Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday Fill In ..
Fill in the lyrics...with the correct ones or ones of your own, right here on Friday Fill-Ins .. come play along!
1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, _do you hear what I hear?? Sounds like Mr. Wolf_.
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, _where the heck did the shepherd go??_.
3. _Tell it to the gnome_, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, _who knew, 12 inches!_.
5. Have yourself a big glass of wine_, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing .. oh, please don't sing__.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _hanging with the kids, pizza ..__, tomorrow my plans include _clean the house .. perhaps a dump run (err.. transfer station) and maybe an evening out with bff J_ and Sunday, I want to _anticipate the big snow storm_!
Picture by Noah
Photo Story Friday ..
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Our first official snow storm .. we ended with about 5" of powder snow! Three years ago I was so ready to leave the winter behind .. and when we did, I missed the winters .. so secretly I get excited when we are told there is a "disturbance" heading our way .... Bring it on, baby!! This coming Sunday they are saying "A STRONG NOREASTER MAY DEVELOP THIS WEEKEND AND BRING HEAVY SNOW ACROSS THE WATCH AREA LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES OR GREATER ARE POSSIBLE." .. that is a direct quote from http://www.weather.com/ ... .hooowhooo!! Let me stock up the wood for the woodstove, make sure I have wine ... grab me a book .. and we are on our way!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thursday 13 - #5
'Tis the Season ... it's my saying this week! Since it is the holidays ... a week before Christmas, and I am soooo in the spirit of things ... (NOT!) .. I decided to copy some of the T13 theme's and do my favorite Christmas songs ... yes .. despite my (un)-grinch-ness .. I still have favorite songs! They are not necessarily in any order ...
- 12 Days of Christmas - John Denver and the Muppets
2. Happy Holidays - Andy Williams
3. Where Are you Christmas - Faith Hill
4. Last Christmas - Wham!
5. Baby It's Cold Out There - Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
6. Santa Baby -
7. Last Christmas - Wham!
8. Please Come Home for Christmas - Eagles
9. Grown Up Christmas List - Amy Grant
10. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
11. Silver Bells - Patti Page
12. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
13. O Holy Night - Josh Groban
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Simply Kind Tuesday ..'Tis the season ..
So ... we are 9 days away from Christmas .. 8 more days of enduring the stress of the season .. often times we find ourselves so wrapped up in the whole making-sure-whatever-is-going-on-is-perfect that we tend to forget our manners. Mind you, I am talking about everyone else .. not me! ;)
(My mother would disown me if I forgot my manners! but then again, with all the wrinkles I have earned, perhaps ... oh, I digress) .. anyways ..
I just started a new job .. I work for a third party insurance administrator .. in short, we manage reimbursement accounts for companies who want to reimburse their employees on their health insurance deductibles. What sets us apart from other companies is that we guarantee a quick turnaround time on reimbursement checks ..sometimes as quick as 24 hours. We are just a few weeks short of the year coming to an end .. and suddenly everyone and their brother has realized that they haven't submitted their claims yet ... SO instead of receiving tricklings of claims, we are getting the full package .. months worth of receipts .. all folded and unkempt! (They need Tommie to show them a random act of kindness! Check out her blog, she created the word "organize")
ANYWAYS ... (sorry .. too much wine and Lindt Dark truffles .. I am rambling tonight, forgive me!) .. so with all these bundles of paper, tensions are high... especially from the employees that have sent them because ('Tis the season......) apparently it is OUR fault that they waited until NINE days before Christmas to send out their receipts (we are talking some serious money for some! Would you wait NINE days before Christmas .. knowing you have serious money sitting in that stack of unorganized papers ...??) to add to the fury ('Tis the season...).. when those big envelopes come in, it is our job to sort and organize so that we can acknowledge what is reimbursable and what is not .... COME ON NOW ... wouldn't you want to know how much you would be getting back, wouldn't you keep track?? Is it me .... or ..? oops ... I am meandering again .. So for my Simply Kind Tuesday post ... there is one lady in the office, she is married to the boss .. she doesn't consider herself an employee, yet she continuously walks around asking each one of us "what can I do for you, dear?" .. and in those harried moments, when you want the world to just stop, so that you can take a deep breath, her kindness is there .. like the fresh fall air .. reviving you, and giving you the extra ounce of patience to carry on! She is truly one of the kindest people I have met .. just genuine nice.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Manic Monday
Thanks to Fleur de Lisa for Manic Monday ..
Have you ever returned an item to a store for a refund after having used it?
Tempted .. but no, never. It's tempting when you buy your son a $20.00 hard cover, and three hours later he has finished it .. I should be happy that he loves to read!
You are going out for the evening. If your partner objects to what you are wearing, would you change your clothing?
OHH... trick question! I would like to know what the objection is .. because heaven help the man that says the wrong thing! LOL!
What item that you don’t currently possess would you most like to have in your home?
hmmm... I would like to possess a Canon Rebel ... does that count?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
friday fill in...(late)
1. Friends , are my life-line!__.
2. _Take good care of your_ health; it's _ultimately the most important feature of your life____.
3. I'm ready for _winter____.
4. _Anything light smelling ____ is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.
5. The oldest ornament I have is _in a rubbermaid container in Texas :(____.
6. Take some _friends, margaritas at the SeaDog__, mix it all together and you have _fun____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _watching a movie with the kids_, tomorrow my plans include _buying Christmas ornaments for the tree__ and Sunday, I want to _start a new book_!
Photo Story Friday ..
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Thursday 13 #5
- Stronger - Kanyea West-now that don't kill me, can only make me stronger
- Fighter - Christine Aguilera - But in the end you'll see, YOU-WONT-STOP-ME.. I am a fighter and I ain't gonna stop ... {love those hills!}
- B.Y.O.B - Systems of the Down- Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time.
- Shattered - O.A.R.- How many times can I break till I shatter? Over the line can't define what I'm after I always turn the car around All that I feel is the realness I'm faking Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting Always turn the car around
- My Immortal - Evanescene - I'm so tired of being here
- Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie -It's time to be a big girl nowAnd big girls don't cry
- Mr. Blue Sky - ELO -Sun is shinin' in the sky, There ain't a cloud in sight It's stopped rainin' Everybody's in a play And don't you know It's a beautiful new day.
- Torn - Natalie Imbruglia -Im all out of faith, this is how I feel Im cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor
- Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield -Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten
- Some Days You Gotta Dance - Dixie Chicks - Some days you gotta dance Live it up when you get the chance 'Cause when the world doesn't make no sense And you're feeling just a little too tense Gotta loosen up those chains and dance
- Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks - I'm not ready to make nice I'm not ready to back down I'm still mad as hell and I don't have time to go round and round and round It's too late to make it right I probably wouldn't if I could 'Cause I'm mad as hell Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should
- Real World - Matchbox 20 -I wonder what it's like to be a super hero I wonder where I'd go if I could fly downtown
- My Maria - Brooks and Dunn - You set my soul free like a ship sailing on the sea
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Simply Kind Tuesdays
Monday, December 8, 2008
Manic Monday
Thanks to Fleur de Lisa for Manic Monday!
What is the most expensive meal you've ever eaten?
ahhh ... that would a meal at Promises to Keep in Derry, New Hampshire.. honestly, I don't remember what I ate .. we were still dating, and we were being extremely lavish, for two people with very little income! This was our favorite restaurant, and wanted to get married here.
What is the fastest speed you've ever traveled in a car?
Ha, ha! That would be during our honeymoon, we had a Nissan 240 with the reflective speedometer on the windshield gadget .. I recall something crazy like 124?
What is the highest building you've ever been to the top floor of?
The first one that came to mind was The Furama Hotel, 30th floor, La Rotunda restaurant. It was a revolving restaurant .. the view was over looking the harbor in Hong Kong. Absolutely beautiful.. in doing some research, I just found out that the building was torn down eight years ago .. how sad! There are stories of that hotel .. possibly in another post!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Weekend Recap
Today when I was making sure the tree was straight in the stand, Alet mentioned in her dry and sarcastic way .."we really didn't need to buy a tree .. we could've just had a cardboard cut out like on the show "Monk", and called it good". .... uh-oh!
Photo Hunt - Breakfast
Thanks to TNChick the photohunt theme is Breakfast!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Simply Kind Tuesday
Manic Monday ..
Manic Monday thanks to Fleur de Lisa.
It's "Cyber Monday" today, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States. Do you do much online shopping, holiday or otherwise?
I am not a big online shopper .. it's my "fear-of-identity theft-they-are-going-to-take-all-my-money" thoughts .. I have ventured and trusted Paypal on Ebay and bought some odds and ends. I am a touchy-feely kind of gal, so as much as I stress about shopping, if I had to choose .. I would rather go out and shop rather than buy online. (phew .. long winded answer!)
Are you a Mac or a PC user? Why? I use PC all day long .. my kids swear by Mac because of school ... so perhaps a change may happen .... one day!
What website do you spend more time on than you care to admit?
ahhh ... can we say blog?? Actually, I just discovered Facebook, and that has me busy at times .. but I am not a big "stay in one spot" person.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Unconscious Mutterings
- Thanks to LunaNina for Unconscious Mutterings..
- I say ... You say?
- Spit it out :: Just say it
- Shadow :: Dancing
- Database :: lost
- Expression :: less
- Boss :: "I'm Bossy"
- Baby :: Be Mine
- Mystic :: Pizza
- Kate :: R
- Boobies :: Bounce
- Raid :: Kills the cockroach
Thursday 13 - #4 .. My Name
In joining Thursday Thirteen ... I used the example and made a list of 13 things about my name .. and made this T13 #4
1.... My first name is Juliette 2... I have never liked my name .. 3....especially when I was in Junior High, and there was a boy named Romero ..it was pronounced Ro-MA-ro .. nobody called him that - just to be funny! (I wonder if he is scarred now too!!) 4... My sister named her daughter after me .. 5... My nickname is Jul (pronounced 'Jewel'), Jule or Jules .... NEVER Julie or Julia ... 6... my mother can not remember why they named me the way they did .. if I had been a boy, my name would have been Michael Jan (Jan after my dad) 7... I have been called Jeanette instead of Juliette .. 8... Boy .. 13 things .. this is difficult ... I have been told that my name is beautiful ... 9...Another nickname from my old work was "jujubean" 10 .. I love the song Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits .. it was the first time I had heard my name in a song. It was introduced to me by my very first boyfriend, Paul. He used to sing it to me with his thick Irish accent!! 11 ... My middle name ... Michele with an accent on the last e .. We know this name came from the Beatles hit .. .. In the last two years I have met sooooo many Michelle's (and variations of Michelle). .. I often wondered if their names came from the same inspiration ...? 12... One of my ringtones on my cell is "Check Yes Juliet" by We The Kings 13...my Spanish name was Julietta, and my bff was Julia ..
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Sunday, November 23, 2008
Manic Monday ..
Do you ever talk to yourself out loud? What do you talk about?
I hope I don't talk out loud to myself .. I have already been accused by my daughter that I am old ..
What stresses you out?
The unknown .. I like to be prepared .. I make lists, so not to be able to prepare ...augh!
What are your secret talents?
I have monkey toes ... thanks to my mother! I can pick up things with my toes!
Photo Hunt - Reflection
I always think that the first room that you "wake up" in should be bright and cheerful .. so in my bathroom in Texas I had these Cali Lillies .. they are one of my favorite flower.
Of course I have to put a Maine picture in. This was taken during my excellent adventure when I went to Maine for the summer.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday Fill In ..
1. The last band I saw live was _Parachute Express__. (is that fair? My kids were young! Anita Baker & Luther Vandross was the last concert .. yikes .. almost 20 years ago!!! If it is truly a band that we are talking about it would be Air Supply!!!!!!)
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is _seeing my sister and my nephews and niece_.
3. My Christmas shopping is _stressful .. haven't started .. do I have to??????__.
4. Thoughts of _change__ fill my head.
5. I wish I could wear a bikini with confidence_.
6. Bagpipes _make me cry_.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _making poppers__, tomorrow my plans include _visiting with my fun sister-in-laws__ and Sunday, I want to _organize my wardrobe_!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thematic Photographic - Broken
Running Naked in Maine? .. (hah! .. that got your attention!)
1. The temps were low and the air was cool
2. I could dance and sing and nobody could see me because it was dark!
3. and because it was dark I could wear whatever I wanted to because no one was up and awake!
I became so used to that running pattern that when it was time for the NIKE 10k Human Race, I went into a panic ... first of all, the race was at 6 pm .. the temps were going to be in the 90's, and to add to it, the running number was the shirt that they had given us ... which meant I had to wear a shirt for the whole race ...ahhhhhhhhh! Well.. rules were meant to be broken ..
Skip and jump to Maine, where the temperatures are drastically cooler. It has been awesome!! The runs have felt so good, and strong. Thanks to NIKE and LL Bean, I have the perfect cold weather running gear .. so much so that even in 20+ degree weather, the contemplation of removing articles of clothing begin to form in my brain.
So this was the weather report this morning when I was getting ready to start the day! Another record low temperature day for running ..No fear .. I have my gear .. by my first half mile my lips were numb. So for the next quarter mile I tried to imagine what it would look like if my lips fell off... the picture wasn't really doing anything positive for me .. sooo I stopped thinking about that! As I approached the second mile I could feel the heat inside the clothes .. so I decided the first set of mittens needed to come off .. (I was wearing two sets .. my fingers loose circulation very quickly ..) ..by the end of mile 2 I gave up, and off came the jacket .. soon after the next set of mittens came off .. the panic was starting to set in, because living in a very conservative town, I don't think the townsmen would have appreciated what I really wanted to do next. Luckily my run was close to it's end, and the reality of running in below freezing weather reminded me that I needed the other body parts to stay in tact .. because a lip-less, and other body part-less woman would look really, really silly!
(Courtesy of the http://www.weather.com/)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Unconscious Mutterings
I say :: you say
- Please stop :: singing ..(my ever loving son tells me all the time)
- Move over :: come closer
- Sweet as :: pie
- Bet :: your *ss
- Mad about :: YOU!
- It’s over :: It's all over ... (sing a long to ELO "summer came and passed away ...")
- Intend to :: but didn't
- Blame :: game
- Jefferson :: Starship
- Heartless :: jerk
Thematic Photographic - Broken
This is the elevator doors to the ride of Tower of Terror in Disney. One of my biggest fears is elevator rides. While in Disney my kids convinced me to ride the Tower of Terror!! NEVER, NEVER again!! Before the ride started I already apologized for the language that was going to come out of my ever pure mouth! (snicker, snicker!)
I'm not sure when the fear of elevator rides began. I know when we lived in Hong Kong (early 80's), we lived on the sixth floor. The elevator doors on that floor was our front door to the penthouse .. so you couldn't just push the door open to get out, you had to have your key ready to open the door. It must have been the idea of not being able just get out when you got to your floor..
More often than not the elevator had its own issues. Often times it would get stuck between the fifth and sixth floor. I remember one time forcing the door open and climbing out, to jump onto the fifth floor!
Call me a wimp .. what can I say? Broken elevators ..... augh!!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Project Accomplished!
Woo hoo! My first project done! I bought three bar stools yesterday .. and was able to put them together! Okay ... I think I am ready to build a house now! ... hahaha!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Rain
Friday, November 14, 2008
Fill In Friday ..
1. Please feel free to _browse my blog____.
2. When I _prepare the coffee before going to bed__ I can't help sniffing it occasionally.
3. My favorite thing to cook is _most anything I know the kids will love___.
4. _Sunshine and Fresh air___ is something I can't get enough of.
5. That's the thing I love most about _a good run, the sense of accomplishment__.
6. _Mean people__ always makes me think to myself, what the heck?
7 . And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _chillin'_, tomorrow my plans include _going to the dump! oops transfer station____ and Sunday, I want to _possibly see the new James Bond movie_!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Frosty Morning ..
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Thematic Photographic - Autumn
Last week I found myself on a wood lot buying wood for the wood stove. I brought the camera ready to photo journal the latest adventure, only to find out that my "spare" batteries were as dead as the ones I had taken out. *GRRR!* I was only able to take three pictures .. this is Molly .. she belongs to Woodsman C. She was nestled well into the Autumn leaves watching her buddy from a safe distance.
[BTW, I have to go back this week to get more wood .. both sets of batteries are fully charged!]