Surprise

I don't think I've said this here yet.

My hubby tricked me into researching my own anniversary present!

We were talking about going back to the place we went for our honeymoon, Gatlinburg, TN. We've been twice (honeymoon, and then June 2005). That's the last time we've been on vacation together. I have been back since then with some colleagues, but I missed him not being there with me. Plus, that's how I destroyed my first iPod. Ha. That's what I get for not taking hubby.

So, he asked me what cabin we stayed in the first time and if it was pet-friendly "if we were to go again". I researched and found a similar cabin from the same company, since I couldn't find the old cabin. He then gave me his credit card and told me to book it! I was so surprised. I was NOT expecting that, because I didn't think we could afford a trip anywhere. Yay! Now that I have good tires, we're set to go already!

Oh, we're taking the babies, too. Provided Lucy doesn't poop in her carrier this time, we'll be great LOL.

Josh is going to to buy his xBox 360 this Friday. Bless his heart. He's wanted one for so long. This has made me realize that we can now afford to have a baby. Now all we need is the house and to pay off three large debts so they won't get in the way later. Woo-hoo!

More to write later. I and a group of colleagues helped another move a houseful of her mother's belongings, and she's taking us out for lunch as a thank you. So sweet!

quote

New Quote:

Be kinder than necessary.
Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
-author unknown to me

quote

I love this quote:

Never let yesterday use up too much of today.
- Will Rogers

weekend

Wow - we've been without internet since the 12th of June. So I'm actually writing this on notepad. I'm going to post it at the appropriate time that I can get on the internet again (probably whenever I can save it to my "baby" drive (ha) and take it to work with me.

Oh, quick note: Cricket, my in-law's doggie, is back. She was only at their neighbor's house, and the neighbor brought her back within ten minutes. All is well in the puppy world.

Today is Father's Day. Well, at least 36 more minutes of it. I got my Dad a Best Buy certificate; which for him, is better than a present. He can pick put his own present out. Since he's a gadget Dad (go-go Gadget office LOL), he usually already has everything I can think of. I got PaPa a big three CD compilation set of Big Bands Classics from WWII era, which he just loved. Mom & Dad got him a scrolling wireless laser mouse (better than mine!), btu I'm not sure he knows what to do with it yet. :)

Oh yeah - I learned something new yesterday. I should have known to ask, but alas, I didn't. We cannot get Direct TV like we thought (at least while we're in this apartment). We are not in the line of sight of the satellite, and our landlord won't let us put a receiver on the roof, so we're screwed, for lack of a better word. So now, we have to call Charter and get cable back, only 6 days after we gave it up. I'm disappointed, and I wish we'd known that could have been a problem, because we wouldn't have given up Charter until we knew for sure we could get satellite. That's our latest luck, though.

Until tomorrow...

Cricket

My in-law's doggie broke loose of my father-in-law's hand and ran away. She's dragging her leash too. Her name is Cricket, and she's a little Welsh-Corgy mix. She's absolutely the sweetest dog I have ever been around. Josh is driving over there to help find her.

Poor baby... I really hope she comes back.

Wow

BAD Day...

I'm screwing up everything around me today. My computer has a virus/trojan (im doing this from work, FYI), my job is overwhelming me, my accounts suck. Well, putting it down on paper makes it not look so bad, but when you're right in the middle of it, it sucks...

Sorry I am not more of a talker today.

Hubble

This shows us just how small we really are on a galactical scale.

Wisdom

I got this from lucidcafe.com

Pearls of Wisdom

"Fourteen Things That It Took Me Over
50 Years To Learn" by Dave Barry

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

You should not confuse your career with your life.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

Never lick a steak knife.

The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

Your friends love you anyway.

Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

quiz 7/8/9

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 8/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

What Part of Fall Are You?

Your Pirate Name Is...

Evil Jimmy Jailbird

What's Your Pirate Name?

quiz 6

Actually, I really am more right-brained, so I've been told. I like this quiz. :)

You Are 40% Left Brained, 60% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Flagpole Sitta

You've got to see this. My favorite lip-sync ever!

Band funding

Here's the official buzz on the school funding I mentioned once before.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Greenville County School Board on Monday approved a $430 million budget for next year.

Trustees voted for the plan that includes additional teachers and school employees to accommodate 1,500 new students and provides raises for existing teachers and staff.

School officials pointed to the fact that the budget does not include a tax increase to make ends meet.

A new state funding system replaces property tax money with funds from an increased state sales tax to pay for school operations.

In addition to new teachers and staff, the budget also includes additional funding for high school bands, district-wide technology upgrades and global positioning systems for school buses.

from WYFF News 4 online @ wyff4.com.

Quiz 5

What have I done? So much more than I'm willing to put on this list. Maybe someday!

(x) Smoked a cigarette
(x) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend's car my car into my friends house
( ) Stolen a car
( ) Hitchhiked
(x) Been in love
(x) Been dumped
(x) Dumped someone
(x) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight...
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't reciprocate
( ) Been arrested
(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school (college for me)
( ) Seen someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a train
(x) Been Lost
( ) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons/markers
(x) Sang Karaoke....
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins ....
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Laughed until beverage came out of your nose
(x) Laughed till you peed your pants (almost!)
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus .
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you love
(x) Blown bubbles
( ) Made a bonfire on the beach
( ) Crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating at least once
(x) Gone Ice-skating at least once

1. Any nicknames? KiKi, too many others to count, but KiKi's my favorite
2. Mother's Name? Jane
3. What is your favorite drink? Sprite
4. Tattoos? none
5. Body piercing? ears
6. Where's #4? Above #5.
7. Fav. vacation spot: mountains
8. Ever been to Africa ? no
9. Ever steal any traffic signs? no
10. Ever been in a car accident? yes
12. Salad dressing? None - hate it
13. Favorite pie? Million dollar lemon
14. Favorite number? 13
15. Favorite movie? Not sure - too many
16. Favorite holiday? Halloween
17. Favorite food? Chicken Alfredo
18. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
19. Favorite brand of body soap? Irish Spring!
20. Favorite TV shows? Law & Order, House
21. Favorite smell? Fresh cut grass
22. What do you do to relax? Sleep!
23. How do you see yourself in 10 years? w/ 2 kids and a house!
24. Furthest place you will send this message: 5 feet
26. Who will respond the fastest? I've never liked this question...

news

My brother was asked to be a pall-bearer for Crissa. He was so much closer to her than anyone in our family, since he and her father were best friends growing up. I just sat and cried last night when I thought of my baby brother carrying the tiny casket of the little girl we all held in our arms as a baby. It's still just so mind-numbing.


Here is the latest from our local news on Crissa (link available if you click on the title of this post):

The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died after being pulled out of Lake Hartwell on Memorial Day said that their daughter did know how to swim.

The girl’s parents said that Crissa Powell must have panicked when she couldn’t feel the bottom of the lake after she jumped off a dock.

She was under water for about 10 minutes before witnesses were able to locate her and pull her out.

Two medical students performed CPR to keep the girl alive until she could be taken to the hospital, but she was taken off life support on Tuesday evening and died.

Her parents, Crystal and Nye Powell said that they kept a lock of their daughter's hair and a card with her handprints on it.

Crystal Powell said that she was with her daughter when she died.

"They moved her over in the bed a little bit so that I could get in with her and tell her goodbye. I waited there with her for a while," Crystal Powell said.

The Powells also thanked the witnesses who tried to save their daughter.

Crissa Powell was a fifth-grader at Berea Elementary School in Greenville County. She turned 11 earlier this month.

The school announced plans to plant a tree on school grounds in her honor.

Update

Crissa's battle for life has ended.

She was determined to be brain-dead, and her parents made the heart-wrenching decision to pull the plug this afternoon.

Not long after I wrote earlier today, Crissa went to be with the Lord.

Please continue to keep her family in your prayers. They are all completely devastated.

My brother went to see her today. It must have been right before.

It's hard to imagine that the little girl I once held as a baby has passed away before any of us. 11 years is not long enough on this earth.

Note: Pic is of Crissa (in the purple) and her sister a couple of Halloween's ago.

post-weekend

I got my NordicTrack today... in all its fragmented glory. Every possible piece is separate from each other. Wow...this is going to be an ordeal just to put it together. I hope it only needs a Phillips head (just kidding - I do have more tools than that)!

We have our first Furman Lakeside band rehearsal tonight. I'm excited to have a semi-obligatory ensemble to play in during the summer. Don't get me wrong, I love the band I play in year-round. It's just nice to not HAVE to go unless I want to. Concerts in the summer are done in a week, with no further obligation unless you want to do the next one. The year-round concerts require a month or more of rehearsal attendance to be able to play.

Since we were off yesterday, I've been trying to play catch-up again today. I think our sales department is making up for it too LOL.

Oh, I finally bought a little half-gigabyte flash drive for work. I can stop emailing important documents to myself and just save them on that instead. I swear I've heard them called "jump drives" before too. That's what I went looking for when I went shopping. Maybe not!

No new news on Crissa. Things are, thankfully, no worse, but sadly, no better. Please continue to keep praying for her. She needs all she can get.

Prayers needed

A little friend of mine was in an accident today. The whole situation has actually made the news, too.

Our childhood friend's (mine and my brother) oldest daughter (only 11 years young) was rescued from a local lake earlier today. She was climbing up a pier ladder and either jumped or was knocked off. No one is really sure, but she cannot swim, and she's a very obedient little girl, and she wouldn't have done something she wasn't supposed to do. The other girl with her turned for a moment, turned back, and she was gone. She immediately started screaming for help, but she was not found for around 5 or more minutes, only 9 feet from where she fell in.

Some people nearby were nurses-in-training, and performing CPR until EMS arrived. They said she was blue and had so faint a pulse that EMS couldn't even shock her. Brain damage has already been mentioned and partly confirmed. That is, if she even pulls through.

I think of her little face and cannot imagine it being blue. It's almost unreal.

I was ok until I saw her school picture pop up on TV when I turned to the news earlier. Then I just cried.

The last time I saw them all was on Halloween. I even got a cute picture of the girls I had always planned to copy and send over to their mom and dad.

Lauren, my niece, is 11 also. I can't imagine that happening to her.

She's just too young.

Please put Chrissa in your prayers tonight.

Aww

I'm so mean - I haven't posted in 16 days. My fault! Yeah, I've been busy... who hasn't?

Supposedly, if the tracking is correct, my new NordicTrack will be in my living room by the end of the week. Yay!

Work is going fine. Normal work status. :)

Concert band is wrapping up this week, well, practice at least. We have one more concert in a couple of weeks. I have Furman University Lakeside band rehearsals starting next week. We only have five concerts, and the rehearsals are in the same week as the concerts, so it's not a huge commitment. Plus, Josh is FINALLY getting a car of his own again, so I won't have to worry about whether I have a ride somewhere. -happy sigh-

I'm listening to not-so-calm music on my pod. I think I'm going to switch LOL. Not impressed with angry rock today. This is not normal!

Ahh - now our accounting system is down at work. Not cool. Makes my job harder. :( This kind of blows the "i'm not working today" plan out of the water.

Band Funding

Nice news - I just heard that funding for our local music programs has been increased by our school board. Considering that for a long time, the funding has been cut, it's a wonderful change.

I'm glad to see that the board is aware of how important arts (of all types) are in our schools.

Yay!

Quiz 4

Ok, I wouldn't make fun of anyone's pet, but the comedian part is pretty accurate.


Take the What Type of Friend Are You? quiz.