Indy Fever - Oh I've Got It, and BAD!

Indiana Jones - The Crystal Skull
(AKA, Come to Mama, Indy Baby)

Any other gals out there having a serious Jones about Indy Jones? Oh man...

The first film hit the big screen in 1981! GADS!!! I was only 19! I was doomed.. The hat, the adventures, the whip, the brain, the twisted smile and the unavailability.. Yep. Serious Hard to Get issues with that man! Not a communicator. Off he goes. To work, again. See ya when I see ya, babe.

My crush with Indy is still beating strong. But, real or not, he is hitting the big screen again, tomorrow night! Not here in podunkville, but out near all you big city girls... Lucky. Throw him kisses for me, will ya?

My summer highlight will be to see him on the big screen once again. I don't care that he has aged 27 years! So have I!

I have to blame (NOT George Lucas) Steven Spielberg and his partners in crime for why I fell head over heals in love with my husband. Deep down inside my subconscious workings I wanted an Indy. And I got one. The hat! The Adventures! The Brain! The twisted Smile! Yep. The light bulb came on last night while our little family was watching Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Arc (my son got it for his recent birthday) - right there in our cozy living room...it hit me.

There was a great profile shot of my man on film. Dang. That guy looks like my husband! Dang! He acts like him too! And, come to think of it, he too is a workaholic!

Sigh...

Guess I have some issues!

Indy! Wait for me baby!

Got PMS? This is a MUST read!

I just had to lift this little gem! I LOVE it! Thanks Thanh Vo! (Those Just Johanna girls all have a great sense of humor.. I'm thinking I need to hook up with them one of these days!)... I can so relate to this woman, since, uh, I am a customer of the very same company... wings and all! (love the little F-16 jest, but I'll let you read!)

This is an actual letter from an Austin,Texas woman sent to the American company Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph. It's PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best webmail-award-winning letter:

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behaviour. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy!

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you ****ing kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullshit. And that's a promise I will keep.

Always.

Best,
Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX

New 'Do! Chop Chop!!

OK, Self Portraits Are NOT the most flattering.... But Like my new 'do?

If you click on these photos to enlarge them, I'll kill you... (as in, stay away from my imperfections, wrinkles, and chin hairs)...


A Side View...
(why yes, that is a Sable Antelope sticking out of the back of my head!)

Sigh... Every couple years I try to grow my hair long... I think I'm gonna go 'Angelina Joline' (or whatever her sassy pants name is), but I end up looking like the frumpalumpagus... long, thick, wavy funky frizzy hair is so not 'hot'...

So, chop chop.
I love short hair! I might go shorter.. but need some 'real' professional intervention.. You know, the kind of stylist that can look at your hair type, face shape, etc. and say 'darlin' this is just so you!... Know any? I'll be in Seattle at the end of March... Hook me up! Please!!

Advent - Day 17.. Deep Breaths!

Slight panic... only got 2 things done on my 'to do' list today....

The bad news is it looks like I have to drive to Boise again, twice, between now and Christmas... ARG! This was not in my schedule... I still have 1 beef and a bunch of patties and hotdogs to pick up..for trip number 1. Never mind that I found out today that the hotdogs have NOT been packaged! Woah! That's not exceptable.. Loose dogs in a box??? GADS... wonder when this will all be sorted out? How long will it take? I was supposed to go back like, tomorrow or Wednesday!

Oh, but that's not all.. I got another call. This was a surprise. The sausage/salami guy wants to meet me either Sunday (5pm in Boise? HECK NO! That means driving in the dark on ice and unloading in the dark at 8pm!!) or Monday... Excuse me? Christmas EVE??? Doesn't he know I am Mrs. Clause and I have a lot on my plate???? Who will take care of the reindeer? Or stuff the stockings? Or get dinner ready for our big get together with the neighbors? Or do all the last minute stuff that did not get done because I was too busy blogging for goodness sakes?
I wasn't expecting the sausage/salami delivery until mid January! Oh boy...

Or, oh Men...

Sorry male readers... but I do have a bone to pick... my guy has been sick since Saturday and can only muster enough energy to read books in a cozy chair by the woodstove... while yours truly is running around like the Tasmanian devil.... Hey! I'm thinking he can drive to Boise twice himself!!! Just driving.. I'll do the heavy lifting when he gets to Baker! It would save at least 12 hours!!! I could get a lot done in those saved 12 hours... He would be saving the day!! Coming to my rescue!! My hero!! Superman! Stud!!! The man of all men! And, he would get out of the house and get some fresh air and scenery!! Truly, a win win situation for everyone.... (Am I convincing enough? Should I spring my plan?)

Thanks for listening... ... I feel so much better..and feel like I did some great problem solving....
Off to get some holiday spirits.. and cook dinner...
fa la la la la!!
(big cheesy grin inserted here)

A Bella Baby Shower!!!

Bella Thank You Cards


Bella's Cake!


The front Page of New Mom Advice Album


The Advice Cards - each guest wrote tidbits of wisdom


Bella Girls At the Party
The Fairy Godmother, Me, Rebecca (mommy to be) and Lisa
- all embracing the theme!

Remember the BELLA invites from a month ago? For those of you that are new to the stamping world, the stamp of the cute mommy on the invites, as well as the matching thank-you cards and Mommy Advice cards above, are actually from a company called BELLA. Get this. Rebecca's baby to be is a girl, her name is Isabella Maria, and her nickname is BELLA! How about that??? And, isn't Rebecca the spitting image of the Bella stamp? Such a cute little mommy to be!

Our hostess, Nora, went all out. Nora and another angel, Chris, spent days making this event one that we will never forget! Bella is truly one of the most loved babies coming to join us here on planet earth. We cried (a family nursery rhyme was sung by one guest), we laughed (some girls were drinking apple juice out of baby bottles for one of the games), we were humbled (a woman from Poland make a beautiful sweater dress and booties and shared the tradition of gifting coins in the shoes for good luck), and we were honored to witness the tradition of gifting a Navaho blanket for a newborn. And, who could forget the home made salsa, tasty margarita's or Mexican Wedding Cookies? Yummy.

Many of the guests came dressed in our Bella theme, wearing pink, tiaras, wings, and even full princess attire! Rebecca's crown was special ordered by Nora, and it said 'Mommy to Be'. And, as you can see, Rebecca and I dressed just like our Bella image, even with matching nail polish!

I'll share more about the Arizona trip in another post!

Ramblings. This, That and The Jet Plane!

Just In Case Rebecca is Casing my Blog!
This Photo is a preview of what she can expect for the weekends activities!

OK. I've been up since 4am, cranking out 'tons of work' which included our Ranch Newsletter, printing labels, soliciting donations from businesses in Downtown Baker for the Haines School Chili Feed Raffle in February (say that 10 times fast!), and of course, grocery shopping, shopping, and shopping! Phew! Maybe I snuck in one adult beverage. A Corona - prep work for the weekend activities. Anyway, please be advised, I am on a rambling rose ramble!

So, Sami has just informed me she is writing a book. (wonder who she get's that from!)... Anyway, she is downstairs on the kid's computer writing a story. She said it is about a princess, who finds a bunch of other princesses, and they go off into the woods and become outlaws. ROTFL!

(side note: she wants to know how to spell 'peculiar' -which she called 'petiliar' which, again, must be her version of two words put together, and I sent her to the dictionary. Apparently the dictionary is her Daddy. Pushover!)

Hmm.. Her stories underlying theme? Like, say, City girl goes Country? Or, a coming of age story? Shedding of one's youthful bright eyed Disney-esque (I made up this word - think I'll copyright that one) and interring the stages of Preadolescence? So many possibilities! Great book idea, though. I can't wait to read it! No doubt she will publish her novel long before I do. And she is only 9!

Speaking of princesses, I am leaving tomorrow at 8:00 am, heading to Boise to catch a plane, and jet setting to the Phoenix Arizona area for the Princess Baby Shower! Yeah, baby. This is the shower for my good pal Rebecca, who is a princess. I am the Duchess. Our friend Lisa is the Countess (Rebecca emailed me and reminded me - so I do believe she is casing my blog!). Too bad I don't arrive on that Arizona soil until 5:30 pm. If all goes well in Utah! HA! Thank God I'm not flying United... Dealt with them in 2000 when they were on strike. Been mad at them ever since. Dogs.

I have lots of show and tell items to share - but will post them after the shower! I made more goodies of the Bella variety that coordinate with the invites - remember those? The packet of 60 I cranked out during SOF week? They have relatives in other forms. Too bad I can't take a paper cutter on the airplane. I'll be up for hours tonight doing some 'prep' work! Reminds me of those all nighters back in Chico, CA when I was so very young.

Back to computers: Every family member is in front of a computer right now! Sick, eh? Sami is writing her book (as mentioned), Jake is playing a game, Dick is working, and I am also working! I love this kind of work. I would have to say we are all doing something we are truly passionate about. Jake is the only one on a timer. We monitor the computer game playing thing. I should be on a timer. The artichokes have been done for well over 30 minutes, and are sitting on the stove, waiting patiently for their grand appearance. OH! And the CMA awards are on tonight!

So, eventually I have to pack. Rumor has it the temps will be in the 80s - 90s. Oh, man. The sunshine mother ship is definitely calling my name! Is this Carma? After having to deal with the central heat spider zone, our 18 degree mornings, and breaking ice for the critters, I feel that I am being handed the 'Golden Girl Ticket'! Yippy! Miss Rebs has scheduled us for pedis and minis on Friday. Should I take my cowgirl boots? They are pretty cool! Seriously. They are Ariat Fat Babys, and have an ostrich leather 'look' lower portion and sea-breeze blue upper with stars! Or how about my faux turquoise studded flip flops? Decisions, Decisions..

OK friends! I'll catch you all later when I return on Monday! Happy trails to you all!

Yep. Gotta go. The Dinner police are calling me.

Oooh Baby Baby, Bu Bu Bu Baby!

Baby Shower Invite

I have the honor of co-hosting a baby shower for my wonderful friend, Rebecca, who lives in Tempe, AZ! This is the cover of the invitations that I am 'cranking out'! ... The inside text is in a pink font- since her baby to be, Isabella Maria, is a little girl! I am so excited for her! It is sure to be a Princess celebration! (hint hint!)... Rebecca is one of those gals who is a 'modern' or 'trendy' mommy to be.. I am sure she looks exactly like this Bella image! It is so her!!!! When she, Lisa and I used to pal around in our career days with the USDA NRCS (OK they still are on the career track) we all had titles of distinction... Rebecca's was 'Princess'.. Ya know, I forget mine! Needless to say, we had lots of fun adventures... I am so looking forward to this baby shower!

Supplies: Prego Bella; Stamping Up sentiment stamp; rubons for 'Oh Baby', Basic Grey Perhaps patterned paper; Stamping Up Organdy ribbon, and stamping up markers.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Sami and Me with our Fake Hair!


Here we are again, a side view


The boys at the Clinique Counter, Good taste, eh?


Oh, yeah... Margaritaville!
And, mommy only had one drink!

OK! So, got home Monday night from our camping trip, then woke at 4am Tuesday to pack again, do laundry, clean up the camp stuff, get all my meat orders organized, deliver meat to a store, gas the rig, and hit the road for the annual school shopping trip! Did I mention I forgot my driver's license? Oh yeah. Left it w/ my fishing gear. Dang! I had to pay for a new one! I thought I was so good to notice it missing and 'wanted to do right' by getting a temporary replacement. You know, like a temporary credit card? Why on earth would I want to lose an hour drive time by going back home to get it? Silly DMV people... they made me buy a new one! RATS! And, of course the photo is horrid. I had 'leftover' hair from the previous night's shower. And I am packing 10 extra pounds! I could not tell a lie.. I haven't had to redo my license data in, well, 9 years!

Anyway, we stayed 2 nights in Boise, (Tues & Wed) and I successfully talked another mom into coming along with her kids...don't know if they had as much fun as us, but I would have to say, I love my city fix! The plan was to take in some fun as well. Roaring Springs Water Park, the Zoo, and the Discovery Center. The hotel had an indoor pool, and the kids did not want to go anywhere else, unless it involved water. Unfortunately, Boise started school a week earlier, and thus the water park was only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Now that was a big disappointment! And I so wanted to wear my bathing suit in public and show off my thigh sharonas (wrong!).

Let's start with the fake hair. Sami and I both love to play 'dress up'. She's a girly girl. Thank you Lord! We played at this little kiosk in the mall and got dolled up. Did I buy the fake hair? Oh yeah. What can I say? I have been experiencing some serious bad hair days! Can I get it to work the way the sales chick did? Heck no! Dang! Gonna need some lessons... I'll be packin' the hair back to Boise for some sit down consultation(s)... may take a few... the hair piece resembles a dead critter when it's 'sitting' in the car. Oh. And Sami is so disappointed I did not buy her her own fake hair. WE have to share!

And who doesn't love Clinique? Man! Once every 3 or 4 years I need a fix. This trip was a definite 'fix it' trip! Just a few items: eye wrinkle stuff and new eye color. I also got some new running/walking shoes and a workout 'ensemble' for my morning walk, slash 'run a few steps' routine! Again, another once every 3 or 4 year fix.

We also got Dick his birthday goodies... a new pocket knife, diamond steel, and running/walking shoes for him! Not that he runs..just like me. More like good cozy shoes for walking about, when he's not wearing work boots. His other pair were killing him when we were hiking!

And of course, the mega school shopping. Score! Done deal. Winter coats, clothes, Jammie's, cozy clothes and soccer stuff. Off the list!

The finale. A beautiful Margarita with dinner. Love a good cocktail after a hard day of shopping.

We never made it to the zoo or the discovery center either. We did go to Petco on the way home. Sami is on another critter mission! This time she wants a little white mouse. Gads. So for being such a good shopping assistant she got a little ball to put her future mouse in. The kind that rolls about your home freely. You can also get a race track set, just for the ball. Hilarious! I'm sure our three orange cats are going to have a field day with this next critter. Jake picked out a little skateboard guy for his toy. He really wants a game boy, or computer games. Dick and I both refuse to go down the gameboy path of destruction! I know some of you moms love them for travel, or keeping kids busy at restaurants or wherever, but boy, we are not going down that road!

Anyway, we saw all sorts of critters at Petco and figured it 'was right up there' with a zoo (Phew! that was a close one!). Jake loved the tarantula. Say What??? No! You can not have a tarantula! Why? Because I said so, that's why! NO, they aren't nice little pets!

So, we hit the road to come home and get Dick's bday dinner made! Prime rib, baked potatoes, green beans and cake. Turns out we didn't' have to rush. I had dinner ready about 5:30 pm and Mr. Sexton did not get home until 7pm. He was at the stinkin' livestock sale! 'It's Thursday' after all! The Prime Rib ran out last night. Saturday. Rats. Guess I have to cook tonight...

I do love a good shopping trip, but alas, there is no place like home! Hotel rooms get a little cramped. I like my space and sure have lots of it right here on the ranch. Nothing like breathing in the fresh air, having our windows open all night, and just having our nice, peaceful life.

Another Big Girl Moment - All Mine

Sundays are my self-imposed 'me' days. The day I set aside to create - write or play in my crafty room.. The day I give myself permission to sleep in, maybe take a long nap after lunch, or the day I paint my toenails. Perhaps an afternoon cocktail while I 'take in' the views out back or front, depending on where I sit. Just a nice free-for-all take it easy and slow down and enjoy life day.

Today started that way. But, as it often happens, I got side tracked. Few loads of laundry, big breakfast for Jake, my son who is constantly hungry (I figure if I stuff him now, I'll be free for at least a few hours!), then take down the curtains in Sami's room - and change them out for a valence - curtains keep falling down! Sit down to write. Then, the kids were 'going nuts'. So I kicked them outside - 'go play on the trampoline'. The fear of wasps set in for them - they have both been stung numerous times already this summer - it's worse when the hives are buzzing with new offspring, and when the heat is on. So, we compromise... I set the hoses so they could jump in their bathing suits, get wet and be wasp free. Of course, I have to set all the hoses, visit my little garden, get sidetracked in the yard. Thirty or so minutes later, I come back in. Five minutes later, the kids come back in. Hmm...

I ignore them. Decide I would like to start the day (now about 9:30 am) with a shower... or I won't get one. BUT, I can't 'just take a shower'! My shower has a plugged drain. Been that way for over a week, and now it's at its peak. A slow drain, followed by four inches of standing water well into the beginnings of a good shower. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.. And no, I'm not a single mom living on her own in her own house. I'm married, to a man who doesn't do home improvements, yard improvements, car improvements, or Mr. Deere improvements, unless I whine, nag or beg for at least a week. I'm not in a begging mood today.

Thursday I bought a snake, a cute little number just for showers and bathroom sinks. I can balance it one one finger if I choose. It's just my size. Not the 'irrigation pipe' monster my husband brought into the house last time this happened. I couldn't even lift that sucker! It also hurt me. Got a nasty cut on my calf when I 'went walking by it' in the laundry room. Cut the corner too close.

Back to that shower. So, after I unscrew the plate, I snake! For quite sometime it seems...keep hitting something, bottom of the pipe. Does the pipe turn? It must. Why won't my snake turn too? Oh well. Keep jamming it. Turn on the water, and walla! Running free water! Yahoo! But, I can't just stop. I need to clean the underside of that plate. I look around, I need to clean those walls and that ceiling. Time to scrub - need a chair, supplies. I get sidetracked into a project. But, it was on my list anyway.

Done! Shower time! Awesome. Hot water, long shower and a drain that works! I'm so proud of myself. It's a Big Girl Moment, and it's all mine.

Rocking Blogger?

So! My super good buddy, Dawn (her blog is in my list), just informed me I am one of her nominees for a Rocking Blogger! I need to find out what that all entails!!