Wheezer's Cheeze

Hello??? Is this thing on?

2010-09-15T11:10:00.000-04:00

If I still have any followers out there, would you please go over here and follow me there? I can't seem to manage two blogs and, since photography has become my obsession, I spend more time over there. I won't be posting over here any more. Thanks for following me!

Breaking News!!!

2010-06-22T14:51:00.000-04:00

Did I call it or what?!?!?

It's like a train wreck...

2010-06-02T12:18:00.000-04:00

I know I have said it in the past, "I will not watch the Bachelor(ette) ever again," but....it's like a train wreck. I can't look away. Why does this show hold me so captive? Is it the promise that THIS season may just be the one that is different, that works, that leaves all the drama at the door and shows that love really does conquer all, including bad ratings? I don't know, but... I . CAN'T . STOP . WATCHING!!!

Now, I have become an addict. Watching only when Bubba and BoyBoy aren't home. Hiding it so that they don't ridicule me. I TiVo and wait patiently until the coast is clear to get my fix. I situate myself on the sofa, iced tea on one side, telephone on the other, remote in hand so that I can rewind the good parts. I savor every second from the silly things the guys do to get Ali's attention, to the amount of bourbon these men consume in one night, to the number of guys she kisses in each episode. If something is particularly juicy, rewind! If I don't hear the sweet nothings being whispered, rewind! If there is an especially nice set of abs, rewind and pause! Is there a 12-step program for this?

I am taking this season with a grain of salt, for what it is: A fame hungry woman thrown into fantastical scenarios with 25 fame hungry men. Most are there for their 15 minutes of fame while some are there to satisfy their stalkerish tendencies. I sometimes find it creepy that most of the men know everything about her before they meet her and she knows nothing about them. Favorite color - yellow, check. Originally from Massachusetts, check. Left last season to go back to her job at Facebook, check. Afraid of flying, check. Kind of creepy...

I am a little surprised at the level of male drama this season so far (two episodes in? wow!) The Weatherman "little Napoleon" and the Canadian Craig were just going at it and I think they both need to go. Ali got rid of the Canadian and now she needs to get rid of Napoleon. My early favorite is Roberto although I think her attraction at this point is purely physical.

So, take it for what it's worth...pure, brainless, empty entertainment. I'll be watching...on TiVo, of course.

Never Say Never Again

2010-06-01T10:56:00.003-04:00

New post up over at my photography blog...check it out!

Shutter Girl Photography

LOST ? ?

2010-05-28T15:27:00.001-04:00

I am a diehard Lost fan and have been watching since the beginning. I have needed a few days to process the finale and have scoured the message boards for answers to questions and never found the one that left me completely satisfied until I found this one:

It seems some people are having a hard time abiding by Lost's final message: Let go and move on.
And by "some people," I mean not only diehard fans—like, ahem, moi—but also casual viewers and people who tuned in for the very first time on Sunday night to see what Lost was all about. (Bat-poop crazy, but yes, they really did!)
I'm still getting bombarded by questions about the Lost finale, so if you, or any of your non-Lost-worshipping friends are still struggling to comprehend, here is a stripped-down guide to what Lost is all about (according to this here idiot)...
There is an island. It really exists, and the people on it do too.
At the heart of this island is a "Light."
This Light is the good place you go to after you die where you get to reconnect with your loved ones in the afterlife. You can call it heaven, Nirvana, or whatever you like. It's the most beautiful place you will ever see.
If the Light on the island goes out, you don't get to be with your loved ones when you die. They simply "cease to exist." And that is a very bad thing.
The Light on the island is so beautiful and powerful, that men will always try to get at it, study it and harness it--including most recently, a group of scientists called the Dharma Initiative who inhabited the island for many decades. They could never fully understand the island because they were men of science, not men of faith.
To make sure the Light isn't destroyed by men like these, the island needs a Protector. (The Egyptians tried to build a giant Protector statue on the island, but it was reduced to a four-toed foot when a giant slave ship called the Black Rock hit it.)

ABC/MARIO PEREZ

The first Protector we met, Jacob, was sweet but a total dumbass who did exactly what his mother told him not to, and threw his brother Samuel (also called the Man in Black) into the Light. Samuel faced a fate "worse than death" (as his mother foretold), and became what Lost fans call "the Smoke Monster." If this evil entity were to leave or destroy the island, all the evil would escape out into the world, and the Light/heaven would be no more.
Jacob needed to make sure that he had a successor, to prevent this from ever happening. There were no pure souls or babies on the island (because of electromagnetic fallout from the "incident" in 1977 that caused fertility issues). So Jacob selected "candidates" away from the island, went out into the world to meet them, touched them (so the Monster couldn't kill them), and then brought them to the island by way of plane crash. (The Protector can also change the weather, sometimes subconciously, to make stuff like that happen--which is probably why the Dharma initiative also studied weather there--but Jacob didn't do so in this case.)
Jack Shephard was on that plane that came to the island. Oceanic 815. So were a lot of other really cool people who happened to look like TV stars: Sawyer, Kate, Sun, Jin, Sayid and Hurley. They crashed on the island, and they were alive.
They were Jacob's "candidates." It was their destiny to come to the island.
It was Jack's destiny to kill the Smoke Monster and save the island. And he spent six seasons trying to figure it out.
In the meantime, the Smoke Monster was running around terrorizing/killing everyone, taking the form of dead people (he can do that) and manipulating a longtime island dweller, Ben, into doing his bidding. The Monster ultimately tricked Ben into killing Locke (a "candidate") and Jacob. The Monster took the form of Locke.
And the island needed a new Protector.

ABC/Mario Perez

In the final season, we saw what appeared to be an alternate reality in which the passengers of Oceanic 815—including Jack Shephard—landed safely in Los Angeles, as if the plane had never crashed on the island. They basically spent the entire sixth season in this place trying to "let go" of their life's biggest regrets/issues. (Ben's guilt over killing his daughter Alex, Locke's crippling problems with his father, Jin and Sun's guilt over abandoning their daughter and not knowing if she's OK, Hurley's guilt over his money doing evil things, Sayid's desire to save Shannon/Nadia, Claire's guilt over planning to give away her baby, Jack's desire to forgive his father and break the cycle by becoming a good father himself, etc...)
In the finale, we learned that this place (in which the flight landed safely) was a passageway from death into the Light/heaven. The characters we saw there had all died in different times in different places, and they met up in this place (where time is irrelevant) to work out their remaining regrets, reconnect with their loved ones, and move on to the Light together.
After Jack sacrificed himself to save the island, they all crossed over to the Light and lived blissfully ever after.
They lived together. And they did not die alone.

Here is the link to her site:

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b183078_idiots_guide_lost.html

She is a great source of all things Lost.

Ok, Losties, what did you think of the finale? Satisfied? Confused more? Angry? Did you cry like a baby like I did? Throw the remote at the TV?

Chicks Cruisin' for a Cause

2010-05-26T20:24:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, my three best friends and I went on a 3-night Bahamian Cruise. We have been planning this since the fall and have needed the girl time for a while. We haven't been all together, just the girls, since we were all in Germany together back in 2007. We are a diverse bunch...there is 10 years age span between us - the youngest is 35 and the oldest is 45. We have a nurse practitioner, an Army Community Service Soldier Support professional, a photographer, and a NICU nurse. We are originally from Boston, Chicago, Albany, Georgia and Hampton Roads, Virginia and we now live in Alabama, Florida and Virginia. Three of our husbands are in the same Army branch and the other is a stay-at-home dad. Our children range in age from 22 to 5 years old. And yet we have formed a bond that transcends all these differences. We know that at the drop of a hat, any one of us would come to the aid of a sister in need, without question and without hesitation. We came together last Thursday night and it was as if we just saw each other yesterday. We picked up with out a breath and we didn't stop laughing, crying, drinking, and smiling until we pulled into port on Monday. We also contributed to a great cause and raised money for a deserving charity in Florida as well as an orphanage in Nassau. Can't wait for the next one~!

Here are the tamer photos that I can share...you know, what happens on the ship, stays on the ship!

The Fearsome Foursome

Parasailing!!!

Oprah's House!!!

I was all about conquering fears on this cruise!

Do I Make You Proud?

2010-05-05T08:01:00.000-04:00

I am always fascinated by the immense learning power of animals. Service dogs in particular. I know my Melly is smart and with the proper training she has learned to stay off of the furniture, not beg at the table, and stay inside her invisible fence. I have failed at training her not to be afraid of thunderstorms, not to bark at a random leaf floating down the sidewalk and not to always establish her dominance when around other dogs. I know that someone with experience who knows what they are doing could probably do wonders with her.

My sister, Aunt S, forwarded this video to me. While I am amazed at what this special dog has accomplished, I am also comforted by the fact that even experienced dog trainers have to admit defeat and succumb to the animals instinct. Maybe I didn't fail. Maybe Melly's barking has kept away an intruder, maybe her dominance has thwarted another dog from attacking BoyBoy, maybe she has warned me of a coming storm so that I can roll the windows up in my car. She is special and unique and I love her...so what if she can't surf!

Pass the kleenex

2010-04-21T13:08:00.000-04:00

Last night while watching The Biggest Loser, which is normally a very uplifting and inspiring show, I broke down. You see, a man on the show had a bad week, some might say an awful, terrible, sucky week. First, he fell during a challenge and re injured his knee which had hindered his progress in the past. Then, because he fell, he came in last and was given a disadvantage at the weigh-in. Finally, when he didn't think his week could get any worse, he was notified that his brother had passed away from cancer. His pain and grief were substantial and he went after his workouts as if he were possessed. At the end of a particularly strenuous exercise, he lost his sh*t. He started beating the machine, yelling and crying. Jillian comforted him and they took a walk outside for him to clear his head and get out his rage. I broke down. Lost it...went straight to the ugly cry.

Seven years ago, Bubba lost his brother. Way before his time. Thirty three years old. Married six months. Getting ready to start his family. Just gotten on his feet after years of wandering and wondering. Found his place in the world. Then he died. Suddenly. Of appendicitis. I know. No one dies of appendicitis, right? But he did. After fighting for his life for 30 days, finally his body just gave out. It was devastating. He was full of life, loved to laugh, cook, tease, create, had an immense imagination and a thousand crazy ideas. He was the best man at our wedding and he painted stars on the ceiling of the nursery for BoyBoy. He was the brother I never had. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him. Bubba and I have often talked about how we truly believe that J's soul has found a home in BoyBoy. They share the same imagination, the same inventiveness, the same love of all things Star Wars. They have the same sense of humor, quick wit, and flair for the dramatic. It seems to be J's little way of telling us that he is sharing BoyBoy with us, watching over him, watching him grow. He loved BoyBoy as if he were his own and he knew that they had a connection from the beginning.

It made it painfully obvious to me last night that there are some changes that I need to make in my life. Forgiveness, acceptance, honesty, redemption all need to come front and center. No regrets. When something bothers me, I will speak up. When someone hurts me, I will tell them. When I love someone, they will know it. I will listen more, talk less (ha ha ha). I will make a bucket list and try to cross off everything on it. We are not promised tomorrow and should live everyday as if it were our last because,one day, we will be right.

An epiphany of sorts? Maybe. Midlife crisis? I hope not. A new beginning? Definitely.

How to recharge...beach version

2010-03-17T08:07:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, the Cheeze's took a little trip to recharge our batteries after this long and crazy winter.

Ahh....bring on the Spring!

The Final Rose

2010-03-02T17:34:00.000-05:00

To recap the finale of this season's Bachelor one must first put on their dunce caps...

Because, ladies and gentlemen, that is what Jake is...a dummy, an idiot, a moron, a dimwit, a fool.

He chose Vienna and with that choice he enters into the running for the soon to be shortest bachelor courtship/breakup/media circus to date.

Why do I say that?

He's going to be on Dancing with the Stars.

Wha?

From the start, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. He wasn't one of those fame whoring wanna-bees. He really was a nice guy who wanted to find his soulmate in this unconventional way. He was going to chose based on character and morals and prove to the world once and for all that the Bachelor is the best way to find true love! But, Dancing with the Stars?

Give me a break.

Its all for the publicity and notoriety. And I fell for it.

He chose Vienna, the spoiled rotten, can't get along with the other girls, hot tamale who makes his little Jake sit up and take notice but has more air between her ears than the Grand Canyon.

He kicked sweet as sugar, perfect in every way, Tenley to the curb, because something just didn't feel right. Poor girl...she showed more class, poise and maturity in the two minutes after he dumped her than Vienna would be able to show in 72 lifetimes!

Whatever, Jake. Best of luck with your "relationship." I predict that she will dump you shortly after you are kicked off DWTS and she will empty your bank account to pay for her nose job.

Oh, and Ali as the next Bachelorette? I thought she left the Bachelor because she couldn't get time off work. Whatever, they are all fame whores.

Sorry, ABC, you've lost me.

Oxygen, please!

2010-02-25T16:09:00.000-05:00

Thank you, OK Magazine...I am now suffering from a monstrous case of the vapors...

Guys don't make passes...

2010-02-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

I have worn contacts for as long as I can remember. I started to need eyeglasses in college when all that reading took its toll on my eyesight. I only needed them for reading then but, as the years passed, I started to need them for distance, too. I didn't want to walk around like this:

But, being the vain yet insecure young woman, I could not fathom wearing nerd glasses.

You know the old saying? Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses. I couldn't risk it.

Plus, I had never seen a pair of prescription glasses that were my style...you know: cute, sassy, with just a touch of attitude. You just couldn't find them back then. So, I got contacts and loved them...except when I went somewhere overnight and forgot my case and my solution and had to put them in a Dixie cup on the bathroom counter and then forgot that's what was in the Dixie cup and drank them with my Tylenol. Oh, and when I got an eyelash or piece of dust under one of them - OMG! the pain? unbearable! Or when I had a few too many happy drinks and forgot they were in my eyes and slept in them - OUCH! I can honestly say I know what sandpaper feels like on my corneas! But I have lived with them happily now for more than a few years.

But, now, there are such cute, stylish, sassy eyeglass frames out there to choose from. And lots of cute stylish, sassy women out there who wear them...

I might just have to order some new glasses to wear instead of my contacts when I am feeling especially sassy. Plus, Bubba thinks I look secksy in them!

The Women Tell All!

2010-02-23T11:14:00.000-05:00

I don't really have much to say about the WTA episode. If you watched it, you weren't surprised with any of it, except maybe for the "Bachelor Gives Back" part. Predictable interviews with Gia, Michelle, Elizabeth, and Ali told us everything we already knew. I really like Ashleigh, I think she is the most real, down to earth, funny girl there - truly what you see is what you get. They all don't like Vienna but no one gave concrete examples of why, just that she never thought before she opened her mouth and she is immature. The whole Rozlyn segment was awkward and uncomfortable. ABC was trying really hard to shore up their case that they were right for kicking her off. Interesting that Jessie never told her story about them on the steps until right then. Didn't they do exit interviews with these girls to find out who knew what and when? I can't believe she swore on her child's life. Whether she was telling the truth or not, you don't do that. She is obviously under the control of some, maybe a lot of lawyers. Deny, deny, deny...until everyone forgets you. I really wish that ABC has some secret footage catching them in the act. Also interesting that they never named the producer in question. Kudos to Chris for not dignifying her comment about him hitting on the producer's wife with a comment of her own. Whatever. She was very defensive and condescending to all the women and Chris. Jake, um...whoever you choose, it is obvious that you are still deeply in love with Ali. You couldn't look at her without tears popping into your eyes. Should you have let her come back? Probably. Should you pursue her now? Maybe. Out of the public eye? Definitely.Outtakes are always the highlight of the WTA episode and these were no exceptions. My favorites were Tenley scaring the sh*t out of Gia hiding in the trunk, Jake looking at Gia's butt while she was leaning over the railing, and the people in the car yelling at Jake and Ali!Next week is the finale! Who will he chose?

Winter Olympics - Eye Candy Edition

2010-02-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

I have a question...

Bode Miller - Alpine skiing, USA

Bryon Wilson - Freestyle Skiing, USA

Chad Hedrick - Speed Skating, USA

J.R. Celski - Speed Skating, Short Track, USA

Anton Apolo Ohno - Speed Skating, Short Track, USA

Seth Wescott - Snowboard, USA

Shani Davis - Speed Skating, USA

Shaun White - Snowboard, USA

Louis Vito - Snowboard, USA

Tony Angiboust - Curling, France

Alexandre Bilodeau, Freestyle Skiing, Canada

Has anyone else noticed the plethora of handsome men in this Winter Olympics?

Winter Olympics - Fashion Edition

2010-02-18T09:33:00.000-05:00

I have been enjoying the Olympics as I always do. There is something about the passion, determination, and commitment of the athletes that makes me happy. I am in awe of their skills, their courage, and their drive. If I had just one tenth of that, I would be able to rule the world (or at least get off my but and exercise every now and again). One thing I have noticed this year, besides the amazing talent of the American athletes, is their cool uniforms. So I bring you the Vancouver Olympics Fashion Report.

From the Opening Ceremonies - by Ralph Lauren

Dashing, debonaire, studly, cool, dude...

Beautiful, sexy (but not too), stylish, gorgeous

Podium Jackets by Nike

Love the ombre look, very nice

Snowboard Suits by Burton

So very cool, love the plaid, love the pants that look like jeans

Bobsled/Freestyle Skiing by Under Armour

Love the stars, a little like pj's but if I could wear pj's to do my job, I totally would

Lindsay Vonn and Julie Mancuso's beanies by Ralph Lauren

So very cute! Love Lindsay's with the Olympic rings

Honorable mentions from other countries...

Canada's Torchbearer's mittens

Adorable!

However the award for greatest team uniform goes to:

The Norwegian Curling Team

Those silly Norsemen!

Next up, Winter Olympics - Eye Candy Edition

It will be the most BORING SEASON EVER!!!

2010-02-16T13:03:00.000-05:00

Why didn't Chris Harrison just tell us at the beginning of the season that Jake is the most boring bachelor ever? It might have saved us all some time. Even on the tropical exotic dates, there is just something so boring about him. I don't find myself invested in this season as much as season's past, possibly because I lost my innocence over the Jason/Molly/Melissa thing but also, Jake is just so...boring.

Anyhoo...on to the exotic dates in St. Lucia. "Mr. Dateless" is so obviously hung up on Gia's modelesque beauty that he has tricked himself into believing that she is more than just a pretty face. Right, Jake, she is more than a pretty face, she is pretty legs, boobs, tushie, etc. But as for brains...well...did I mention she is pretty? They have a boring date and kiss a lot. Off to the fantasy suite where Gia can show Jake how brainy she really is because you know in the fantasy suite the couple always plays Trivial Pursuit all night long!

His next date is with Tenly, or as I like to call her "MyX" because that is how she starts every sentence..."My X never did this with me." "My X wouldn't do that with me." "My X is still living in my head and I am totally not over him." Once again, boring date, lots of kissing. She is my favorite as far as she is the most mature. She asked Jake how he would pursue her in the real world when he didn't have ABC footing the bill and in true egomaniacal pilot form he told her he would be flying her to the Caymans at his every whim. Because that is what normal everyday men do when courting women in the 21st century. What ever happened to dinner and a movie? No wonder women these days have such high expectations and men don't even try - why should they if they can't live up to TV? Fantasy suite...blahblahblahnotbeenwithanyoneexceptmyXbutsureI'llgospendthenightwithyoublahblahblah.

Last date is with Vienna. This girl is 100% ho and I am sure that is what Jake likes about her. There's just something about Vienna, he keeps saying. Yea, she's a ho. She licked you, for crying out loud! And you licked her back? Do you know where that thing has been? And, boring date, lots of kissing, fantasy suite, more proof that she is a ho (negligee, closing the bedroom doors) and...scene.

Then, in the most unsurprising surprise development, Ali calls and tells Jake she made a mistake. Gosh! I didn't see that coming! I kind of hoped he would let her back in and kick Vienna to the curb but he was fresh off some fantasy suite action and wasn't about to let that go. Sorry, Ali, you will have to live with your regret for the rest of your life or at least until ABC casts you as the next Bachelorette.

Ok, rose ceremony...boring, who didn't guess who the roses were going to? Sorry, Gia, but the air in your head just couldn't keep Jake from blowing you off.

So, is Jake going to go with the girl who is still hooked on her X or the girl who is rated X? Next week is the Women Tell All where we will hear from Rozlyn and Ali and be teased by Chris. Tune in, or just stop by here on Tuesday!

Fix it Friday #43

2010-02-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

Original

Such beautiful eyes!

This one scares me a little...

To see more edits, head over to:

Foto Friday

2010-02-12T06:56:00.000-05:00

To see more, click here.

I may have to switch teams...

2010-02-11T07:00:00.004-05:00

Bubba and I were channel surfing the other night and the movie Cheaper by the Dozen 2 was on. We have both seen it before but there was nothing else on so we watched it. Little did I know there was an adorable and very young Taylor Lautner starring as Eliot Murtaugh, of the rival family to the Bakers. How on earth does this sweet young thing...

Turn into this...

Holy crap!

Happy 18th Birthday, Taylor! Now that you are legal, I don't feel so dirty when I drool over your photo.

The Craziest Season Ever!!!

2010-02-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

This is my stream of consciousness Bachelor post. I DVR'd it and and am watching it while I type...This is the hometown date week...

Gia

has to be the ugliest boat I have ever seen...what's with the clutching her hands under her chin...her brother is scary...that hair, those glasses...yikes, her mother says i hope he is the one that heals her heart... talk about pressure if he picks her...very wise that she can't ask him to love her...no one can love someone that quickly...fall in love maybe but true love takes time...red lipstick? really?!

Ali

so cute how he kissed her cheek and told her he missed her. awesome grandma's house love the charm. funny about her mom googling him...asking her if it is ok to marry her daughter...didn't do that with gia's mom. i think he really likes her...took off his gloves so that he could kiss her.

Tenley

oregon is pretty reminds me of germany look at him checking out her legs while she was dancing...didn't like her paper bag skirt...needed to be more flowy...liked her dad...down to earth and solid...i don't think she or her family has recovered from her divorce...still mourning the marriage...may be too soon...whole family is very emotional...asks dad for permission to marry her....VERY passionate kiss! wowsers!!!

Vienna

she is a total ditz...icky love fest between she and her dad...a little too close? he is a bit of a jacka$$...totally see him being right in the middle of their relationship...mom says V has had other women calling her out all her life...ding!ding!ding! what more do you need to know? she has not been nice her whole life....run from this girl! run fast! her dad totally walked in on them making out! preview of things to come? daddy will be walking in on them a lot...didn't see him ask for her hand.

Ali bombshell...is it really that hard to decide whether to stay there or go back to work...if you think you love him, you stay. period.the.end.do.not.pass.go.do.not.collect.a.bachelor! however...he didn't tell her to stay.

Chris Harrison..."thanks for quitting your job, but you're not the one!"

Ali looks like she swallowed something nasty...or took too many drugs...i do understand her dilemma..it would be different if she knew totally that he was going to pick her...glad he told her that he didn't want her to go...she is going totally into the ugly cry...somebody get that girl a tissue...he looks like he is going to blow chunks...i think she is making a huge mistake...he totally loves her...this has been the craziest season ever!

headed to st. lucia with Tenly, Gia, and Vienna...

what about the phone call? will Ali come back for ATFR?

I'm a Nguyener (Winner)!!!

2010-02-08T20:30:00.001-05:00

A while back I entered a contest over at Amyboo's. Since I never, EVER win anything, I didn't give it a second thought. And then, lo and behold (what exactly does that mean anyway?), I get an email from Amyboo herself stating that I had won. Today I received my booty in the mail. Check it, ladies. I give you COLD PLASMA...

Ok, that is a really small photo, sorry. Imagine, if you will, youth in a jar. This stuff is $150 an ounce! That means that this stuff costs $19,200 a gallon! So, it's not just youth in a jar, it's also gold in a jar!!! I am so excited! I would never spend that kind of money on beauty products. Can't justify it when there are house payments, car payments, food, etc that are more pressing. I am hoping that it will take away my wrinkles and other unmentionables that are marching across my face. I will keep you posted. I am hopeful that I will go from looking like this...

to looking like this...

I surrender!

2010-02-07T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Japanese Porn Spammers have won. I have to turn on word verification for my comments. Sorry.

Foto Friday

2010-02-05T08:48:00.000-05:00

Hopefully we will have a repeat of last weekend!

B2B

2010-02-03T08:43:00.000-05:00

subtitle: Dooce shouldn't have all the fun!

I am jumping into the world of (hopefully) paid blogging. Business 2 Blogger is a free service that connects bloggers with businesses who need exposure. Hopefully, I will be reviewing products, merchandise, services, etc. in exchange for some serious coin modest compensation. Check them out, they are giving away a $600 blog makeover from SMD by Shauna. If you like what you see, sign up! It's free! C'mon, all the cool kids are doing it!

I left my heart....

2010-02-02T16:01:00.000-05:00

In San Francisco...at least that what the Bachelor might be saying after this week!

The girls are on the road again and end up in San Fran in a huge suite all together. Fun, just what I want to do is spend all my time with the 4 other women who are dating my boyfriend!

Tenley got the first date and they ride a private cable car to China town. I really like their relationship, they seem so comfortable together. I wondered what was in the fortune cookies that they wrote themselves but knowing the Bachelor, it will be cheesy. Kudos to Jake again for asking the tough question about Tenley's marriage and her role in its demise. She had a great answer and I totally think she is the real deal even though her voice is a bit annoying. Oh, and I was right "Kiss me" is the fortune in both of their cookies. See? They are made for each other!

Whatshername (is it bad that I still don't know her name) told a funny joke when the next date card arrived - Ali and Vienna on a group date together? ABC, that would have been priceless! Shoulda done it, I'm just sayin'. Anyhoo, Gia and Vienna meet Jake at a castle in Napa. It seemed to me he was more excited about seeing Gia than Vienna, maybe he is finally taking to heart what the other girls are saying. This whole date can be described in one word...AWKWARD!!! From V monopolizing his time talking about Ali's meltdown, to V searching through the catacombs of the winery and getting lost, to V jumping into bed with a half-nekkid Jake, it was just all sorts of awkward...do you see the theme? She is very immature and not very nice. I think his attraction is purely physical since he admitted to "dirty thoughts" when she showed up in his room. He seemed mortified and sent her packing. While I do think Vienna is getting a bad edit, I also think that it could be a lot worse. I think they are not showing a lot of the behind the scenes stuff between she and the other girls. There has to be some reason for the entire group of women not to like her.

Side note...I can't stand commercials! I think I need Tivo. That is really sad, though, since I used to work in ad sales for a cable company putting commercials on the air!

Back to the drama...

CORRIE! That's her name, didn't remember until she got her date card. Sorry, but I see absolutely no chemistry between these two. Their whole relationship can be summed up in a word - math. Math? you say? Math. And here's why - She thinks that a man should go 90% of the way when initiating a kiss and the woman should only have to go 10%. Jake believes that a woman should go 20% and a man 80%. See the disconnect? Their lips will never meet - he will be hanging out at 80% and she will be sitting back at 10%...the kiss hangs somewhere in the middle. He is shocked by her admission that she is saving herself for marriage, but reassures her that it won't be the reason he sends her home - sure, Jake and I bet you have some waterfront property in Arizona you are willing to sell her, too.

Ali has the last date and she gets to plan the whole thing since SF is her adopted hometown. You can really tell they have great chemistry and he likes her a lot. Did he totally grab her heinie when they were kissing on the blanket? I think to a point Ali is also getting a bad edit and ABC is focusing on her hatred for Vienna and not the chemistry between those two. Again, kudos to Jake (the dude is a rock star when it comes to standing up for himself and asking the tough questions) for asking about her lack of love for Vienna. I was a little confused with Ali's answer but appreciated when she said it's in the past and it's not worth talking about it any more.

So, to end the most boring episode in Bachelor history, the cocktail party is tame, the conversations lame, and the only strange thing was Jake showing Vienna his bedroom - all the more reason to believe that he is keeping her for Little Jake and not Big Jake. It was pretty obvious who he was sending home and the rose ceremony was just a formality. Sorry, Corrie, you are just not fast enough for Jake. But one question...why does it sound like he is going to puke when he says Vienna's name?

Hometown dates next week! And a SHOCKING development! And no rose ceremony! Wha?

Oh, and are you ready?

Old Farmers Advice

2010-01-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

I swiped this from Layla over at The Lettered Cottage..so simple and yet so right!

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

I really like you, but....I'm the Bachelor

2010-01-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

I think you are a fantastic person, but...see ya later, you wacko!

I keep getting lost in your eyes, but...that's just because there is nothing behind them in your head!

You are a great mother, but...you're old enough to be mine!

You deserve a guy who sweeps you off your feet, but...I left my broom in my other pants!

I would like to listen to your sage advice, but...I am a dummy and don't believe anything I say before "but..."

Just a few of the noteworthy "but's" in last night's episode. My recap will be brief, as will this season if Jake keeps kicking off more women than he is supposed to! All I can say is...way to go! He totally let "ladies" go that he didn't have to. I am going to recap the dates in from most brutal to least.

The two-on-one date was totally brutal. Ella monopolized his time and Kathryn couldn't get a word in edgewise. There was absolutely no chemistry between Jake and Kathryn and he totally pulled the rug out from under her when he came back into the cabin after letting Ella go and told her he wasn't the man for her. Coulda fooled her! He's certainly not pulling any punches. Ella was the personification of class when he let her go. She told him to make a good choice and to be careful. Unlike most women who, when let go, tell him he is making a huge mistake. Maybe they think if it worked for Molly, it will work for them!

The group date was almost as brutal. From the way Vienna bounded off the RV and into Jake's un-waiting arms, to when Ali called shotgun with Jake and all the other girls just stood there, to the roll/tumble down the sand dune with Corrie, to the one-on-one time with Ashleigh filled with painful silences, to Vienna telling him she wanted the last one-on-one time of the evening, awkward was just abundantly flowing. I have to say I am getting a bit tired of the Vienna vs. Ali drama. Ali needs to back up her claims that if Vienna is what Jake wants then he can't possibly be the future husband for her. Vienna grated on my nerves a little more than usual last night, too and I loved it when Jake told her that she brings on the cattiness from the other girls herself. Reality check?!?! Anyhoo, Tenly got the rose for this date which was well deserved. She was the only one who had relaxed adult conversation with Jake, intermixed with some pretty hot kisses.

Gia's one-on-one date was cute. I think it is so adorable that Jake obviously doesn't feel comfortable driving a motorcycle and, yet ABC keeps putting him on the darn thing. Gia wore her appropriate motorcycle/camping attire of 5 inch stilettos and flowy chiffon tunic because nothing says motorcycle safety like floral and Manolo's. She was a trooper and hung in for Jake's outdoorsy date. Notice how he plied her with wine - "If we hurry up and finish this bottle, we can play spin the bottle so that you can relive your first, terrible, nightmare of a kiss!" I think they have good chemistry and she is pretty even-keeled. I did notice her New Yawk accent made a starring appearance in this episode! I hadn't noticed it until now.

Rose Ceremony! Wooohoooo, Jake! What moxie you showed by refusing to give roses to girls you don't see a future with. Why string them along for another week if you know you don't feel anything for them? I was surprised with Corrie - was thinking it would go to Ashleigh but, hey...

Roses went to: Gia, Tenley, Ali, Corrie, Vienna

No roses for: Ella, Kathryn, Jessie and Ashleigh

Next stop, San Francisco!!!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-01-26T08:48:00.000-05:00

Want to play? Head over to Supah's to see the deets...

Calling all bluffs??? Bluff, Party of two???

2010-01-19T08:37:00.000-05:00

I am a bit under the weather today, so my recap might be a bit scattered - sudafed induced crazy, some might say. But, I promise you, I will have nothing on the women from last night's Bachelor. Wow....

Jake seemed to really grow from last week's scandal with Rozlyn. And by grow, I mean a pair. This week he had a take no prisoners approach and wasn't havin' any crap. Go, Jake!

While I am not a big fan of Vienna, I do think she is getting a bad edit. She was very sweet with him, when they both conquered their fear of heights and bungee jumped off the bridge. I was very disappointed in Ali. Wow, her claws really came out last night. She was downright mean and scary in regards to Vienna and was borderline Mean Girls when she told Michelle "Aren't you going to raise your glass? It's like a pact." Yes, a mean, hateful, spiteful pact. The only moment of clarity Michelle had all night was right there. The rest of the time she was just a train wreck. Jake saw through her veil of calm and totally called her bluff. He had had enough at that point. Girls, note to self...cattiness is never beautiful. Ella's date at Sea World was kind of boring, which is how I feel about their chemistry. She is very nice and very sweet but I don't get any vibes from them at all. He had to give her the rose, though, after flying in her son you can't very well send her home on the same plane, can you? Elizabeth, who is a raging, brazen, shameless tease, gets livid when Jake calls her a tease. Um...tell a guy he can't kiss you and then tell him how turned on you are by him and how much you want to kiss him? Yea, you're a tease. Pretty much by definition. Bye, bye...

Roses go to: Gia, Corrie, Tenley, Ali, Jessie, Kathryn, and Ashleigh

That sends Valishia (who?) and Elizabeth packing.

Next week looks like the road trip from h*ll! Could be interesting!

Hysterical!!!

2010-01-14T08:19:00.002-05:00

Spoiler Alert!!! Shocking developments!!!

2010-01-12T09:26:00.000-05:00

And last night was just a laugh a minute! The much anticipated scandal episode. I'll get to all that later.

Starting with the first group date - the girls got to be in an InStyle photo shoot that ends up in the magazine. Some are professional models (Rozlyn, Gia), others are more natural models (Ashleigh) others just freak out (Christina). Rozlyn was first and knocked it out of the park, of course, except for the part where she flashed her "cha-cha." Gia was just stunning, I think she is the most beautiful girl there. I felt really bad for Christina and Jake did a great job helping her work out her nerves. Unfortunately, she had too much to drink and ruined her chances for a rose. And...Ashleigh, um, Slut City called...they want their mascot back! Breaking in on someone else's one-on-one time in a teeny weeny bikini is just plain slutty, besides the fact that you then wrapped your legs around him in the pool - icky!!! Rozlyn was a little less forward...NOT! When she went in for the kiss up on the roof she should have just strapped on her mask and flippers since she dove in head first! It looked to me like he wiped his face off before he excused himself - did any one else notice that? I also hated how she kept talking about winning - while I agree this is a competition between 25 woman, it should be about falling in love for the right reasons, not about winning. Just sayin'. But, she got the date rose anyway. Boo, Jake, bad instincts.

I was so happy when Ali got the one-on-one date. I liked her from the moment she got out of the limo. She does just seem so genuine. I loved how every time Jake would walk she would have to take two or three steps to his one - especially when they were running across the field to the Chicago concert. I think she will go far, but if they play "On the Wings of Love" one more time, I might puke in my mandatory Bachelor glass of wine.

Now, on to the crazy...Michelle. Period. That girl is twenty ways to crazy. I think she might even be crazier than Shannon, the tooth Nazi. Besides the fact that she is immature and throws a temper tantrum when she doesn't get a date, she turns on and off like a switch. Talk about fake - at the cocktail party, one minute she is telling the other girls that if he doesn't talk to her, she is leaving, and the next minute she is gushing to him about how great she is doing tonight! Ed was right - unstable!!!

And on to the next group date...Six Flags? OK, whatever. Nothing says I love you like getting sick on a roller coaster. Elizabeth brought the crazy when she took Jake aside and read him a prepared statement basically saying that she wouldn't share his lips with anyone. Um, have you not seen the Bachelor before? That is all they do is share lips with everyone! The Chapstick people are making a fortune off these kiss-a-holics! I didn't think he would buy into it, but I forgot for a minute that he's a man. Men love a good challenge and Elizabeth threw down the gauntlet. Just try and kiss me! She's a huge tease if you ask me (which you didn't, but oh, well). But it worked and she got the date rose. I really can't find anything redeeming about Vienna. Her "huge" confession was that she is impetuous and immature! Wow! Stop the presses, break into local programming. A 20-something self-professed Daddy's girl is impetuous and immature? Now that is breaking news! Whatever...

On to the cocktail party and all the drama. The rumors about this are swirling over the internet and you can read them anywhere. "Reality" is somewhere in there but I doubt we will ever know the full truth. Rozlyn was politely and awkwardly asked to leave by poor, uncomfortable Chris Harrison after he explained to her that an "inappropriate relationship" had taken place between she and a staffer. The staffer was no longer with "us" and she would have to pack her bags and leave immediately. While Rozlyn didn't seem surprised when Chris told her she was leaving, she did say that her personal life was no one's business. Of course, sweetie, I'm sorry but didn't you sign up to have your personal life broadcast to millions of people? I would like ABC to define "inappropriate" because they are leaving it wide open for interpretation. At the very least, I hope that they tell Jake exactly what the inappropriateness was so that he can move on without any issues. So, dramatic, to say the least, I thought Jake was pretty cool headed and I loved it when he said, "Can I have my rose back?"

Roses go to: Ali, Elizabeth, Vienna, Gia, Tenley, Ella, Valicia, Corrie, Jessica, Ashleigh, Michelle (felt the breeze of her exhale from here), and Katherine.

No roses for: Christina and Ashley

Next week: Another shocking exit?!?!?!

Two side notes:

1. I am lovin' the purple walls in the girls' living room. Does anyone think Bubba would let me paint something that color?

2. I can't wait to go see "The Rock" in Tooth Fairy!

Oh, and by the way, are you ready?!?!?!?

You Capture...The Year in Review

2010-01-07T16:08:00.001-05:00

Beth is doing the year in review for You Capture this week...enjoy

The Cheeze's 2009 in Review

Whew, what a year!

It will be the most AMAZING SEASON EVER!!!

2010-01-05T11:06:00.000-05:00

Ok, I watched, but with one eye closed. I have to admit that Jake is adorable. I'm not so keen on the blatant Top Gun references in the beginning montage - um, ABC, 1986 called, they want their movie back! Well, Jake is kind of short so that would translate to a Tom Cruise reference. Anyway, on to the crazy...

I have to start with Vienna. Her bio at the beginning set her up as the most shallow contestant ever! She is a self-professed "Daddy's girl", terrible driver (um - 8 cars?), princess who is loves herself. She goes on dates with her teacup chihuahua that she dresses in matching clothing. 'Nuff said. He'll keep her around for the entertainment value alone.

Then there is Christina. She describes herself as a boy's girl and needs practice with small talk with women. Um, if you told me you liked my shoes, I would think you were brainless. Listen, I am a shoe whore, but I don't use shoes as small talk. Everyone on this show is always accusing people of being fake and here you are practicing it! If you are a boy's girl, Jake will appreciate you for that and either like you for it or not. Quit pretending. Oh, and the parting gift, jelly bean thing...bad, bad, bad.

On to who may be the craziest contestant ever and not because she spoke to him in a foreign language. It was what she said. After reeling off a string of Cambodian and Jake saying that it was beautiful, she told him that it meant that he could "land his plane on her landing strip." Whoa! This one goes high on the TMI list. Not only did she invite him to do the horizontal bop, but she also revealed her grooming habits to millions of people! And Jake promptly said, "No rose for you!"

Now on to the favorites...

My favorite so far has to be Ali. She is cute, she seems grounded, and she had the flu/laryngitis and still managed to look stunning. The peacock feather was cute, but may have been cuter if she had kept it since it is how peacocks attract a mate - Jake doesn't need the help, he has 25 women falling over themselves to date him.

Speaking of falling, I've got to give props to Ashleigh. She claims that her fall was faked but if you watch it back, she is either the best at pratfalls since Dick Van Dyke or she really wasn't faking. Nice touch!

I did like Valishia's Texas dirt stunt - kind of sweet. It obviously worked because she got a rose.

In the teaser for next week's episode, there is a scandal on the way. I have heard rumors that one bachelorette has an "improper" relationship with a producer and that gets both of them booted from the show. Tune in...this just might be the most AMAZING SEASON EVER!!!

Ok, I know I said I wouldn't but I can't help myself

2010-01-04T16:58:00.000-05:00

I think I will be watching the Bachelor tonight. Who's with me? I know I swore off of it after the Jason/Melissa/Molly fiasco, but that seems to have worked out for the better since Melissa is now happily married and Jason and Molly seem to be moving in that direction. So, even though I disagree with how it was handled on air, Jason seems to have made the best decision for him. So, (that's a lot of "so's" - so sorry!) I will give it another chance. Besides, Jake is a hottie!

What's that? I can't see you!

2010-01-04T16:50:00.001-05:00

Today, I went to my yearly eye exam. Now that I am of a certain age, I always dread that I will get the dreaded "It's time for bifocals!" speech. I escaped unbifocaled today, however. Yea, for me! I did not escape the dilation fairy and had to drive and pick up BoyBoy with extremely blurry vision. You know the kind - the stones on the road glimmer, you can see the semi that is 1/2 mile ahead of you but can't read the numbers on your speedometer. I was a danger to myself and others! Why don't they tell you before you make your appointment that they are going to do that so that you can make other arrangements? I would have made my appointment earlier in the day or had my sister pick up BoyBoy. Sheesh! I just glad I didn't have to take this eye test!

A very Snuggie Christmas

2009-12-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

Foto Friday

2009-12-18T06:45:00.002-05:00

You Capture...Holiday Decor - Colonial Williamsburg Edition

2009-12-17T14:42:00.000-05:00

What not to do in the carpool line...

2009-12-16T16:50:00.001-05:00

BoyBoy's school has a double lane carpool line. I spend a good deal of time in this line every afternoon waiting for him to get out of school. There is a fine line between being too close to the front of the line and being stuck back in BFE. If I am too close to the front of the line, BoyBoy might not get outside in time for me to get to the front of the line and I will be forced to circle the parking lot and end up at the back of the line like some disorderly kindergartner. If I am too far back in BFE, BoyBoy will think that either I forgot to pick him up or panic that I have been in an accident and am bleeding on the side of the road (he comes by his worry gene naturally). There is jockeying that goes on amongst the carpoolers. Some will sit in the parking lot ready to pounce when the line gets just the right length. Others will arrive up to 45 minutes early so that they are the first ones in line. I am usually one of the former. I will sit in my car in the parking lot until the line gets exactly the right length and then jump in. This has given me plenty of time observing what people do in the carpool line while waiting for their children. It is sometimes funny, sometimes scary, sometimes disgusting, and often just plain weird. I have compiled a list of things NOT to do in the carpool line. Here they are in no particular order...

1. Pick your nose
2. Check out the enormous boogie that emerged from your nose
3. Flick said boogie out the window at the next car
4. Make your gyno appointment with your windows down, loudly explaining your symptoms to the nurse.
5. Sing at the top of your voice to Air Supply
6. Sing at the top of your voice to Pink
7. Sing at the top of your voice to anyone...
8. Have phone sex with your husband, boyfriend, or anyone else
9. Get out of your car, go into the building and not emerge until after the carpool line has had to leapfrog your car a thousand times.
10. Forget to turn off your blinker and sit there with it on
11. Talk on the phone to someone about the boy in your child's class who stutters and who's mother should have taken him to the speech therapist weeks ago - that boy's mother might just be sitting next to you in carpool line.
12. Talk on the phone to someone about the girl in your child's class who's skirts are always a bit too short and shirts a bit too revealing, question her mother's parenting skills, and cast dispersions on her father for allowing her out like that...see above.
13. Read a book, magazine, paper, etc and forget to look up every now and then to see if the line has moved
14. Honk at someone who is doing the above, they will move eventually
15. Jump out of your car, grab your kid, and try to leapfrog the line. If you are in such a hurry, park and go in a get your kid.

That's all I have at this point in the year. I am sure there will be more...stay tuned.

Triptofan???

2009-11-29T17:46:00.001-05:00

I am thankful...

2009-11-27T17:27:00.000-05:00

I am thankful. For lots of things, really. I know it might be cliché to only mention it once a year, but it’s times like these that remind us to look around at the things we might take for granted the other 300+ days out of the year.

I am thankful for my family. For my parents who are both still young at heart and love each other with reckless abandon. For my husband, who makes me laugh every day and loves me, warts and all. For my son, the smartest, funniest, coolest 6^th grader on the planet, who never ceases to amaze me with his kindness, intelligence, and wit. For my sister, an amazingly strong cancer survivor, who never stops moving, cleaning or loving her family. I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful that my husband has a job that doesn’t take him into harm’s way anymore. He served his country proudly and is now able to work for a company that values his service and rewards him for it. He is able to explore new avenues and do things he has never done before and, while that is a challenge to him sometimes, it is also an exciting new horizon. I am thankful for his job.

I am thankful for BoyBoy’s school. After many years in schools that weren’t equipped to challenge his mind, he is flourishing in his new middle school. They are pushing him and molding him, sometimes painfully, into a happier, more centered child. He is learning more than what is in the books; he is learning to be a better student, a better friend, and a better citizen. I am thankful for his school.

I am thankful for the opportunity to follow my passion. I have always loved photography and finally decided to make it my career. I am learning more with every picture I take and falling in love with photography all over again. I am using my creative brain for the first time in a long time and it makes me feel refreshed. I am grateful for my understanding, supportive and patient husband who is allowing me to chase this dream. I am thankful for my passion.

I am thankful for my dog. She greets me every day like I am her favorite person in the whole, wide world. She never gets mad when I leave her home alone all day and she keeps our backyard squirrel free. She is sweet and protective and loves to have her belly rubbed. And I gladly rub it because she loves me unconditionally. I am thankful for my dog.

I know that there are more things for which I am thankful. It is often in the little things that you find your treasures. Happy Thanksgiving!

Foto Friday

2009-11-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

Had a photo shoot with this cutie this week...

My New (but not my favorite) Commenters

2009-11-19T11:50:00.000-05:00

I have some new commenters that I am none too fond of. They go by names such as this:

救援部

and this:

裏バイト,

and this:

倶楽部

They have latched on to one post and keep commenting on it, ever-y sing-le d-ay. I don't know how to make it stop. What is most disturbing is, when I click on their comment to see where they are coming from, HOLY COW!!! My sweet, pure, innocent eyes fall out of my head, roll down the hall and wash themselves out with soap! I feel like I need to have my computer disinfected. How did they find me? How do I make it stop? I tried to moderate comments for that post but now I have to check every one and delete it. Does anyone have any ideas? I don't know how much longer my beloved computer will last with these nasty commenters. She's very sensitive to such things and gets her Southern sensibilities bruised easily. What would the FBI think if they happened to stumble across my blog? Or worse, my mother clicked one of those links? (Mom, don't do it!) Please, bloggy friends, help a blogger out - tell me how to make it stop!

Thank you.

2009-11-11T08:34:00.000-05:00

Thank you to my Bubba and to all the American Veterans!

You Capture...Photographer's Choice

2009-11-05T13:08:00.000-05:00

Beth has the flu and so does her daughter, so this week's theme is photographer's choice. I chose to highlight my beautiful niece, P, this week. I took these at the nearby school playground and pier with a wide angle lens I borrowed from borrowlenses.com. That place is the bomb!!! Anyhoo, she is a great subject and I think these capture her true personality. Isn't she beautiful?

For more photographer's choice photos, visit I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Achoo!!

2009-11-05T08:15:00.000-05:00

So, BoyBoy's school is closed tomorrow for swine flu. Okay, I get it. They are closing so that they can give the school a good old fashioned deep clean in the hopes of kicking the swine flu's butt. Only problem is...Friday's are always MY day. Why didn't they ask me? I have a few things I wanted to do on Friday. I am busy! I need my toes done, I am getting a massage to try and remove my shoulders from my ears, and I have a mentoring session with a local photographer. How am I supposed to do that with a BoyBoy hanging around? Don't get me wrong, I love me some BoyBoy time, snuggling on the sofa, watching movies together, etc, but I adore ME time almost as much. I have been looking forward to this mentoring session for a while and was hoping to gain insight into how to market my new business and find some ways to grow my little seedling. This photographer has graciously offered to sit down with me and answer my questions, hand out advise, and basically just nosh about the local photography business. She is a great photographer and I love her work and I know she will be a wealth of information for me. Why didn't the school consult with me first? Plus, I really need my toes done...

Happy Halloween!!!

2009-10-31T12:12:00.011-04:00

The long awaited, much postponed, annual pumpkin carving party finally happened Friday night. I believe a good time was had by all. Pumpkins were carved, and then carved some more. Stew and mummy wraps were eaten. Some candy might have been consumed and, all-in-all, Halloween was celebrated beautifully.

(My mother's pumpkin in honor of her beloved Yankees - GO, YANKEES!!!)

Forgiveness

2009-10-29T15:47:00.002-04:00

I read on MckMama's blog, the other day when she poured out her heart, a very wise comment. Her post was bravely about the struggles in her marriage and the steps she and Prince Charming are going through to get through the rough patches. She has always been honest and forthcoming about their ups and downs and I admire their faith and love of one another. What she said that caught me cold was:

As it relates to human forgiveness, forgiveness is for the forgiver, not for the forgiven.

I have had her statement rolling around in my head for a few days, can't stop thinking about it really. Made it my Facebook status, Twitter status, and it is on the chalkboard in the kitchen where I usually write my grocery list. I, like MckMama, thought that forgiveness was a gift to be bestowed on others, something you could withhold as a sort of punishment to let the guilty party know that they were still in trouble. You are not off the hook with me until I have forgiven you, so you better keep sucking up. This practice only works if the person who you think needs your forgiveness truly desires your forgiveness. And that is what I have been doing all wrong. The more I think about it, the more I realize how right she is. Looking back, I have always felt better when I have forgiven someone wholly and for the right reason and not just to "let them off the hook." How, when I forgive someone who I believe has wronged me simply because it is the right thing to do, I have often felt empty and bitter. Does this fall into the category of being the better person? Am I the better person if I forgive someone just to make myself feel better? When I forgive someone with my whole heart, aren't we both healed? Maybe forgiveness isn't what that person was seeking, but by giving it to them, I have found something in myself. Forgiveness in this way, with your whole heart and only for you is harder than doing it the other way. But, if I can do it right, it can be so much better.

There is a reason God has kept this in my head this week. I believe He thinks I may need to work on my forgiveness skills. At this time in my life, I have few things that I need to forgive for myself and maybe why it was sent to me now. I can work on forgiving for me when it is a bit easier and when the hard stuff comes along, I will be a pro. I can forgive myself for getting angry when the toothpaste top is left off or when the socks are on the floor. I can forgive myself for getting my feelings hurt when someone doesn't return my call or criticizes my choices. I can practice my forgiveness until it becomes second nature. And then I will be able to forgive others for myself.

Thanks, MckMama and God...sometimes I need a nudge.

***Continue to pray for sweet Stellan, his SVT is back with a vengence.

Stellan...

2009-10-28T14:00:00.000-04:00

Pray for this sweet baby, he is not doing well...

Oink, oink...

2009-10-25T16:14:00.006-04:00

Today would have been the perfect day for the Cheezes' annual Pump kin Carving Party.

Beautiful, blustery autumn day,

huge pumpkins with cool stems at the pumpkin patch,

perfect weather for eating soup,

and mummy wraps.

However, this is how we are spending our day...

(Poor Bubba)

Don't worry...the carving will go on. Just a little later than expected. Feel better soon, Bubba! (not Sneezer!)

One of my biggest fans

2009-10-24T20:50:00.004-04:00

So I have been told that I need to pick up the posting...my dad misses it. Isn't that sweet? He has always been one of my biggest fans.

I have been so preoccupied with school starting for BoyBoy and my new venture that coming up with blog fodder has been on the back burner. So, G-dad has given me the poke in the rear that I needed to get back on my blogging horse.

I can't promise that I will always be witty, thought-provoking, snarky, or just plain babbling but I can promise that I will make time for this blog. I may only post once or twice a week but, in the words of Arnold, "I'll be back!"

2009-10-20T17:27:00.003-04:00

New post up over here...still a work in progress.

BTW, April's DH had a small heart attack today...please keep them in your prayers.

CH CH CH CH CHANGES....

2009-10-07T09:40:00.004-04:00

OK, I have been absent from here for a while now and ~~a lot of you~~, ~~some of you~~, one of you has thoughtfully asked where I have been. I have started a new venture and it has taken up a huge chunk of my time and energy.

Wheezer is proud to announce.....(fanfare, drum roll, etc.)

Shutter Girl Photography!

Check it out! I have started my own photography business! I have always loved taking pictures and after ~~tons~~, ~~many~~, a few people telling me that I was good, I took the plunge and launched my business in August. I have had a few clients and hope that, with some creative marketing, and word of mouth, my new baby will take off. BoyBoy is my webmaster; Bubba, my biggest cheerleader.

I have created a photography blog and with the help of April, I hope to have that up and running soon. As soon as it is camera ready, I will come back and share the link with you all! I hope you will follow me there!

Sad

2009-08-24T16:30:00.005-04:00

I am sad today.

I found out over the weekend that the basketball coach for my Alma mater passed away on Saturday morning. He had beaten and then been beaten back by cancer.

He was a man who knew how to fight - a Vietnam Veteran ranger, a nationally recognized basketball coach for a division III team, a husband, a father, mentor, and friend. I first met him when I was a timid freshman with a knack and desire to manage the basketball team. He scared me. Close cropped hair, no nonsense manner, deep voice and steely stare, he showed me around the gym, shared his expectations and left me with his final instruction: "You will NOT be a distraction to my players. If you are here to find a boyfriend, there's the door." I took him at his word and only disobeyed him once in my four years as his go-to girl. I made a few mistakes and he was, at first, irate at each one and, later, kind and good humored. He helped me to learn from my mistakes, both behind the scorers' table and in the real college world. In his own way, he showed all of us how to be better at everything we did. He challenged us to question our limitations, push our boundaries, search for our passions, and follow our hearts. He let us into his personal life and shared his wife, son, daughter, and dog with us. Through them, he showed us loyalty, passion, patience, tenderness, and love.

My time at Emory & Henry was full of learning both academically and personally. It was a short but full four years. The impact he has had on my life since then, in retrospect, has been enormous. That is what makes me so sad. My failure to ever tell him in so many words the impact his mentorship has had on me makes me sad. I have seen him a few times since graduation but never have I looked him in the eye and told him what he meant to me. I hope he knew. I do know that someday I will see him again up in that big basketball court in the sky and I will thank him.

Rest in peace, Coach J.

Foto Friday

2009-08-21T11:08:00.001-04:00

Foto Friday

2009-08-14T14:08:00.002-04:00

Foto Friday

2009-08-07T07:00:00.002-04:00

Amazing April!!!

2009-08-04T17:44:00.002-04:00

Wheezer is up to something which is the reason for my absence in the blog sphere lately. I am not ready to blog about it but I am entering myself in April's great give-away to help with my new something! Check out April Showers to see what she is giving away!

Stellan...

2009-07-26T20:21:00.003-04:00

Stellan is in need of our prayers, again...Please pray for this sweet baby.

Where's Wheezer?/Foto Friday

2009-07-24T09:53:00.006-04:00

We have been busy! BoyBoy needed a bigger room, so we took this:

Former guest room

And with a little hard work,

some internet shopping,

and a quick shuffle of furniture, we now have this:

The Sweetest 12 Year Old on Earth!

2009-07-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

Twelve years ago today, I was 6 months pregnant with BoyBoy, on a plane from California to Virginia to be with my sister for the birth of her second child. The baby was due on July 19th, so I thought I was good if I arrived five days before the due date. Well, little Miss P had other ideas and came two days early while her Aunt Wheezer was on a plane halfway across the country. That's OK... the first time I saw her, I forgave her. The spitting image of my sister with a shock of dark brown hair that stood on end, I was totally in love. Twelve years later, that love has only grown. She is the sweetest, coolest, funniest, fastest, greatest 12 year-old girl on the planet. I love spending time with her, so for her birthday, I kidnapped her. But only after I ballooned her...

She was a willing hostage. Can't you see how her smile lights up the room?

I didn't tell her where we were going. I dropped a few hints: tattoo parlor, piercing pagoda, biker bar. She was still smiling. That's how she is. So I continued my mission to be her favorite aunt (a daunting task since my brother-in-law has 4 sisters and 2 sisters-in-law!). We arrived at our first stop...Pedicures for us both.

She and I giggled, talked about boys, swimming, school, and what designs we wanted on our toes.

(BTW, the little feet are mine...I have baby feet and have to shop in the kids dept)

Then it was off to the Fresh Market for yummy sandwiches. She was so much fun. I kept trying to get her to pick out a cake for her birthday and she wouldn't. So, I went over to the bakery section with her and said, "I'll get one if you get one!" She relented, but only for a cookie. Mmmmmm!!!

Can I just tell you how much I love this girl? I hope she lets me keep kidnapping her for a long, long time.

Foto Friday

2009-07-10T10:13:00.001-04:00

You Capture...Fourth and Food

2009-07-09T15:54:00.005-04:00

What is the Fourth of July Parade without Uncle Sam?

Or decorated bikes?

Or Firework Deelie Boppers?

Or Beer Cups?

Or great friends?

Historical

2009-07-08T12:34:00.005-04:00

McMommy clued me in to this via Twitter: Wednesday afternoon is historic. Why? The time and date will read 12:34:56 7/8/9. Happens once a century. Cool.

The Tour de Lance

2009-07-07T11:30:00.002-04:00

May I just tell you how glad I am that Lance Armstrong is back in the Tour de France this year?

Ever since my sister's battle with Hodgkin's-Lymphoma back in 2001 and Lance's subsequent Tour win, my family has been a LiveStrong family. My sister discovered her cancer after getting in shape on a spinning bike, so the jump to Lance as a hero was a short one. She was in the throes of chemotherapy when he won his third Tour de France. We were inspired by his story: he was given less than a 40% chance of survival and was told he would never ride again, he lost 50% of his muscle mass due to his treatments and yet he fought his way back to the bike and ultimately won the Tour de France an unprecedented 7 times. He became our hero - a living, breathing, biking example of what heights the human spirit can attain.

I have never given up that hero worship. We were lucky enough to be living in Germany in 2005, the year of his 7th and last win, when the Tour dipped into Germany for a stage finish. Bubba, BoyBoy and I boarded a train to Karlsruhe, only 3 days jet lagged, to watch the finish. Apparently, the stage was a fairly boring one, with all but 3 riders finishing in the peleton. But we didn't care. Hours of sponsor cars tossing all sorts of swag out of their windows, there was a carnival atmosphere to the whole thing. It was a world shrinking experience; on my cell phone with my mom who was watching on OLN back at home in the states, looking across the course at a German man with a LiveStrong shirt on and sharing a knowing look that said "Cancer has touched me, too," and feeling the breeze as 100+ riders zoomed past us in a rainbow of noise and speed. I caught a glimpse of Lance's back and knew that I had been that close to greatness. I will never forget it.

Then, he retired. I missed him. The Tour was not as compelling, not as exciting, not as interesting to me anymore. Too many doping scandals, too many uninteresting bikers. Lance's story was one for the ages. It simply cannot be matched. So, I am glad he is back. He is coming back humbly. He will serve in the role as domestique, giving back to the riders who pulled him all those years. While I respect his humility, I also respect his competitive spirit. I don't believe he will stay too far from the lead. Team Astana will be pushed to its limit by their bull of a rider. He will push them to do better, bike harder, compete smarter and finish stronger than they ever have. And the team and the sport will be better for it.

LiveStrong, Lance, long may you ride.

Foto Friday

2009-07-03T09:35:00.000-04:00

Foto Friday

2009-06-26T09:04:00.003-04:00

An Angel Gets Her Wings

2009-06-25T13:48:00.002-04:00

Rest in Peace

Go forth and multiply...

2009-06-23T13:21:00.006-04:00

You might remember that we have a bit of a critter collection going on in our back yard. I have already described Melly's squirrel problem and shown you how we're handling the rabbit problem. Well, the squirrel problem has been solved somewhat with this. They are not all gone, but their population has decreased since they have had to look elsewhere for lodging. But, seriously, over the winter, the backyard rabbits took it upon themselves to follow the good Lord's wishes and multiply, multiply, multiply. Some of them may even have added, regrouped and cosin-ed a bit. Every day we have a multitude of fuzzy, cuddly, adorable, cotton-tailed bunnies eating every blade of grass, clover, and pansy in our yard. Melly loves to chase them but they are smart enough to know where the invisible fence is so they hang out just on the other side of the line. Smart little dudes. I love seeing them in the evenings, nestled in a patch of clover. Last night, there was one in the front that didn't seem to mind having his photo taken. He was content to eat the crabgrass and clover.

And, just as I was going back in the house, the good Lord gave me a sign that he liked the rabbits, too.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T12:23:00.002-04:00

I love my dad. He is crazy smart, sneaky funny, addicted to golf, hopelessly in love with my mother and an overall big softie. He raised my sister and me with quiet strength and taught us how to do things right. He loves his grandchildren with reckless abandon and admires his sons-in-law for loving his daughters, quirks and all. Happy Father's Day, G-Dad!

Foto Friday

2009-06-19T12:31:00.002-04:00

Praying...again

2009-06-19T07:32:00.001-04:00

Please put on your prayer hat again for sweet baby Stellan. He is back in the hospital with SVT.

King George

2009-06-15T09:29:00.003-04:00

Friday night, Bubba and I went to see George Straight in concert. It was totally awesome and George didn't disappoint! I have to admit that I am a converted country music fan. Didn't really like it until I met Bubba and he turned me on to George Straight. George is the real deal. He is so cool without trying. He is "the fireman," after all. The concert was held in the local outdoor amphitheatre which gives it a more intimate feeling. We got great tickets by accident and we were dead center about 10 rows up. We bought the most expensive beers ever and then took our picture waiting for the show to start.

George's opening acts were Julianne Hough (from Dancing with the Stars - when she came on stage Bubba started drooling and said "schwing!!!") and Blake Shelton. I had never heard Julianne sing so my expectations were non-existent. She was so cute and adorable...like a little pocket princess. I enjoyed listening to her (although she should probably stick with the dancing...) and watching Bubba googoo over her. My favorite song that she sang was "My Hallelujah Song." Blake was great as well. He is kind of a character and about 7 feet tall. Loved his song called "Some Beach." I think it will be my new happy place song.

And then there was George... What can I say? He was amazing, awesome, funny, adorable, sexy, and one of a kind. He sang most of his greatest hits as well as a couple of new ones. He even sang "Folsom Prison" as one of his encores.

One from the Jumbotron...he is an old troubadour!

George, you rock! I can't wait for you to come back!

Foto Friday

2009-06-12T09:35:00.001-04:00

Surprise, Bubba! We're going to see George Straight!!!

You Capture...Nature

2009-06-11T10:26:00.009-04:00

Here is my first attempt at You Capture...

This week's theme is Nature...easy, peasy for me since I have been obsessed with taking pictures with my new camera and, since no one wants me to take pictures of them, I have been stalking all the foliage in my backyard. By the way, have I told you how much I love my new camera???

The beautiful, yummy, pom-pommyness of these hydrangeas just makes me happy!

This one is hanging in my screened porch...I think it is called foxglove. So pretty and dainty...like me! (LOL!!!)

Large hanging basket of petunias hanging from the shed. Love their colors!

Front stoop flower pot...got one just like it on the other side....I am all about balance!

Azaleas...can't take credit for these...they have been here forever from the looks of them...maybe even before the dinosaurs.

That's a tour through the nature that is my backyard. How about yours?

100 Truths

2009-06-08T19:27:00.004-04:00

Since I seem to be in a blogging funk, meme's are the only thing that are keeping me going...

April got tagged and then tagged everyone with this doozy. Don't fall asleep reading it...it is long, but compelling!

1. Last beverage → Hardees iced tea.

2. Last phone call → Bubba

3. Last text message → haven't crossed over to the dark side yet.

4. Last song you listened to → Sober, by Pink...sad.

5. Last time you cried → This afternoon...BoyBoy had some drama today and he was fighting back tears...that always makes me cry (in another room so he doesn't see me)

SIX HAVE YOU EVER:

1. Dated someone twice? → Yes, sadly.

2. Been cheated on? → Yes, sadly.

3. Kissed someone? → Yes, happily.

4. Lost someone special? → Yes, many times over.

5. Been depressed? → Yes, little blue pill is my friend

6. Been drunk and threw up? → ummm, yes?

LIST FOUR FAVORITE COLORS:

1. Purple

2. Green

3. Yellow

4. Red

HAVE YOU:
1. Made new friends → every time I moved!

2. Fallen out of love → No, they always fell out first.

3. Laughed until you cried → Yes!

4. Met someone who changed you → Definitely.

5. Found out who your true friends were → Yes.

6. Found out someone was talking about you → yes, not fun....what did I ever do to them?

7. Kissed anyone on your Facebook friend's list → Nope.

8. How many people on your Facebook friends list do you know in real life → 100%...I am picky that way

9. How many kids do you want to have → the one I have is enough, thanks!

10. Do you have any pets → Melly the dog and 2 fish.

11. Do you want to change your name → Used to but now I like it's uniqueness.

13. What time did you wake up today → 7 am

14. What were you doing at midnight last night → Bubba.

15. Name something you CANNOT wait for → George Straight - Friday night!!!

16. Last time you saw your father → Thursday...had lunch with him and my mom.

17. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life → Nothing...pretty satisfied right now, although winning the lottery would be nice

18. What are you listening to right now → the sound of silence

19. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom → have several friends named Tom, Thom, and Thomas

23. What's getting on your nerves right now? → BoyBoy's school

24. Most visited webpage → Next

1. What's your name? → Not telling

3. Relationship Status → married

4. Zodiac sign → Taurus

5. Male or female or transgendered → female

6. Primary School → St. Andrews

7. Middle School → HRA

8. High school → HRA

10. Hair color → Blonde

11. Long or short → short

16. Height → 5’1 1/2”…pushing it.

17. Do you have a crush on someone? → Tommy Lee Jones but only in "The Fugitive"

18: What do you like about yourself? → My sense of humor...it has gotten me through some pretty tough times.

19. Piercings → My ears…6 times

20. Tattoos → None

21. Righty or lefty → Righty.

FIRSTS :

22. First surgery → Spinal Fusion - 9 years old

23. First piercing → Ears, 13 years old

24. First best friends → Tamera and Anne Hayden

26. First sport you joined → Does sideline watching count?

27. First pet → Daisy - the best $5 dog in the world!

28. First vacation → Learned to walk in Nags Head, NC

29. First concert → Donny Osmond - he was the grooviest! I even wore my purple socks!

30. First crush → David Noffsinger

RIGHT NOW:

49. Eating → Nothing...

50. Drinking → Iced tea.

52. I'm about to → Watch Greek.

53. Listening to → birds outside my window.

55. Waiting for → Bubba to get home from his trip

YOUR FUTURE :

58. Want kids? Got 'em

59. Want to get married? Done!

60. Careers in mind? Love to free lance interior design.

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?

68. Lips or eyes → Both...yummy

69. Hugs or kisses → Hugs - I could hug Bubba and BoyBoy forever.

70. Shorter or taller → Taller.

71. Older or Younger → Older...but just a bit

72. Romantic or spontaneous → Romantically spontaneous. (Thanks, April!)

73. Nice stomach or nice arms → Butt...

74. Sensitive or loud → Both

75. Hook-up or relationship → I'm in it for the long haul...

77. Trouble maker or hesitant → Bubba is a troublemaker!

HAVE YOU EVER :

78. Kissed a stranger → Nope

79. Drank hard liquor → Yep

80. Lost glasses/contacts → Nope

81. Sex on first date → Nope

82. Broken someone's heart → Yes, sadly, once.

83. Had your own heart broken → Yes, sadly, thousands of times

85. Been arrested → Nope

86. Turned someone down → Yes

87. Cried when someone died → Every time

88. Liked a friend that is a girl? → There was this one time, at church camp...Just kidding. I just don't roll that way.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

89. Yourself → Yes

90. Miracles → Definitely

91. Love at first sight → Maybe

92. Heaven → Yes

93. Santa Clause → Totally!

95. Kiss on the first date? → Maybe.

96. Angels → Yes!

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:

97. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → I am enjoying a little quiet, alone time right now, but I miss Bubba.

98. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time? → Never, monogamy rocks!!!

99. Posting this as 100 Truths? → If I have to.

100. There wasn't one - huh???

Foto Friday

2009-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

A rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day anywhere else...

Crazy 8's

2009-06-03T09:53:00.005-04:00

Soxy Deb challenged everyone to complete this meme. I haven't done this one so I thought, what the hey, I'll do it. Here goes:

8 things I am looking forward to:

1. Fourth of July - the fearsome foursome will be back together for the day and it's gonna rock! We haven't been together since Kimmie moved back to the USA in the fall of 2007. If the patio's rockin'...come on over!!!

2. Next Friday night I am going to surprise Bubba with something huge!!! Can't write about it here because he reads my blog. Bubba, don't try to weasel it out of me...I am so excited!

3. The end of school for BoyBoy. I love hanging out with him in the summer.

4. Summertime in general. I love the weather, thunderstorms, sandy beaches, pool side, beach books...all of it!

5. Gosh, I don't have all that much to look forward to. Do I really have to think of 8?!?!

6. Getting new tennis shoes. Mine are getting yucky and they are permanently dyed red from the concrete stain.

7. Did I already say next Friday? Bubba, you are going to be so psyched!!!

8. My good friend, SJ, is having her second baby any day now. Can't wait to meet him!!!

8 things I did yesterday:

1. Rode my bike a looooonnnnnngggg way. My bedonkadonk is sore but it felt so good. I have no idea how far I rode but it took me an hour round trip.

2. Read blogs...duh!

3. Took something back to Old Navy...bought the bottoms instead of the top to a bathing suit I wanted...oops!

4. Ate lunch at Chic-Fil-A....mmmmm, chicken strips salad with blue cheese dressing and unsweet tea, mmmmmm.

5. Talked to my friend, SJ, on the phone for about an hour.

6. Talked to my sister on the phone about a million times - and I am NOT exaggerating.

7. Went to the funeral home visitation for my great aunt who lived to be 93 and had the greatest giggle.

8. Watched Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern - that kat is crazy!!!

8 things I wish I could do:

1. Whistle through my fingers really loud.

2. Scuba dive - claustrophobic...phew!

3. Win the lottery.

4. Afford laser hair removal for all the important parts - waxing hurts and shaving is a pain in the tushie.

5. Meet Oprah - I just know that we would be BFF's.

6. While we are on the subject of meeting people, I would love to meet Jason and Molly so that I can dope smack them both!

7. Eat more fruits and veggies - don't like 'em.

8. Tell my loved ones how much they mean to me every day.

8 shows I watch:

1. Survivor

2. American Idol

3. Amazing Race

4. Top Chef

5. America's Next Top Model (are you sensing a trend?)

6. Hell's Kitchen

7. Anything on HGTV

8. Greek

8 favorite fruits:

1. Strawberries

2. Peaches

3. See #7 under "things I wish I could do"

8 places I'd like to travel:

1. Australia

2. Belize

3. Turks and Caicos

4. Alaska

5. Back to Canary Islands

6. Back to Rome - this time with Bubba

7. Seattle

8. Back to London

8 places I've lived:

1. Here

2. Manhattan, Kansas

3. Orlando, Florida

4. Ft. Irwin, California

5. Leavenworth, Kansas

6. Bad Kreuznach, Germany

7. Mainz, Germany

8. Kaiserslautern, Germany

OK, that's it...everything you never wanted to know about me. Again, like Soxy Deb, I am not going to tag anyone. Do it if you want to, just tell me if you do so that I can go read yours! I'll read yours if you read mine!

The First Day of the Rest of Our Lives

2009-06-01T09:37:00.003-04:00

Today, Bubba started his new job. He was so excited. It was making me giggle. He picked out his clothes and then checked with me to make sure they were OK. It is the first time in his adult life that he has had to do that, so it was a bit daunting. He made sure he had all of his documents together - passport, Social Security card, driver's license. The grin on his face and the pep in his step was priceless. I am so proud of him.

It is a bittersweet day for me. We have been hanging out for the last six weeks and it has been great. If anyone had told me that we would have had so much fun, I would have thought they were crazy. But we did. We worked our heinies off some days, relaxed others, played hooky on one or two. It was great. We didn't get on each other's nerves, we didn't fight, we were creative, productive and industrious. I am going to miss hanging out with him every day - sitting on the porch reading the newspaper, eating lunch together on the new patio, playing with the dog. It was fun.

I have two weeks to myself until BoyBoy is out of school. I really don't know what I am going to do with myself. Maybe some retail therapy to get me through? Old Navy, here I come!!!

The Hammer

2009-05-30T06:30:00.001-04:00

There is a commercial here for a local personal injury lawyer. You know the type...angry for you that you have been wronged, angry at the person/place/thing that wronged you, angry that they have money that they should give to you for having wronged you, angry that his boxers are riding up his behind...overall, just an angry guy. He yells from the beginning of the commercial to the end, telling you how you should be angry, too. You should call him so that you can commiserate with him over both of your anger. He can take away your anger. He will make it his personal crusade to take your anger out on everyone who ever crossed your path. You have been wronged!!! You must be righted!!! He can help!!!

What I want to know is: are there really people that call him? 1-800-You-Hurt? Now, this is coming from a former legal assistant for a personal injury lawyer, so, I know that there are truly folks out there that have been wronged, either by the negligence of someone else or by a corporate giant who doesn't care about the little people. However, all of the clients of the firm that I worked for were truly, truly wronged, in this case, by a large corporation. Their negligence led to the painful cancer deaths of many, many skilled laborers and the equally painful illnesses of countless others. These people (and their surviving families) deserved to be compensated. They did their job and they got sick.

My problem is with those ambulance chasers, those unscrupulous bloodsuckers who prey on people in their hour of need. America is a litigious society and it has created an angry atmosphere everywhere. Those lawyers who prey on the less informed and create lawsuits where there really isn't one are the root of evil. If we lived and learned to take responsibility for our actions and not expect to have our mistakes paid for by someone else, we would be a much happier society. Those lawyers should be outlawed. I know they are just trying to make a living, but if you are so desperate to make a buck, go work at McDonald's and quit making those obnoxious commercials.

OK, off my soapbox...thanks for letting me vent.

Foto Friday

2009-05-29T06:57:00.001-04:00

On this day, 14 years ago...

2009-05-28T08:05:00.005-04:00

I married my best friend. I love him more today than ever. He is my best friend, my hero, my confidante, my own personal joker, and my greatest champion.

I love him for many things...

how he puts the towel over his shoulder when he is creating masterpieces in the kitchen,

how he waits for me to put my corners on the bed when we are making it together,

how he makes sure my car is always locked,

how he pretends not to like our dog even though secretly he is giving her treats,

how he looks in the mirror every morning and says, "Damn, I'm good lookin'!"

how he makes all of BoyBoy's stuffed animals talk,

how he makes the best mixed drinks,

how he served our country for 22 years and, now, is excited about the next phase of our lives,

how he loves our son with every bone in his body,

how he loves me.

I love you, Bubba! Here's to 50 more!

Happy Memorial Day

2009-05-25T14:44:00.002-04:00

Today I am grateful for every soldier's sacrifice.

And I am proud of my soldier and my son.

Just Askin'

2009-05-19T07:00:00.003-04:00

Did I not get the memo that yesterday was drive like an idiot day?

Not Me!!!

2009-05-18T10:42:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This is my first foray into the Not Me! Monday! carnival. I always chuckle at MckMama's shenanigans but can never think of any for myself. This week, however, is different...so here goes.

I certainly did not forgo a shower almost everyday this week, even after working out, so that I could watch the workers put in our new patio. Nope, not me!

I also did not sit in a lawn chair, tanning my legs, drinking iced tea in the 90 degree heat while those same workers sweated buckets. Again, not me!

I did not get really upset when Danny Gokey was voted off American Idol. I also absolutely did not swear not to vote in the finale. Wasn't me!

I did not secretly wish that Victor and Tammy would trip and fall and lose the Amazing Race so that Margie and Luke would win. Uh uh, not me!

Bubba did not cook 8 burgers on his new grill the first night even though, as a family, we only need three. Nosiree, not him!

The Cheeze family did not eat burgers for lunch for three days straight because of Bubba's over-excitement over his new grill. Nope, not us!

We also absolutely did not stay in our pajamas yesterday until well after noon. Lazy? Not us!!!

And that is my first entry into Not Me! Monday!

The Big Patio Project!

2009-05-16T12:02:00.009-04:00

Ever since we got married, Bubba and I have dreamed of having our own house and being able to have a great grill, patio, basketball court, and basically awesome outdoor space. Finally, after 14 years of marriage and 22 years of moving for the Army, we have our home for good and are able to make our dreams come true. This past week, we had a patio, basketball court, and new front walk installed by a great concrete company. I wanted to maintain the integrity of our old house and so we chose stamped concrete (way cheaper than brick, pavers, decks, or composite). We are very happy with the results and have already had a dinner cookout as well as a breakfast cookout this morning. Here are the pictures I promised.

The front walk in progress:

Stamping the pattern:

The finished product:

The patio in progress:

Putting in the color:

The finished patio during cookout #1:

Bubba and the Concrete Guy discussing world peace:

BoyBoy and his boys on the trampoline with the bball court in progress:

The first cookout!

Whew!

2009-05-13T20:03:00.003-04:00

I am slacking on the blogging lately due to the fact that Bubba is home for a month before he starts his new job. We are tackling the honey-do list daily and beautiful weather has given us much time to work outside. Phase two of the patio was completed today and hopefully, the last phase will be done tomorrow. I will post photos when it is done and prettified. The list is still long and will probably demand many more trips to Lowes, Home Depot, the emergency room, etc. I promise to keep you posted. I am still reading and commenting as much as possible. I can't function without my daily bloggieness!!!

To Nannie

2009-05-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the day that we honor our mothers.

And so I am giving thanks.

For my mother is one like no other.

Her love is stronger than the Federal Reserve Bank.

She raised me with love and with caring

Even though I plucked on her nerves.

The patience of Job, not overbearing,

Even when I didn't deserve.

She laughed with me and she cried,

When I was too much to handle.

She taught me to read and ride.

No one to her holds a candle.

Appreciation for others, manners, and grace.

A love for the beach and for books and for food;

A place for everything, everything in it's place.

Tolerance for even the worst of my moods.

She raised me to believe in myself,

To be strong and soft and brave.

She was an example of beauty herself;

To be like her is what I crave.

She loves me in spite all of my faults,

And I love her in spite of hers.

It is my mom that this poem exalts.

Nannie, you're the cat's pajamers!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!!

2009-05-05T10:17:00.002-04:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone!

Please feel free to have one of these....

or these...

and try not to end up like this...

Jenna-isms

2009-05-04T08:20:00.003-04:00

Back in April, we went on a cruise with another family. They have two smaller children and their youngest, Jenna is four years old. She is a precocious four year old and princess of quite a lot. She worships BoyBoy and tells anyone who will listen that he is her boyfriend and she is going to marry him. Poor BoyBoy tolerates it as best he can and is remarkably kind to her. It makes her love him even more.

Being four years old can be brutal. No one understands you. You have many demands that no one seems to want to meet. You are your own island. Being your own island requires your own language. After spending a week with her, I was able to translate some of her language and I am pleased to share some of it with you.

Boyly: Not girly. "These toys are too boyly for me to play with."

Lookinat: Picture book. "This is a lookinat book not a reading book."

Pinkiesup: The proper way to do anything if you are a princess. "You have to drink with pinkiesup!"

Wrestle time!: The time in the afternoon or evening set aside specifically for wrestling. "C'mon Mr. Bubba! It's wrestle time!!!"

Rubber: Rub. "I need you to rubber my back so that I can fall asleep."

Job Changer: Walk-in closet. "Daddy goes into the job changer when he gets home to get out of his uniform."

Trustes: believes "Nobody trustes me."

It's tough being a princess...

This Is It!

2009-04-28T20:31:00.002-04:00

Bubba's last day wearing the uniform...

He looks happy, no?

Retirement, here he comes!

He's Out!

2009-04-27T16:20:00.004-04:00

I am sure that the McK family is thankful for all the prayers over the last 5 weeks...Stellan is out of the hospital and on his way home...

And if you want to see BoyBoy's entry in Stellan's Name Gallery, click here.

The Sound of Freedom

2009-04-27T15:21:00.006-04:00

This past weekend the Cheeze's went to the local air show. Now, Bubba is Army born and bred, but I love me some air show awesomeness. Maybe it is because I am the daughter of a rocket scientist who owns the right to say "See that multi-billion dollar piece of flying amazingness? I helped design that...yep, me." F-4 Phantom - Check, F-14, 15, & 16 - Check, F-22 Raptor - Check, Space Shuttle - Double Check. Yep, that is my dad - super nerd, pocket protected, smarter than the average bear, rocket scientist. Like I said in a previous post, brains skipped a generation in my family. I have been going to air shows since I was a baby. I love them. Of course it is always nice to be with someone who knows that the lift to drag ratio on the Phantom wing tip is blah, blah, blah...ooops, I was listening, G-dad but what you just said went over my head right along with that Phantom. Sorry...

Anywho, I have (forcibly coerced) converted Bubba and BoyBoy into air show groupies along with me and we headed to the flight line this weekend, excited to be able to witness the F-22 Raptor in all of its glory. I also got to put my birthday present through its paces as well. I turned a very large number of years old this weekend and Bubba gave me a new camera. I took about 600 pictures and I plan to share each and every one with you...(Kidding)

Here are a few...awesomeness in the sky!

Thunderbirds:

Thunderbirds signature star burst

Heritage Flight

(Vietnam, Gulf War, Modern Day)

F-22 Raptor

BoyBoy getting to shake the F-22 Raptor pilot's hand

(I was surprised he could even walk after the show he put on!!!)

Two Generation Rocket Scientist Pow Wow

(G-Dad and BoyBoy)

An Ode to Pollen

2009-04-21T12:07:00.004-04:00

I don't know what it is with this memory of mine.

I forget what happens each year at this time.

The flowers start blooming, the trees they awaken.

The grass, it starts growing, if I'm not mistaken.

I love the new Spring, all the promise and beauty.

And then I get hit with a nose that's all snooty.

(I mean, snotty.)

I forget that there's pollen attached to those flowers.

That fine yellow haze that possesses superpowers.

Because no matter how many times that it rains,

Pollen is still there, it always remains.

Its on my car, my porch, my driveway, my trash can.

Its even on the shirt of my UPS delivery man.

(Brown, how I love thee.)

I sneeze and I sniffle. I wipe and I dab.

I wash my clothes and my hands and my face and my flab.

Nothing will help me to combat this pest.

Not Flonase, not Claritin, not Benedryl, I protest!

The only relief from dear pollen, I fear,

Is to drown my red nose in a pitcher of beer!

Happy Birthday!!!

2009-04-17T08:29:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday, Nannie and

Aunt S.!!!

I love you!

BTW, that is my mom and sister.

Yes, my sister was my mom's birthday present. Just try and live up to that!!! Therapy, here I come!

Jake

2009-04-15T10:00:00.004-04:00

This week I have a house guest. He is Melly's boyfriend, my sister's dog, Jake. Jake is a beautiful, blonde Golden Retriever.

Melly adores him. They have great fun together.

Jake is a special dog. When you come home he greets you with a mournful moan, which we call his "woo-woo" and a ball, shoe, stuffed toy, or small child in his mouth. He has to be the most orally fixated dog I have ever met. Ball? Where's the ball? Did someone say ball? I like a ball! Would you throw the ball? I like it when you throw the ball! Did someone say ball? Ball? He has infinite optimism. If you can't find him, look for the nearest door. He is probably standing in front of it, waiting patiently for someone to open it to throw the ball. At my sister's, he waits under the trampoline in her back yard because he kept getting hit in the head with the ball. But not just one ball will do. Like I said, Jake is special. He needs two balls. Both in his mouth. At the same time. He even poops with two balls in his mouth! I've seen it...not pretty.

Jake is also big. He doesn't have any idea how big he is. You know those yippy dogs that think they are Rottweilers? Jake is the opposite. He thinks that he can fit in even the smallest spaces. Lap dog? Yep, that's me! Here's my paw...ooops, did I knock you over? Can I sit on your foot? Sorry for smooshing your toes! Oh, pardon me, I didn't know there wasn't room for me in the powder room with you! Stairs? I love stairs! But they are way more fun when I run between your legs while we are going up and down!

He also likes to be scratched and stretched and he is not ashamed to demand it. He demands scratching by going nose first between your legs and then just standing there until you scratch his butt. If you don't start scratching quickly enough, he will go around again. And again. And again. Stretching? He lays down (anywhere...he's not picky) with his front legs stretched out in front and his back legs sprawled out behind him. This is his cue for you to grab him under his front legs and pull. He will streeeeechhhh his whole body (which makes him about 8 feet long) and then smile.

And that is why we love Jake. His smile makes all his quirks worthwhile. He is happy, obsessed, over sized, demanding, and lovable Jake.

Cruisin'

2009-04-14T10:12:00.005-04:00

Wow! What a week we had! Relaxing, enjoyable, hilarious at times, rewarding, memory making fun. I can't possibly put into words the look on BoyBoy's face when we finally walked across the gang plank and onto the cruise ship. He was awestruck, speechless and full of hugs for Bubba and me. If he thanked us once, he thanked us a million times. We couldn't wait to explore but first we had to stop for the first of many photo ops...

Great looking family, eh?

Of course, then there was the obligatory life boat drill (and the goofy photos that always go along with it!)

Oh, save me, Molly Brown! (weak Titanic reference)

Then we were off. Fun day at sea which involved eating too much, drinking too much, getting too much sun and watching all the psycho people fight over deck chairs. If you have ever been on a cruise, you know what I am talking about. Folks get up at the crack of dawn to claim their deck chairs for the day. Then they guard them like a pack of pit bulls, daring anyone to move their 6 towels they have draped across their 8 chairs. By the time the breakfast buffet has turned into the brunch buffet, all the chairs are claimed in some fashion and by the time the Cheeze family rolled their lazy butts out of bed and stumbled to the lunch buffet, most of those people were lobsters and needed to go inside. So, the moral to this story is, the early bird gets the deck chair, but the sleepy head reaps the reward.

Our first stop was to be Grand Cayman but due to waves, wind, or disgruntled fisherman, we were unable to drop anchor and stay. Something to do with safety, blah, blah, blah. Safety, shmafety...I want to snorkel!!! Instead we were tortured by having to look at the entire island while the captain circled it so that we could go to the other side and emergency evacuate a passenger that had eaten too much at the midnight buffet or something. Boohoo...but we got a refund of our port taxes and wisely invested it in BoyBoy's college fund (or something like that...(beer)). So, instead, the boat headed to Cozumel for an early arrival.

Cozumel has always been Bubba's favorite and he was excited to show BoyBoy some of the sights. We were scheduled for the Dolphin Trainer excursion but since we docked early we had time to see some of the local shops. A mandatory Mexican beer and some chips and then we headed to play with the dolphins. Let me just tell you...if you ever have the opportunity to experience these animals up close and personal, do it! It is worth every peso! The dolphins are the most gentle, sweet, intelligent, and amazing animals I have ever encountered. We had our own 20 year old female and she was the sweetest thing. BoyBoy giggled when she kissed him, first on the cheek and then on the lips. Our trainer gave him kudos for getting bussed by an older woman. We swam with her for more than an hour and she also gave us all rides. What a wonderful day!

I think Bubba fell in love with Athena

Of course, I had to contribute to Stellan's Name Gallery

And then it was back to Tampa. We had a great time and are already planning our next one...where should we go?

Oh, and here is a photo of the Cheeze's at formal night...we clean up pretty good, don't you think?

Adios!

Whew!

2009-04-13T10:26:00.005-04:00

We are back, rested, and in need of a liver transplant and liposuction. I am madly unpacking, doing laundry, and trying to get back to normal. Since I have Melly's boyfriend this week because my sister is on spring break, things are not going to be back to normal until later. I am posting one photo from the cruise to (make you jealous) tide you over until I can catch my breath and write a proper post.