"Holy CR*P!!" by RR

Many people saw this performance on American Idol on Tuesday night and said, "what was that?" or "that was wierd..."

I watched this performance on AI and said, "Holy CR*P!! That was incredible!!" First off, it is a great song. Secondly, the arrangement of the song is creative and hauntingly cool. Thirdly, the performance...the performance... was astounding. Is it just me, or is this guy in a class of talent, performance and showmanship far beyond any of the other performers. I like the others, but none of them have the "thing" that Adam Lambert has. He has a style all his own. He has an INCREDIBLE voice, tone, and range. I even appreciate the drama he brings to the art of performing.

Last weeks Michael Jackson week performance by A.L. was really good. Then this week...forget it. It was one of the top 5 performances that has ever been on A.I.

How about you? What did you think?

Joining the 21st century

I go through phases where I don't like modern technology, and I drag my family along with me. Just his morning I was thinking that I would turn my cell phone off. My thoughts were:

1) What would I have done if my car broke down prior to cell phones? What would I do if I didn't get reception on my cell phone and my car broke down? Walk to find assistance!
2)What if I had a though while I was driving home from work and wanted to call someone and tell them something? Wait until I get home and use *gasp* the land line.

Another thing I successfully got rid of was our microwave. I know, I know...how do I do without a microwave? We do the same thing we did before microwave was affordable for every home. We use the stove top.

The other day I was looking through Craigslist and came across a used microwave at a pretty good price. I sent the link to Ronnie. He made her an offer, she countered, and SOLD! it is ours.

Yes, it was my idea to get another microwave. It will be much easier for the kids (and myself) to reheat leftovers. We are also a big popcorn family. I got a airpopper for Christmas, but it isn't as easy to use as I thought it would be. If you aren't careful you will get burned by the kernels that are flying all over the kitchen, and I do mean flying all over the kitchen. Doesn't feel very good when you do actually get hit.

We are now joining the 21st Century. I still have my cell phone and we are getting a microwave.

HELLO USGA!!

Dou you know what USGA stands for? United States Golf Association!

On Wednesday the USGA gave their stamp of approval for the Double Duty Divot Repair Putter below. Now this is just a rough proto-type. When the club comes off of the assembly line it will be sleek and sophisticated.

This is a divot repair putter. It is geared towards golfers that may have a bad back, may be elderly, or simply lazy :) You won't have to bend over to repair those divots anymore. Simply use the tool that is part of the head of the club and ... viola... your divots are repaired.

Last year this golf club design was granted a U.S. Patten while we were living in North Myrtle Beach, SC. It was then taken to the USGA for their seal of approval. This process took a little bit of time, but I am happy to say that they are now in the talks to having it manufactured.

The owner of this patten is my very own step-dad, Walt, or Walt-wee and Walter-wee-winski to those that love him the most. We are so very proud of him. He has really worked hard on this project as well as worked the phone lines to get it to the place it is now. How fun it is to think that his golf club could be on shelves with people buying it and using it on golf courses.

Congratulations, Walt-wee. We love you and are excited for you.

Great Weekend

I had such a great weekend. Even though I had to work both Saturday and Sunday at Target it felt like it was a relaxing two days. I also have some good news. I may be able to stop working at Target at the beginning of May. Depending on what is going on at that time I may keep two shifts per week (if they will let me) so that we can keep our discount. I am so excited!! I will be able to enjoy the weekends with the family as well as the summer. Ahhhhhhh!

Our weekend started out with dinner with our friends Pete and Becky and their 4 girls on Friday night. Hunter wasn't able to join us, but we still had a great time. We sat and laughed, told stories, listened to how Pete gets his students to quit cussing, and watched the kids play.

The next great thing about the weekend was on Sunday morning. I love looking out our sliding glass windows into the woods behind our house. Sunday morning I saw 11 deer standing back there. I took some pictures, but haven't downloaded them yet. I was able to watch them graze and also see squirrels running around. There have been a couple of woodpeckers in the tree directly behind our house before so I hope that they come back. I thought that spring was here, but then it snowed Sunday morning and put that little thought out of my mind.

Here are some pictures from Friday night. That you for having us over. We always have a great time!!!!

Ebby and Becky

Veronica and Becky...don't they look like they could be sisters?Isn't this sweet?!
Do we even want to know what they are doing?
This picture makes me smile. What dorks we have in our family.
Beautiful! Pete thought that Veronica was taking a video so he got close to the camera. When the flash went off he was a little startled. I wish she had gotten a picture of his face then.
And yet they keep inviting us back.
I love this picture of Ronnie and I that Veronica took.

Random-ness

I have such an addictive personality. I will eat the same thing for months and then all of a sudden I don't want it anymore. Take Raisin Bran...I have eaten it every morning for over a year now. I went without it for a couple of days and no I don't really care if I eat it again.

Here is another example: I wrote on this blog all the time. Sometimes everyday and sometimes once or twice a week. Now, I don't really care about writing on here. I will continue to write on here due to there being too many people that live away from us that read this to NOT write something every once in a while. (Did that sentence make sense?)

There you go...I have an addictive personality. Good thing I never got into heroine or cocaine. As addictive as my personality is I would probably be dead.

Anyway, I snagged these photos from someone's facebook page. I think it was from Josh H.'s page, but I am not sure who took the pictures. If you by any chance know, please let me know so that I can give them credit.

Here is Hunter playing drums with the youth group worship team, Last In Line. When I see him play or see pictures of him playing it makes me smile. He is so much like his father, which is a good thing. You always hear of drummer having drumming faces. Ronnie doesn't really have one...at least not that I have seen. Hunter on the other hand does. He pokes his bottom lip out. In the last picture I can see that he is doing it.

I really like the middle and last picture. They are so artistic.

My Fam

I have great kids!! I love them all dearly and I can't (literally) imagine what my life would be like without them. That goes for my husband, too. Those five people make me whole. They give me purpose, drive, laughter and love.

I really wish that I could get the video of Hunter's band playing last Sunday night. They rocked. I don't know what I really expected, but it wasn't anything like I witnessed. They were truly a band not just 5 boys playing different instruments. I am going to try and get it on here some time.

I also wish that I had pictures of Cole in the play his class put on last Friday. It was so cute. I was able to surprise him by showing up for it. He didn't think I was going to be able to get off work and come. He thought only Ronnie was going to be able to make it. It was fun seeing the look on his face. I didn't have time to go home and get the camera before the play started.

What I do have is pictures of my beautiful girls. The first on is of Veronica and her date, Trevor. They were headed to the SnoDays dance on Valentines Day. She didn't have her 4 inch heels on in the picture. Treavor said that he had to check out how tall she was before they left the house. He couldn't let her be taller than him.

The second picture is of English and her guy, Tim. Unfortunately Tim is over in Iraq right now. They look so happy together. Please be praying for his safety. I think, but I am not sure, that this picture was taken at Ronnie's moms house over New Years. I could be wrong though. Am I right, English? Is this in the dining room with your back to the front door?

Anyway, the third picture is one that Veronica took. Can you guess what it is? It took me a little while to figure it out.

Thank you my wonderful children for blessing me all the time. Thank you my very special husband for treating me like a pampered queen. If I could reach the stars...Pull one down for you...Shine it on my heart...So you could see the truth

Two Ideas

I have been kicking around two ideas lately and I would like your input.

1) A clothing exchange. We would bring five or six different peices of clothing (clean, non-stained, all buttons, zippers working, no tears or rips...basically something that you wouldn't be embarassed about having a friend wear) and exchange them with other ladies. You would bring your clothing for them to go through. In exchange you would go through all the other clothing and pick out what you like. You only take home the number of items that you brought.

2) A craft supply exchange. Each person would set up an area with craft items that you think you are no longer going to use or you no longer want. The other ladies would "shop" at your area. This one is a little harder to to do with the even exchange idea. We would each just share our stash with our friends. Since we have no need for it anymore it doesn't really matter does it?

With the economy as it is right now I have been trying to think of ways to save a few dollars. These are the two that I came up with. Let me know what you think and if you would be interested.

A Subject Revisited..and a car

Why? Why? Why? WHY???

Why did a woman come up to my counter and let loose such a stinky fart yesterday? I won't believe that she couldn't hold it until she could walk across the hall to the bathroom!! This fart was so stinky that her husband even walked away for a few moments. He came back and don't you know she let another one fly. He got to walk away again while I was stuck here in her green cloud of gas. I had to put my fingers to my nose they were so bad.

I know...passing gas is a natural thing. I get that! I also get that there are bathrooms in the majority of public places, and if you can't get to a bathroom walk outside for a moment.

DON'T TRY TO KILL ME!!!!

If they want to let one go here at the OB-Gyn counter, please...PLEASE go to another counter! I have had my fair share of stinky-ness to last me quite a while.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now on to more pleasant things. Cole has been a part of Awana this year and is loving it. He is working so hard memorizing scripture. He and his leader get along so well. As a matter of fact he was a little upset that Jeff G. was not going to be there on Wednesday nights for about 5 weeks due to some commitments.

Tonight at Awana is the Grand Prix. Cole told Ronnie how he wanted his car to look and they got to work on it. Cole drew out the design and Ronnie did some cutting. Next came some sanding, painting, stenciling, and more painting. Even Hunter got in on the action. They were still working on it last night. There was laughter coming from the garage so I went out to see what was going on. They were having a great time all together (thanks Ronnie for doing all of this). I didn't take any pictures last night, but I will tonight. I hope Cole wins a prize, but if not it will be ok. They had a good time making it and that is better than anything else.

Another of my Peeps and a beef

Do you ever stop and think about the impact you may have on someone? Only every once in a while does it happen to me where I actually stop and contemplate what may have just happened.

Last night was one of those nights. As most of you know I work at Target four shifts per week. One of those shifts happened to be last night. I was in a pretty good mood and giving some of the guests (customers) a hard time. One of my goals at Target is that everyone that leaves my lane is smiling. I can't always make it happen, but most of the time it does.

Last night a young man and woman were in my lane. I dont know if they were married, bro and sis, friends, etc. I ended up giving the guy a hard time by thanking him for trying to give me a $10.00 tip. I even went so far as to say, "I know I am awsome, but I can't accept your tip." I did end up telling them that I was really joking, and we all chuckled.

As I handed him the receipt he said, "This is what I needed to today. This hasn't been a good day for me."

Of course, being the question person that I am, I took the bait. I said, "I am sorry to hear that. What happened?"

He went on to tell me that he is sick and being treated at Mayo. Trying to keep the mood light I told him to come through my lane anytime and I would cheer him up. He smiled and said thank you.

On my way home I couldn't stop thinking about him. What was my impact on him and his situation? Will he remember his encounter with me? Will he come back through my lane to get some cheer? I did some praying on the way home. I have no idea what illness he has...if it is life threatening or not. Thankfully the Lord knows. :)

Now here are my beefs:

Why in the world is Jessica Simpson on the front of 5 magazines questioning her weight gain?

Why was there a article with the title to the effect of, "Airline put Celebrities in Danger Overfueling"? Why does it have to be celebrities? Why can't it be airline customers?

I don't really agree with the laws behind the burka, but doesn't wearing a burka sound appealing? Now don't write me any political mumbo-jumbo.

Look at these two ladies. Would you be able to tell if she has gained weight? As a man would you turn around to look at the back of a burka as the woman is strolling down the sidewalk? That would be a real head turner wouldn't it. All that black fabric hanging striaght down, not a curve in sight. Wouldn't be able to tell if she had just done 45 minutes on the treadmill or 45 minutes at the donut shop.

Then there is the whole fashion thing. Would you be able to tell if she got her Burka at Target or the Ralph Lauren Store? With everyone wearing the same "fashion" wouldn't there be less comparison to what other people have and don't have? That is why I am all in favor of school uniforms.

Ok... I will get off my soap box. I just got tired of all this "celebrity" information on magazines and the news. There is so much more going on in the world. Celebrities aren't the only ones that do stuff. There are people out there that are making a difference in this world and it has nothing to do with their weight gain.

I guess this is just really me wanting to focus more on the inside of people rather than the outside. Wonder if I can do it?

Elijah

In 2003 our family moved to Rochester with our good friends, John and Wendi. John was accepted into the Mayo Medical School, and Ronnie and I just tagged along.

Fast forward to 2008...After 5 years of infertility and four failed IVF attemps, John and Wendi brought home little Isaac. What an incredible story his adoption is. Anyway, in June Wendi found out that she was pregnant! If I remember correctly she had quit taking all of her medications for IVF with the exception of one. That meant that this baby was conceived without medical intervention! What a modern day miracle.

I will admit that I am very sad that I will not be able to get to hold this little guy for quite some time. You can see a picture of his older brother Isaac and I on the side bar of our blog. Just isn't in the cards for me to get down there any time soon.

Anyway, let me introduce you to Elijah. What a handsome little guy he is.
Also, if you want to read one of the best written stories I have read in a long time go here http://flakymn.blogspot.com/2009/02/elijah-lukes-entrance-to-world-by-jb.html

Ronnie and I both admitted that it brought us to tears as we read it. Grab a tissue before you get to their blog.

Congratulations to John and Wendi. We loveyou both very much and are very happy for you.