three day blog

how to succeed all over the place

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 05:48:00 +0000

Poor Anthony has the stomach flu. Let me tell you a little something about our Anthony. He hates to vomit...he even banned me from saying the word, he hates it so much. He gets it from me. I haven't done any of...you know what since 2001. Yes I am proud of that. Irene took after Edgard and is the "anything to make you feel better" camp of thinking.
But back to Anthony.... Edgard and I thought we would give him some activated charcoal to help him along, considering he is literally willing himself not to upchuck. We had to break the pill open in water because he doesn't do the whole pill swallowing thing well either. He took one gulp and it grossed him out so much he vomi...well... let's just say it was a very successful venture. He successed and successed. He successed into the garbage and successed into the toilet. Anthony is now clutching his gatorade to his chest as we wanders around the house humming. He feels better but is so chalky, he almost looks like a white kid!

a long yarn

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:15:00 +0000

It's that time... again! Christmas knitting time. In fact, I am a little late in starting. I have one husband, two kids, a mom and dad, two sisters, a niece and two friends to knit for... Ok now I am tired. Yikes. I really have no idea what to make for all those people. It would be easier to offend them and make them go away. Don't worry...

I'd say sorry January first.

Probably not a good idea.

Oh well.

At least I know what to do for my dad...I will just finish the scarf I started knitting for him last Christmas. Won't he be surprised.... ....that I finished it. In my defense it is 21,000 monotonous stitches. It is a pattern from WWI. The kind of pattern you knitted and then sent to your men at the front. It was part of that whole "knit your bit" campaign started in WWI and made popular in WWII. The pattern calls for wool but I am doing superwash merino wool which means that there is no shrinky or scratchy. It's a soft charcoal grey which I think will look great with his black pea coat. And anyway it truly is a gift that keeps on giving. I figure that for at least the next five Christmases I can hold it up while I am knitting on it and say... "I'm still working on your scarf, Dad." Poor patient guy. My mom is also a trooper as last year was my first all knit Christmas and also I hadn't learned too much about fibers so I was still of the red heart super saver yarn frame of mind. Her scarf was a beautiful pattern but ended up being scratchier than if it had been of wool and worse yet, it curls up on the sides.
Now I just need to figure out what to make for everybody...luckily most of my list are comprised of females. They are easier to knit for. Dudes are harder..."Happy birthday honey...I made you a hat." "Merry Christmas honey, I made you a hat." "Happy Valentine's Day honey... I made you a red hat." "Happy Cinco de Mayo honey, I....well you get the idea. I mean really what the heck else can you knit for guys? I may try a scarf for Edgard but he isn't really a scarfy kind of guy. Neither is my dad... but he is an antiques collector kind of guy and that's why I thought I could get him with the whole reproduction WWI scarf thing. I probably shouldn't say reproduction when I give it to him though. I am going to Flock and Fiber this Saturday with three other crazy ladies. Maybe that will give me some good ideas.

Well to make a short story long...I am going to be covered in yarn and counting silently to myself for the next few months and hopefully I won't have too much of a hunted look in my eyes....but I am sure I will... But not more so than Edgard...silly boy...he always acts like he is about to get a knitting needle in the leg around that time. I wouldn't do that...I need those needles.

feliz birthdayo

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:40:00 +0000

It is Irene's 4th birthday today.

So far she is still cute so that is good.

I suspect that one of these birthday we will wake up to realize she is all arms and legs and very klutzy like her mom.

But for now she is still cute---so we celebrate.

turkey with a side of nuts

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:09:00 +0000

Just in case you were all in doubt about the level to which we have twisted our children....
I offer you Anthony's homemade thanksgiving day card...

So have a happy Thancksgiving and remember to be thanck full because you never know what is lurking right behind you.

the bean crop

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:46:00 +0000

I am taking the opportunity to show off the kiddos in their Halloween costumes because they rarely look this cute on a daily basis. *sigh*

As you can see Anthony is taking his roll as knight, and protector of princess Irene, very seriously. Well--he started taking it more seriously after I told him to stop slaying his sister with his sword. Irene was protecting herself of course, but it was still disconcerting to see such a sweet princess cold cocking a knight...

After that little interlude, we went to our church's harvest party and the kids had too much candy--and it instantly put them to sleep like sugar always does...

er wait...?

The reality was that after they got home they bounced around like mexican jumping beans---not as high as daddy though, because they are only half mexican but still enough to drive us both crazy.

I hope you all had a great Halloween and I hope you are %100 more ready than I am for the upcoming holidays.

9 months of rain!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:31:00 +0000

See my water rats?

When you live in rainy Oregon where you get nine months of rain...you just have to make do.

I remember my days as a puddle jumper.

Those were the best times to play.

Heck with those boring sunny days...

film cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:48:00 +0000

Do you have a favorite cheesy movie...? When I say cheesy movie, I mean so dorky you don't like to admit to people that you like it. It probably is one that you watched as a child before you had the ability to discern bad acting, terrible special effects, impossible 1960's hairstyles, etc.

I personally have two...
The first is Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). I think the acting is good in this movie but the special effects are laughable by todays standards. A really good part, though is the score by Bernard Herrmann---this guy lends an ominous tone to any movie. But the embarrassing fact is, that when I used to watch it as a child, I had a huge crush on Pat Boone. Yes I said Pat Boone....but this Pat Boone not that Pat Boone. When I grew up I developed a (still-going) crush on James Mason....maturity has its advantages.

My second movie is Jason and the Argonauts (1963). The acting is touch and go, but the special effects---done by Ray Harryhausen and the score, again by our old friend Bernard, are just really great. I dare you to watch the part with Talos and not get creeped out, and the skeleton army is fun....the rest of the time you can laugh at me. I didn't develop any crushes on anyone in this movie...I think it has something to do with all of the heavily bearded men. I like goatees...but the full beard is a bit much for me. And while we are on the subject of hair...this movie reminds me of the time that my mom kept me home in the 5th grade to perm my hair. What can I say? It was the 80's. But now this movie and that chemical smell of burning hair are linked together in one truly fond memory.

So now, your turn...out with it!

What is your favorite movie(s) from childhood that is uber-nerdy now?

The nerdier the better.

mother dearest is to blame

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:30:00 +0000

My newest addiction is my mother's fault...she sent me the link to the Pirates of the Caribbean online game. I have to say, I enjoyed the movies tolerably well...and I am not wholly unaware of national talk like a pirate day...

...but, all in all, pirates aren't my thing.

Wellllll... weren't my thing.

Now....I am Rachel Bluemorrigan---captain of my own ships...a light sloop named Scarlet Rogue, and a galleon, the Red Queen.

I am also a sometimes crew member on other people's ships as well as skillful with the sword and pistol.

....also, I'm a complete nerd.

my mature readers

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:25:00 +0000

I have to say that I was impressed how mature you guys were about my last post. I know some of you personally (and the rest internetally) so I know that you all run the gamut, politically speaking, and that all of you believe in the power of voting. Yet not one of you stooped to any low blows. I am proud of you guys seriously.
A little update on the guy that sent me those emails...

I wrote him the following email:

Hi Xxxx,
I hope everything is going well with you.
I was wondering if you might remove me from getting the forwarded emails? Thanks so much and a pleasant rest of the week to you.
Rachel Xxxxxx

This was his response:

Wow. I am sorry. I have a friend named Rachel Xxxxxxxx that asked me to forward some of these emails. I hope they did not offend you. I don’t even remember who you are.

I am sure that was supposed to make me feel better. ha.... ha.... ha....
I just have to say shame on you Rachel Xxxxxxxx, whoever you are, for requesting those emails... you give the rest of us Rachels a bad name...cheesy pun intended.

new mow knee uh

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:36:00 +0000

So after a fun few hours in the hospital and multiple attempts at x-rays on a child who only stands on her tiptoes....we got a diagnosis. Irene has pneumonia! What do you mean this sounds familiar???

You would think that I might take pity on her at a time like this and wouldn't make her talk or sing songs since she has lost her voice, right?
And now enjoy a song from Irene (starring pneumonia):

Just a friendly little hint...you might need to turn the volume UP!!!

idiom

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:11:00 +0000

Well I thought homeschool was going okay, but this morning Anthony asked me what language Archibald, from veggie tales, speaks.

When I told him english, he said

"eng...what?"

As Anthony's teacher....should I be worried?

seriously!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:47:00 +0000

I am not sure....
but I may have a slight problem with procrastination and follow through....

.

no hay problemo

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:22:00 +0000

So I am doing this whole homeschool thing and I am really thinking... what's the big deal???

This is so easy.

I don't get all the stress and complaining that I am hearing from other homeschool moms.

This is a piece of cake!

So I'll let you know how day two goes.

idiot's guide to teaching

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:01:00 +0000

I am now embarking on year two of irrevocably ruining my son's academic career.
Otherwise known as:

Rachel does homeschool.

The program that I am doing consists of classes three days a week with an actual teacher with actual brains. He is taking creative writing, beginning piano, and beginning drawing. I am not sure...but we may be a little heavy on the creative side.

For academics, we are doing a curriculum called Calvert. I just received the box today and this thing has everything---down to the very pencils....so I guess I could have saved that $0.99 at Walmart. But my favorite thing is that there is a guide that tells me what everything is for.

Thank goodness.

I hope it has pictures...

...and an instructional dvd...

....and a real live teacher.

The great thing is that all of this is for free because we are getting the Calvert through an online academy that is a fully accredited public school. A public school without the evil influence of "the man". I don't know what means but it sounded good. Honestly my reasons for homeschooling are multi-layered, one of which is that I want to be very involved in my children's education. I know all the typical reasons that people are not fans of homeschool...the biggest one being the social aspect. I have thought about this and I have plenty of activities that he does to keep him social---adding up to pretty much 5 times a week for social activities. I defy anyone to find any lack there. I also plan to be very well rounded...I want him to learn so much and I want it to include so much more than being at a table with a book! I am just so excited...!!!

I am probably sounding like a nerd.

Oh well...nothing I can do about that.

I'm a nerd.

extraordinary procrastination: beyond the call of duty

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:50:00 +0000

Seriously....don't you love how I say I am going to do something (i.e. my last post) and then I just disappear for nearly 2 weeks? It seems like whenever I tell myself I need to do something, I end up doing everything else but that particular thing. I think I am going through my teenage rebellion---15 years late. I skipped it the first time around. I didn't have any of the fun that all the normal teens have... You know...

...alcohol poisoning, girls gone wild, teen pregnancy... I just really had no fun at all. So now the revolt from my sheltered teen years is coming out by rebelling against myself.

You are welcome mom and dad.

I do fully intend to write that book list. I just wished I would have realized that there was actual work involved before I opened my trap.

Oh well.

And speaking of work...my name is being passed around at my husband's workplace for my mad skillz as a web designer. I guess better that than having it passed around for other reasons. Although I think we should all be proud of our talents wherever they may lie...no pun intended.

Without giving away any major information I ended up getting a call from someone that wants me to design a sign for his storefront in our local mall. I have already submitted the design to him and now we are emailing back and forth to fine tune it. Imagine...if he accepts the final design...my sign will be seen by millions of shoppers, punk teenagers and snot nosed whiny kids.

Ahhh, sweet success.

But before success I need to do the actual work. And I am afraid procrastination is not an option as he has a deadline tomorrow...luckily I also happen to be a procrastinator who likes to get things done in the 11th hour.

pointless... for now

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:06:00 +0000

I wanted to draw your attention to my navigational tabs below my header. I have added a new tab entitled reading list. If you click on it now, you will be taken to a page that says "this page coming soon" and then goes on to use an immature amount of exclamation points---so really this is just a page of little to no information. Why am I telling you? Because I was asked a very long time ago, by a couple of people to make a recommended reading list. And because I will be adding the information very soon...promise--either the next few hours, or at the latest tonight while all of the normal people sleep.

AAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhh...........

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:34:00 +0000

First I was having a problem connecting to the Internet (which is grievous in itself)...so I went to reset my modem and check on things at our main computer. I reset it with no luck so I got the phone and called my Internet provider. In the meantime I decided to restart it once more. Of course, the time I decide to call for help also happens to be the time that it starts to work again. So I got off the phone and went back to what I was doing (writing a post)....and when I looked down at the keys... that is when I discovered that my computer was covered in water!!!!

da da da

I don't want to name names...they will keep their protection of anonymity...I will protect the guilty..I shan't point a finger at the criminal.

Serious heart attack time.

This is my lifeline....
I know you are not supposed to have favorites but my laptop is my favorite child---no contest!

I feel a bulleted list coming on:

My Laptop Never...

talks back to me
wants me to taste food it thinks is disgusting
leaves its dirty socks stashed everywhere (not limited to the kitchen table)
asks to share my food
huffs and puffs at me when I ask it to do something (okay sometimes it will do this...but it is so cute when it is rebellious)
begs for food and water after a beating and prolonged confinement (just kidding...don't freak out...I would never do that to my laptop)

well, on that note, that is all I have for now. And besides, I best be ending this post before I get any twisteder..or before I run out of words and start inventorating them.

cReAtIvE bUg

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:04:00 +0000

In addition to keeping you highly entertained with my wit--and maybe a tiny smidgen of sarcasm--I also enjoy playing around with a little HTML, and other web design related stuff.  I don't claim to be any great hand at it, or to have any non-pilfered technical knowledge---I pretty much just started experimenting with my blog template one day and when it was successful...I was hooked! 

 If you have any questions or want me to create something, you just need to ask.  I really love to do it and everything is a learning experience for me. 

sotsublehcar (at) gmail (dot) com   

And now on to the show and tell (what little there is so far). 

 Not including the many incarnations of three day blog my first foray into designing aspects of someone else's site, was for Michelle over at brown eyed girl. 

I designed her header for her and had a lot of fun doing and since she also loves photography, I was able to use her own pictures for nearly the whole thing.  I like the fact that it makes it more personal.

The second thing that I did for her blog was

a cute little footer. Now this is where the pilfering I mentioned before, comes into play.  I saw this idea first on MamaGeek's blog and thought it was so neat.

The opportunity to work on my second site came from Jeff Tovsen, owner of Tone Deaf Guitars.  He needed a website, so I fibbed and said I could build it...

Hence,

www.tonedeafguitars.com was born.  

 I really am ridiculously proud of my first official website.  And the great thing, is that Jeff hired me on to maintain the site---so the first thing I did when I found out that he was sucker enough to keep me around, was to create a title for myself.  So I am now the IT manager at Tone Deaf Guitars.  Now the only thing that I need are business cards.  Did you hear that Jeff?   I want nice shiny ones...okay?  Thanks.

So what is next? Well, I am working on a website for a local comedian/entertainer, and also a little template tweaking for a couple different blogfriends. As soon as I have more finished products I will add them here so check back periodically. And don't forget, if you see what you like and are interested in having me work on something for you, simply ask.

~This is a new section that I am adding to my blog pages. You can find it under "creative bug" in my navigational tabs. I will update whenever I add more work.~

nine

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:24:00 +0000

In honor of our ninth wedding anniversary, I am going to list 9 things that I love about my husband.

I love his laugh and smile. It is contagious. To hear him laugh, you instantly have to start laughing too.
I love that we have the same twisted sense of humor.
I love that we both feel the same way about what we want for our children
I love he provides for me. And that I can trust him in that.
I love his strong work ethic and that he is respected for it by others, as well.
I love, and am proud of his musical talent.
I love when he takes the kids out of the house to give me break and focuses solely on them the whole time---I love the memories that he is giving them.
I love his culture and the goodness and richness that it brings to our life.
I love when we met, how special he made me feel everyday---I love the memories that he gave me from that time.

Feliz Aniversario

it's all in the perspective, my dear.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:10:00 +0000

So what do you do on a Saturday, home alone with the kids, with nothing but a cellphone camera and some imagination?

You take some pictures.....
...send them to your husband, and make him think that you plunked down his hard earned money on some unneeded and expensive new toy for the children.

It is at this point, around the third frantic ~~interrogation~~ text message, that you can start laughing...and I don't mean your everyday laughter... this is where you can pull out the evil villainous laughter you have been practicing since 5th grade. Go ahead....you've earned it.

what do you think it is?

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:19:00 +0000

Apparently there is something about me that is so irresistible that women want to give me flowers.

Thank you Michelle.

On the other hand, there also seems to be something so resistible about me, that no men seem to find the urge to bring me any.

Hmmm...

Must investigate this...

phlegmatically yours

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:13:00 +0000

Today is the big day for my x-ray. Of course, the hope is that the gray, cotton-candy looking substance, which unceremoniously invaded my lungs, has taken it's leave of me. Honestly, without going into too much detail, I really haven't been as "productive" as I think I should in getting rid of this gunk. I don't really know what is next, though. I took a strong three day antibiotic that stays in my system for ten days---I am only on my sixth day, so I suppose I should try to be patient for the remaining 4 days. It is just hard knowing that there is a foreign invader in my body. In the past I have taken kindly to foreign invaders...I ended up marrying the last one I came in contact with. Of course Edgard doesn't make me all phlegmy so that could be why he is still around. This current invader is a little less pleasant. Although, having pneumonia garners me more sympathy than being married to Edgard does---so I guess that is sort of a bonus. Other than that I would have to say that having Edgard is better than having pneumonia.

pneumonia and me

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:49:00 +0000

I have been trying to think of the good parts of pneumonia, and the only thing I could come up with was, that the best thing about pneumonia is not having it at all.

Too late.

One really nice thing that has come out of it was this beautiful and romantic bouquet.

Thanks Mom.

The other thing that is admittedly nice is guilt-free computer time. Who is going to guilt a sickly woman with a potentially fatal infection, right? Besides when would they ask me to give up my laptop...between the paroxysms of coughing or all the choking?

This has been interesting, though. I have found that with a little ~~help from my mom~~ willpower and ~~more help from Edgard~~ some ingenuity, you can pretty much parent completely from the comfort of your soggy week old sheets. Just a note: the sheets in the picture are not the previously discussed week old soggy sheets but a brand new set that Edgard put on when I called him from the doctor's office to tell him of my pneumonia.

Hey...
I could add that to the list of reasons to have pneumonia.---that it will make your husband change the sheets! But, I guarantee that if you have a black set of sheets, no matter how deeply hidden in your linen closet, he will most assuredly dig those particular ones out and use them. Bye bye blue toile sheets, hello shroud-like manly ones. By the way, love the sheets honey, thanks...you know I am only teasing, right? Please change them again sometime.

some little bug is going to find you sometime.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:54:00 +0000

I was trying to figure out which part of my thrilling Dr.'s visit I should tell you about.

Maybe the part where every time I had to use the elevator---6 times---I ended up being trapped in there with someone who smelled badly...really badly. And as if that weren't punishment enough, they always got off before I did and there I was... left in in this funky elevator looking highly embarrassed and very guilty. I obviously could have skipped the shower and no one would have been any the wiser.

Then there was the part where I saw John Travolta's character from Love Song for Bobby Long in the waiting room. Well at about age 35 but he looked about as healthy as Bobby Long.

Or there was the fun moment after being jabbed and x-rayed and the waiting....
all the flipping waiting...
I was told that, after being in bed since Saturday, I was going to get the bonus of five more days of bed rest. Yipee! I truly hope the sarcasm hits you right between the eyes in that last exclamation. It is one thing to dream about being able to stay in bed when you are well, but quite another to actually have to when you feel like crud. But no worries...I have my survival methods.

But I think that the main thing that I would like to tell you about my visit today is how I got to find out I have pneumonia. But am I feeling sorry for myself? No Siree! Besides, wasn't it Kin Hubbard who said:

“A true lady or gentleman remains at home with a grouch same as if they had pneumonia”

I don't really know what it means but I dare you to find a quote on Pneumonia while you are miserable in bed with a fever and hacking cough!

no secret rendezvous for this hot mama

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:38:00 +0000

I am sick...please feel sorry for me. I have a temperature of a 103. I've been reduced to a cheesy foreigner song.

image by opk