, the employees get a special treat during the monthly sales meeting. In the past, they've done things like laser tag, gone out to eat at very nice restaurants and more. This month, we were treated to a catered lunch on one of the Devon boats to cruise the Oklahoma River that was chartered just for our company. We spent an hour and a half on the river, cruising up and down from the locks to dock. We didn't get to go through the locks, but another boat did.

We had a really great time. It was so fun and relaxing. Here are some pictures from my iPhone.

Pocketbooks and Book Bags

2008-05-18T20:09:00.005-05:00

Remember when purses used to be called pocketbooks and bags were called book bags? Well, a few Etsy sellers have given a new twist to those terms, selling purses that are literally old books! These are SO cool! If I carried WAY less stuff, I'd absolutely carry one of these conversation starters.

Retrograndma sells purses made from books, old vinyl records and more cool stuff. You can check out her shop at THIS link.

Pretty Theory's shop is filled with great titles paired with lovely print fabrics that make each purse a true work of art. Very cute stuff! Take a look HERE.

Rebound Designs does a lovely job of making high quality purses out of books in excellent condition. The handles are unique and add to the stylishness of the purses. Check out their shop at THIS page. Or check out her website HERE.

Want to make your own hardcover pocketbook? Check out THIS tutorial at HGTV.com.

Something Big Is Coming

2008-05-16T08:33:00.003-05:00

Something big is coming to a blog near you in the coming weeks!

Look for big changes, a new name and even a new address.

Brad is going to help me revamp my blog, make it bigger and better, add a fresh coat of "paint" and some new graphics.

I can't wait for you to see it! Stay tuned for for more news on this developing story.

Until then just hang out with me here. I should be posting something new this afternoon or evening.

A Stack of Pancakes For My Chauffeur, Please!

2008-05-12T19:39:00.008-05:00

If you're human, you probably understand how cravings work. If you've ever been pregnant, you laugh at the mere mention of cravings.

This evening, after a lovely supper of prosciutto-wrapped chicken and roasted green beans, I suddenly had a craving for pancakes. (No, I'm not pregnant. Yes, I'm SURE.) I don't eat pancakes very often, because I usually feel a bit of the "I-can't-believe-I-ate-the-whole-thing" syndrome afterwards. But IHOP (or was it Denny's?) just had a commercial come on tv a few minutes ago and they were showing pancakes. Oh they looked so delicious, with butter melting and syrup dripping. Yum! I'm telling you, we're going to be having pancakes before the week is through. But don't you dare say I told you so, when I get that ICBIATWT feeling again. Just let me relish in my misery, won't you?

Before I ever thought of pancakes, I was driving home from work this afternoon, and I had to stop for several long stoplights, and also waited in line at the bank drive-thru for over 30 minutes. When I had the chance, I would pick up the Oklahoma Gazette I had with me and read a sentence or two. I had the thought, as I annoyingly put down my paper in order to drive, that if I were rich, I'd certainly like to have a chauffeur. There would be times I'd rather drive myself, but boy it would be nice to sit back and read and catch up on blogs (I'd have a laptop with me you know) and all those things I don't have time for now, because I have to worry about not hitting a car on the road, and pesky things like that.

Brad has decided that if he were rich (which would mean I'd be rich too), he'd like two homes - one in New England at which to spend Christmas, and one somewhere tropical at which to spend the summer. And since I'm rich because he is, I'd pick out the summer house which would be somewhere on a Caribbean beach. We could get a chauffeur who also knows how to pilot a plane and a yacht. We'd have to stop at IHOP (or was that Denny's?) and get pancakes to get rid of this craving of mine, and I'm sure the other three members of my family would want to eat too. But I'm a nice person (I think), so I'd buy a stack of pancakes for our driver/pilot/captain too. Oh waiter! Five stacks of pancakes please!

Anniversary

2008-05-10T08:45:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was Brad and my 16th wedding anniversary. We had a very nice dinner last night at one of our favorite restaurants. Brad wrote some wonderful sentiments about it, and our marriage at his blog. I hope you'll go take a look. He gave me a wonderful, huge peace lily plant for my desk. About a month ago he let me buy an iPhone, as you'll remember. I consider that an anniversary gift. I got him a bottle of Intimately David Beckham cologne. (Smells so sexy!) I also got him the entire set of As Time Goes By (our favorite British show) on dvd.

It's been a wonderful 16 years. There have been rough patches, but as they say, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Such is the case with us.

I love you Brad!

What's Up?

2008-05-07T20:21:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd check in and let everyone know how things are going.

Work is going well. I'm liking my job, even into week 3! LOL I'm starting to get the hang of things and my boss if finding less and less "mistakes" on my estimates (for printing). That's encouraging. We seem to be falling into a nice way of working together.

We had a great time on Saturday, going on the Moving Up Downtown. We toured about half of the listed properties and really enjoyed ourselves. Brad got some wonderful photos, so go take a look at his blog. He has four posts in the planned series, two of which have already posted. After the tour, we went down to Bricktown and ate lunch at Chelino's, one of our favorite Mexican restaurants (there are photos of that on his blog too). After lunch, we decided to take a canal boat ride on the Bricktown Canal. We had a great time!

The girls are gearing up for the end of school and are also eagerly anticipating the summer. Sarah will go to church camp in June, and possibly on a church mission trip. Ashley will be gone to church camp during July 4 week. They are both excited and have already started the list-making procedure. We found their new swimsuits at Target last night, so that's a start at least.

I'm finally reading the Mitford books by Jan Karon. I've been meaning to read these books for ages, and just never have gotten around to it. I don't know what I was waiting on, but am glad I've started them. I'm about halfway through At Home In Mitford.

Our dogs seem to be handling the transition of being home alone all day fairly well. We had our first potty accident today. Thankfully they stay in the kitchen, but unfortunately one of the boy dogs went potty on the laundry room door. We'll give it a few more tries before we start making Sam (who is the likely suspect) wear his belly bands again.

Well, I'm off to try and read a few blogs. It has been about a month since I've been able to really read my favorite blogs, with the exception of one or two. Please don't feel I'm ignoring you, I just haven't had much time on the computer at all.

What's going on in your lives?

Moving Up Downtown

2008-04-29T21:34:00.002-05:00

Ever since we got a private tour of a really cool private loft apartment above the Untitled (ArtSpace) in downtown OKC, we've loved the idea of living in an urban loft. In recent years, more and more loft-style apartments have been, and are being, built in the areas immediately surrounding Downtown. Ashley has already announced that when she's an adult, she'll be living in a really cool modern-style loft apartment. I can actually believe that she will. We can't afford to live in one of these places right now, but it sure would be fun to tour them!

If, like us, you think lofts and urban "hip" apartments are really cool, and you live in the Oklahoma City area, you might like to take the Moving Up Downtown Living Tour this Saturday. The tour is from 11am to 5pm and features quite a few of the new apartment "complexes" or buildings around Downtown. There is even a free shuttle to take you from place to place. For more information, check out this website.

And who knows, maybe, just like The Jeffersons, you too will soon be movin' on up!

Beauty Find

2008-04-27T18:28:00.003-05:00

For years now, I've read in beauty/fashion magazines and on beauty sites about the Nars makeup stick called "The Multiple". Everyone touts it as such a wonderful product and a "must try". Before now, I've only had online access to this product, so I've never tried it, but have wanted to. This past week, I took some time during my lunch break from work and went to the mall up the street. I needed to get a case for my iPhone so while I was there, I stopped into Sephora. I love that store! I tried the sample of this "wonder product" that can be applied to cheeks, eyes and lips. Everyone supposedly loves the color called orgasm but it seemed to pale for my pale skin. It would look beautiful on tanned skin, but there was not enough contrast, and too much shimmer for my 37-year-old pale skin. So I kept looking at the color selection and ended up trying "Maui". This is a perfectly neutral pink with just enough hint of warmth to be worn with either warm or cool colors. It is beautiful on my skin tone and is the perfect color for my lips, as well as doing a great job of bringing out the brown in my eyes without the color making me look tired. I decided to splurge and purchase a stick of this stuff.

So far I'm loving it. I love being able to just stick one tube in my makeup bag for the day and that's all I have to keep track of. I do keep a small lip brush with it, as I don't want to cross-contaminate from my cheeks to my eyes to my lips. I typically wipe it off with a tissue before each use and use my fingers to apply to my cheeks and eyes and the brush to apply to my lips. At $37, it's not cheap, but a little goes a long way and it's taking the place of 3 separate products. I will definitely purchase this again and might even try other colors in the collection. Hooray for a product that lives up to all of the hype it's been given!

Just Call Me Storm

2008-04-25T20:40:00.007-05:00

Photo by Stock.xchng photographer duchessa (Gabriella Fabbri)

If you have ever watched American Gladiators, either in this decade or 20 years ago, you'll recall that they have really cool, tough-sounding names. I've decided I should probably take the name "Storm". But it's not because I'm tough.

You see, the past two nights I have not slept well. My mind has woken me up at 2:30 on Thursday morning, and 2:00 this morning. This is not good when you can't seem to get back to sleep and you have to be up at 5:45 to get ready for work and be there at 7:30 a.m. So what was keeping me awake? Work. It's only my first week and already I'm waking up in the middle of the night fretting and worrying. Now, that is bad. And it's not the job. Sure, the printing industry can't get downright harried on a regular basis, but this week has NOT been stressful at all for me. This morning I felt that old familiar tightening of the shoulders and churning of the stomach, even as I was leaving the house for my commute. And as I got into the car, this still small voice whispered into my soul: "Karla, you're creating your own storm." Whoa! I'm not someone that has ever heard an audible voice of God, but I know when He is speaking to my spirit. This is one of those times.

I've been creating stress for myself! Already! My perfectionist tendencies kept saying I should know all the stuff already, when there is no logical or even fathomable way I could ever know the details of a company I've never worked at before! The fundamentals of my job I know, as I've worked in the printing industry before, but each company is different in how they do things, and the only way to learn it is to experience it. So why did I think I could simply "know" all of it immediately? Silliness!

Thankfully, I listened to that voice. I know what I've been doing and I can try to stop creating my own stress. I tend to get myself worked up easily, and I want to learn to manage my stress better. Even better, I want to stop creating stress for myself when no outside influences are producing it for me.

The week ended very nicely, with both the President and the Vice-President whom I work with directly, telling me how thrilled they are to have me as part of the team and how they feel hiring me was the perfect decision. Talk about a confidence booster!

I've missed reading all of your wonderful blogs and hope to catch up on some of my favorites this weekend, but that may prove difficult. The in-laws are popping in for a visit tomorrow. I was supposed to go to a gardening class at the home of a friend from church but will have to cancel that. Sadly, I was the one that came up with the idea of the class. I feel a little bad about that, but whatcha gonna do? To me, family is more important most of the time and I can learn to garden any old time. I won't be sleeping in tomorrow, as I've been given a request for a breakfast of donuts from a store that's about 12 miles from here. That's okay, I'll have Sunday afternoon to catch up on my sleep. And besides, who can say no to donuts on a Saturday morning?

Well, I better go "reboot" my laundry and wash the dishes before I sweep the kitchen floor. Hope you all are doing well! I appreciate all of the good luck, the well-wishes and the prayers coming my way. You all are so wonderful!

It's Been One Week Since You Looked At Me

2008-04-23T06:47:00.002-05:00

Okay, not really, and it's me not looking at you lately, isn't it?

Work is going well so far. There is a learning curve associated with my job, which is in the printing industry (can't remember if I mentioned that before). Every printing company does things just a little differently and this one is no exception, but they are more advanced, more organized and just plain smarter about how they do things when compared with the place I worked 5 years ago. I was hoping that the basics would be like riding a bicycle - something you don't forget entirely. Thankfully, I was right, for the most part.

I really like the people I work with tremendously. They are all nice and funny and easy to get along with. There is one exception. It's a lady who makes the place run, essentially, and she has a reputation for rages. I'm not afraid to admit I'm afraid of her, but I've been told that someone has been working closely with her for the past few months and that her demeanor and her attitude has changed dramatically so far. I know I will screw up, many times, and I just have to get my bearings and face whatever may come.

The downside of this job is that the printing industry tends to be stressful. It is constant deadlines on a never-ending basis all coming from people who want their stuff NOW. Also complicating things is the fact that I'm married to a picky customer. Actually, he should be a picky customer because it's his reputation on the line when it comes to the things he sends to be printed for clients, or now employers. It's not the printing company that hears the complaints about a late job or a mess-up, it's him. And his picky-ness has actually been a catalyst over the years for this printer to fix things that are wrong and even buy new equipment to meet customer needs.

The thing I love the most is how well the employees are treated. They are really cared for. It's not a case of, we better take care of them so they don't quit, it's a genuine interest in the employee's well-being. Now that is uncommon these days.

The girls are being real troopers and taking care of the dogs when they get home, asking if they can start anything to get supper going, etc. I'm hoping that lasts throughout the long, and potentially boring summer they'll spend at home. LOL

So that's how things are going so far. I'm off to make my commute now! Hope you all are doing well. I miss visiting my favorite blogs, but I'm still trying to figure out where I can fit that into my day, and so far no available time has shown up. Please don't think it's because I don't care anymore!

Have a wonderful day. Until next time!

The Saturday Morning Post

2008-04-19T07:42:00.006-05:00

Remember The Saturday Evening Post magazine? My grandparents used to subscribe to it. Is it even still around? Well, even if it's gone, consider this The Saturday Morning Post. I don't often post on Saturdays but I thought I'd share what our busy day will hold. I'm dressed and ready for the day - complete to shoes, makeup and hair. Brad is dressed as well except for shoes. Sarah is on the couch still in PJs and Ashley is still in bed which is normal for a Saturday morning.

We'll be headed to a warehouse store later to day to stock up on necessities. Ashley has informed me that it's sample day today which excites her greatly. She loves samples and free stuff.

We'll probably grab a quick lunch, not sure whether it will be out or at home. Then at 1 we head to church to get the girls registered for camp and get their physicals. It's nice having doctors and nurses in our church! This will be their first year of camp and they are excited. I think Ashley might be a little nervous about going but I know she'll be okay.

Then this evening, the girls and I, along with one friend each for them, are headed to the mall to do some girly stuff. Ashley wanted a trip to the mall with a friend for her birthday so Sarah is coming along with a friend of hers as well. I'm tagging along because who wants to miss an evening of window shopping!? I need to pick up some new mascara while I'm there. Hopefully some cosmetics company at either Dillard's or Macy's will be having a free gift with purchase. That would be awesome. Supper will be something from the food court. I've got my thinking on an Auntie Ann's pretzel and a Sonic vanilla coke. Yum!

What does your Saturday look like?

I Got A Job

2008-04-17T16:47:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to let all of you, my dear readers, know that starting Monday, my postings may not be as regular. I am starting a new job on Monday and will be working outside the home full-time again. I've had a wonderful 4 months working from home. This opportunity seemed to drop in my lap straight from heaven just at the right time and I simply couldn't say no.

I'll still be around, will still be blogging, but it may be more sporadic, especially as I readjust to the real working world, since it will be the first time in 5 years I've worked for someone other than Brad as my boss.

Say a prayer for me and our family, if you think about it, as we make this transition.

They've Got It Going On!

2008-04-17T09:56:00.019-05:00

You asked for it, you got it, not Toyota, but Bon Jovi! I know you want details, so here they are.

The girls and I drove downtown to pick up Brad from his office and we headed to a little Mexican restaurant we like called La Luna. If you are ever in downtown OKC and craving some good Mexican food, head to this little place. We had a nice leisurely dinner and had fun talking and getting excited about the concert. Here is Brad making fake-grumpy faces at Ashley who is sporting her usual silly for-the -camera grin.

Sarah was trying to avoid having her photo taken but I eventually got her, with a mouthful of chips! Ha Ha!

We then headed the few blocks to the Ford Center area, where we decided to park in the underground parking at the Cox Convention Center, which is right across the street. We paid $6 which is the normal price, but cheaper than some of the outside lots surrounding the area. We saw one parking area that is normally $5, selling spots for $10 on Bon Jovi night. That's parking lot robbery!

Even though it was only about 5:45-ish, and the doors didn't open until 6 (concert to start at 7:30), we stood off to the side of the ever-growing lines. We were right next to the tables where the fan club members signed in and where those who paid $1000 each for the VIP treatment were to sign in. Being Spring in Oklahoma meant wind, so we chased down the crew's fly-away papers several times. We were secretly hoping that we'd get a cool VIP Bon Jovi bag for our kindness, but no such luck. They only gave those to the $1000 folks. That's okay though.

We love to people-watch and had a great time observing the different people in the crowd. You had your average joes like us, then you had some weird-looking folks who we were surprised to see at a Bon Jovi concert as they just didn't fit the "norm", then you had the best group to watch, and that was the 40-something women who are still acting like groupies, dressed to kill or at least to show lots of cleavage. They were the uber-tanned, prima-donna types who I told Brad were most likely groupies in high school way back when Bon Jovi was first popular. I also told Brad that the good thing about groups like Bon Jovi that never go out of style is that if you were a groupie back then, you could still be a groupie in your 40s. LOL

Then there was a man we got a big kick out of who walked up to the VIP table. He was dressed in black from head to toe, wearing an expensive leather blazer. He was a big, quite tough looking guy with black hair. You could tell he had money to blow, and we thought perhaps he was a member of the Mafia, but then he made sure to let his badge show when he took out his wallet to get his driver's license. So maybe he was FBI or CIA but boy he could have gone underground in the Mafia easily! He also did not like the idea that a VIP, and someone of his obvious importance, should have to stand in the line with all of us other peons. It was quite amusing.

People watching continued, but not as much, as we finally made our way into the building and up to the rafters to find our seats. We were 5 rows from the very top and at first it was a bit unconcerting with the heights. But we were fine after awhile. This photo is a little hazy because of the "smoke" in the air.

We got bored rather quickly and since we still had over an hour before the concert started, we decided to go out into the corridor and walk around the circle (the Ford Center is a round arena so you could just go out to the hallway and keep going around in the circle over and over). While walking around, Ashley and Sarah wanted to look out the windows and much to our delighted surprise, we realized we'd stumbled upon the area where the crew buses and equipment trucks were parked. How cool is that! And you know I had to get pictures.

We counted somewhere between 6 to 9 buses parked down there, some of which are out of view in this photo. Then there were the equipment trucks. You can see 5 in this photo, but there were 2 more toward the left edge of this shot, plus there were 3 more parked along the street on the other side of the arena, and after the concert, there were 4 more semis parked along the street you see on the other side of the fence, just at the top of this photo. That is a LOT of stuff!

After this excitement we walked around a little while longer and then headed back to our seats.

We did notice one funny thing on the LCD advertisement that circled its way around the arena. This was apparently not the Lost Highway tour, but the Lost Higway tour. Someone had forgotten the "h" in Highway! How embarrassing! Spell check, people!

The concert finally started a little after 7:30. Daughtry was the opening act, and while I like several of their songs, if I based my liking them on this concert, I wouldn't listen to them at all. It was so loud that you couldn't understand a word Chris Daughtry said or sang. even the songs that I knew I couldn't understand! I have to be honest and say I was a bit worried about the rest of the concert, especially since the jumbo-tron on our side wasn't working, so we could only see them from however high up we were. They looked like tiny little ant performers carrying guitars and microphones. There was one funny thing during the time Daughtry performed. At one point, Chris said to the crowd, we're going to do something fun - at the count of three everyone take a photo at the same time. It won't turn out, but it will be fun. So that's what we did. And actually it didn't turn out all that bad. Here is the photo with everyone flashing - as you can tell, the room is much brighter than before.

Daughtry sang for about 40 minutes at which time there was a brief intermission, in the dark, while they changed the stage for Bon Jovi to come on. And then there was an ever-increasing roar in the crowd and it was finally time!

Can I just say, Jon Bon Jovi is simply like fine wine - he really does get better with age. Oh that face, those biceps, that voice!

When Bon Jovi started singing, the sound issues were magically fixed and all of the screens worked great. Now, don't ask me what the first song was, because I simply can't remember. I had intended to try and recreate a song list of what they sang but that didn't work out because I was just too into the music. I will say they did an outstanding job of mixing songs from the new Lost Highway album with old classics that every Bon Jovi fan loves, including a solo by Richie Sambora of I'll Be There For You. Chris Daughtry did a duet with Bon Jovi on Blades of Glory, which was awesome. Their voices really blend together well. I think Jon changed shirts about 4 times during the concert. The special effects were really cool too!

At one point, about halfway through the 2-hour set, the lights came back up and Jon is standing on a platform out in the audience at stage left about a third of the way out into the crowd. He had his acoustic guitar and sang "Bed of Roses". He was surrounded by ladies in the audience and spent a good part of the time touching people and holding hands. They showed the crowd around him and there was this little girl, probably around 8 or 9 and she had the most awed look on her face as he sang so closely to her. It was so cute.

Despite the ringing in my ears that lasted until mid-morning yesterday, I was ready to go to another Bon Jovi concert the next night. If I could, I'd sacrifice and pay the $1000 to have the back-stage pass and all the other perks the VIPs got. But it was so worth every penny we paid. It was worth the nosebleed seats. It was worth having to get up and down 7 times for the same people to enter and leave our row over and over. It was worth the man a few seats away (also the one who kept going in and out, but was indeed a very nice man) who was chain smoking during a non-smoking concert in a non-smoking building. It was worth the 30 minutes it took to go 5 blocks to the highway to get home. It was worth not getting to bed until after midnight.

Yep, I'd do it all again.

I didn't upload all of the photos I took. In fact, I apparently lost a whole bunch of them (some of the best ones, of course) from my camera somehow because when I went to download they weren't on my camera. So sad! But if you'd like to see the rest of the photos that I didn't post here, you can see them by following this link.

Have a nice day!

Awesome!

2008-04-16T08:02:00.010-05:00

As you know, last night was the Bon Jovi concert. Truth be told, it's the first concert other than Christian worship concerts that I've ever been to in my life. One word - AWESOME! I will give you a review, and some photos, later, but right now I want to talk about something else that is totally awesome - Ashley is 13 today!

My, how she's grown! I love you Ashley. You're such a joy and I am delighted to be your mom, and your friend. Our little baby is now a young woman. We are so proud of you, Ashley!

Our Little Easter Bunny - Born Easter Sunday 1995

Oh That Smile!

And She's Off!

Kindergarten Girl

Elementary Student Extrordinaire!

Lovely Young Lady

I'm Not Paying My Taxes Today

2008-04-15T07:44:00.005-05:00

I'm simply not going to pay my taxes today. I have something much more important to do on April 15. You know what that is right? Bon Jovi, baby! Tonight is the Bon Jovi concert! Daughtry will be in concert with them, so that will be a nice extra bonus.
I'm SO excited!!! Brad has a couple of Bon Jovi videos on his blog today, for your entertainment, so head over there and watch my favorite hottie and his band. You can find even more Bon Jovi videos on this Island Records page.

As for taxes, don't worry, I'm not going to jail. We already paid our taxes. LOL I've never been a wait until April 15th kind of person. I get too nervous about that sort of stuff. Plus this year we are getting a refund for the first time in 4 years, so why wait until the last minute for that? I do procrastinate on plenty of things, believe me, but I simply don't like the idea of going to jail, so I take care of the IRS early.

If you're a US citizen, you only have 16 hours (as of this writing) to get your taxes done and postmarked! Hurry all of you procrastinators! If you're already done with your taxes or you don't live in the US, you could spend the day watching Bon Jovi videos and pretend you're at the concert with us!

A Meeting of the Blogs

2008-04-14T16:26:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned last week, we met fellow blogger BritGal Sarah this past Saturday. Our family met Sarah and her husband at Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City. I saw a man in a cowboy hat wandering around the perimeter of our meeting point carrying a camera and I had a feeling this was Sarah's husband. Pretty soon he was joined by his lovely ex-pat British wife herself. She even wore the same shirt as in her blog photo so I would recognizer her. We quickly made our way to the Mexican restaurant at Penn Square Mall and had a wonderful meal together. Sarah and her husband were a real joy to get to know and we really seemed to get along smashingly. After our leisurely lunch we ladies headed upstairs to the mecca of makeup known as Sephora. The guys tagged along with us and tried to not look too uncomfortable. They weren't the only men hanging around waiting on their women that day.

After Sephora we parted, all too quickly but made arrangements to hopefully see them again this summer, this time in their territory out west. We are wanting to take the girls on some day trips to Western Oklahoma and plan to stop in and say a quick "cheerio" to Sarah and her husband.

We had a wonderful time! Thanks Sarah for meeting us and thanks to her husband for being brave enough to tag along and meet total strangers from the internet. Head over to Sarah's blog or Brad's blog for more details and other photos of this meeting of the blogs!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

2008-04-11T10:46:00.002-05:00

Sing along with me - I love ya tomorrow! You're only a day away!

Guess what tomorrow is? It's the day we get to meet BritGal Sarah in person! I just love meeting fellow bloggers/online friends. We're taking the whole family and meeting Sarah and her husband tomorrow for a bit of lunch and time at the mall.

And in only 4 more tomorrows, we're going to see Bon Jovi in concert here in OKC!

5 tomorrows will bring me a new teenager to the house - Ashley will be turning 13. I'm officially old.

I could keep going on and on, but then I'd have spent all of my excitedness and that would do no good. I'll save the rest of my tomorrows for another time.