Good Fortune, The Sequel

Just had to take a minute and share my joy and gratitude--

YES, my beloved blogging buddies, dreams really do come true. Fortune cookies, lots and lots of fortune cookies.

Shauna has lots of giveaways and a fab new look--click the button to go see!

Change of fortune

Every once in awhile a giveaway comes along that I feel SO passionately about that I go the extra mile to get that extra entry and post it on my blog. This is one of those.

Two words:

FORTUNE COOKIES

mmmmm--mmmm--mmmmmm--mmmmm---mmm---mmmm--mmm (read with a little sassy beat)

Believe it or not there is nowhere here in the middle of nowhere to purchase fortune cookies. Apparently its not a big ticket item for ranchers and farmers. Who'd a thunk it.

Anyhoo--Shauna over at Trying to Stay Calm (love that blog name, by the way) is having a giveaway of fabulous fortune cookie gift certificates AND. I. WANT. ONE!

Click on the picture to go to her blog--she has lots of AWESOME giveaways! (at least I hope this works--I never have gotten comfortable with all this linky business--and who the hec is MR. Linky anyways??! )

So this is my blog about it to get an extra entry. And it ends tomorrow. Amen.

What would Freud say?!

This has haunted me all day so I guess I will post it and see if that has any effect on my troubled mind.

So I know that DeNae really doesn't want to hear about my dream (so run away DeNae) but I'm sure there is someone out there who does and they will interpret this and help me move on.

Here it goes:

I dreamed that Jackie Chan and I saved the world at least 5 times...

yeah--see what I mean?

But wait..there's more...

and then I built a house in the Grand Canyon and I had to keep running from one side of the house to the other to keep it balanced and then when I stopped for a minute to tuck my much younger children in bed--half of the house just washed away.

Then my son woke me up and I found myself falling back asleep to try and fix my house.

DISTURBIA!!!!


Let me also clarify that I have not seen a Jackie Chan movie in years or even thought of him and it was at least 8 years ago that we got stranded in the Grand Canyon National Park with a dead car.

Yeah--I am really starting to rethink that little, nightly Ambien pill.


So--anybody out there channeling Freud?

Seriously.

I will send chocolate to the reason I like the best, amen and amen.

Random note--GOT MY COMPUTER BACK--HUZZAH!!! Am off to catch up and comment...

Carbon Dating my Lunch

Any guesses as to what this is?

What’s that you say?

“Fossilized worms?”

No.

“A shellacked pile of poo?”

So close, but….

No.

Give up?

It was my lunch.

After the cooking, before the ingestion.

My son was the chef.

Yep, uh-huh, that’s right—this very same boy—

H-e-e-y-y Sparky!

He decided that he wanted hot dogs for lunch and that they needed to be grilled not nuked. (Irony is such a cruel mistress)

I said, “Sure, why not? Anyone can BBQ a hot dog (right?) and while you’re at it, make one for me too”.

{Disclaimer: his father HAS taught him how to use the grill and Sparky has made us some GREAT hamburgers in the past—don’t judge me}

And then (smiling on the inside because of the obvious paternal support I had just given my son) off I went-- to do something important, like checking my email.

A little while later I strolled into the kitchen and was immediately accosted by a revolting smell, the like of which I am pretty sure I have never smelled before.

“What in the world just died and composted itself in my kitchen??!!” I yelled.

My son came running through the kitchen door, waving the tongs like a white flag.

“Um, it’s okay Mom, it’s okay, and it’s just these…

…I kinda forgot about them and they got a little burnt.”

Understating the obvious, that’s just how we roll here in the forest.

I told him that these looked like they passed burnt, flew through charred and landed right smack dab in the middle of radioactive.

“No worries, Mom”, he said. “I’ve got some more cooking on the grill!”

WHA?!

After the initial shock wore off, I wanted to bury them—to freak out some unsuspecting archaeologist in 100 years --- but the dog had other ideas and snagged them when I wasn’t looking.

So…….what did you guys have for lunch?

In which there was a pillow fight and a glass of Diet Dr. Pepper...

Just thought I would do a little post and let all 5 of you know that I am still alive, just a little busy.

My Dad is holding his own, still on oxygen but his depression has lifted and he is up and around a lot more.


Natty is still engaged and the wedding is still on for December and her Mono is getting better all the time. She still tires easily but the worst of it is hopefully behind her.

Phil is working for 6 weeks straight, Kelly has girl’s camp, Tae still lives too far away, Bean has dance and soccer camp and Milan is mowing yards and going to scout camp.

My Mom has NOT been eating those specially frosted flakes so …well…just so.

There is a nasty rumor going around that I may have ingested the flakes myself but I know a buzz when I see one and I definitely haven’t seen one. Felt one, whatever.

All this pales in comparison to the stress and deep sadness I have been experiencing at the loss of my lap top. Let’s just say it involved a glass of Diet Dr. Pepper and a pillow fight. Although it still turns on, it makes random burping noises, shuts off unexpectedly and worst of all some of the keys won’t work, which brings me to the 4th of July post below. I was half way through it when IT happened. I have had to turn on the speech recognition—which is a whole other post—kind of she said, computer said kind of thing. Every time I hit one it just starts making lines and lines of one’s until I shut off the computer. And forget exclamation points or question marks. Wish I could post a video of me talking to my computer—not. So finishing the post was painful and so I am still going to post my valiant efforts, dang it. I still have the Apple but I have to fight my kids for it so we shall see. And just in case—Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Happy Independence Day everyone! I love the 4th of July—it’s one of the few holidays that causes me no angst or guilt, Happy Independence Day to me! First of all I just wanted to take a moment to say that I LOVE my country and am so grateful to the men and women who serve in the armed forces who work so hard to keep our nation free. I have deep concerns as to the direction our country is headed but I try to balance that with the knowledge that I am free to help make a change and I am appreciative of all those here in blogland that keep track of the issues and take the time to share the information with all of us.
I have decided that I am not very good at holiday photography. I’m not sure if it’s because I get caught up in the happenings and just click some quick pics or if I just stink at it in general….

{deep sigh}
Either way, as I was going through my 4th of July pictures this afternoon, I came across a lot of photos like this one:

The only reason I know it is the 4th of July, 1995 is because that is where I had it filed.

If anything, it looks like a Halloween picture—kinda looks like she’s got a little ghostie by the tail. I have no idea why I chose to hang on to this picture, none.

Even more important, will I throw it out now?

Obviously, there are deeper issues here.

Does anyone else have 4th of July pictures like this?

Anyhoo, for the sake of my journaling project, (obviously not for the picture quality) I am now going to share with you a random selection of our 4th of July memories. Please, try to curb your enthusiasm.

Some years we find a parade to watch. I use the term “we” loosely. I am an adamant NON parade person.

This is in American Fork, Utah, 1992. That’s my #2 daughter on the far left, holding the chair my #1 daughter in her father’s lap in the second row on the far right. The only reason I mention it is this would be the only time I had the presence of mind and wallet to dress my girls in coordinating 4th of July colors, so Soak. It. All. In. people.

Is it okay that I am soooo glad my husband no longer has that caterpillar on his lip?!



Sometimes we float the river with friends….

1998 with our friends and taking a lunch break. This is the Bitterroot River; it is about 5 miles from our home. Do you like our white sandy beaches?

This one was taken in 1994 on our first trip down the river. We were so completely hooked!

Sometimes, even though it is July 4th, we freeze to death.


Aahhh, the teeth-chattering, subzero temperatures of 1999!

Sometimes, it seems that in no time and all, we go from this…

1997

To this…

2007





To this……..




WHA..??!



Who ordered the puffy little Russian with no teeth?

Just ignore him, maybe he’ll just go away.

Oh dear...maybe I’ll just be back after a brief station break so I can wander down memory lane for awhile and get my ---children grows to fast--- heartache under control.

Oh wait, I can hear him, making his sister’s scream again,

reality check please!

So back to……….

To THIS….

{Hey Sparky!}

Which was a souvenir of this………..

Sure, everybody is having fun till someone gets their eye poked out...

.....or mountain burned.

Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch…
Yes, that is a forest behind Milan. Yes, that is part of the 20 acres that we live on. Yes, smart, environmentally conscious people would never knowingly strike a match within 500 feet of a tree. So, I guess we all know where that puts me, {sigh}… a b-a-a-a-a-d parent and person.

Does it count that right after this I went out and bought 5 new hoses to hook end to end and that I try to hug a tree every day?

I didn’t think so.

Please, no hate mail.

And, to end this very long story….
Most of the time we buy way too many of these…

Do lots of this….



And deal with this the morning after…

Thus ends my 4th of July post and gosh, it’s only July 12th.

Can’t wait to see what I accomplish tomorrow…..

Someone pass me a tissue.....

In the ever changing, never ending role as MOTHER, few moments are more defining than finding a photo like this one…..

…..on your #3 daughter’s camera card.

I felt like a sapling during a tsunami, as waves of different emotions surged over me.

While looking closely at the photo (so as to ascertain which of my children I might inflict my maternal praises on) a whole new tidal wave of pride loomed on the horizon.

Not only is one of my offspring amazingly proficient at hostage retention BUT they do so with unmistakable compassion, as evidenced by the padding on the section of the drawstring (from their Dad’s pajama bottoms) that encircles the sacrificial lamb/captive.

Someone please pass me another tissue……………….

Free on Friday:Bringing in the Harvest!!

Isn't this a beautiful thing??!! Organization and thriftiness AND FREE---I am seriously all-a-tingle!! Shelf Reliance has themselves a beautiful blog and they are starting a NEW feature called "Free on Fridays". They will be offering a NEW giveaway every other Friday. I have been drooling over their shelving systems and food storage line for awhile now and I can't tell you how excited I am for this new feature! They give you 5 different ways to enter so HURRY on over to there blog HERE and start entering!!!! Or not--just makes less competition for me--heh-heh...

Shelf Reliance has also given me the opportunity to evaluate one of their products and then they want to sponsor a giveaway on my blog.........BE STILL MY HEART.....

So stay tuned----it's coming!!!!!!!!!

Stayin' Alive

To get the FULL ENTERTAINMENT VALUE of the following piece--PLEASE push the play button on my sidebar.
(Well, actually, picturing me singing in a falsetto voice in white spandex might give you more bang for your blogging buck)

(Then there is the picture of me with my finger in a light socket singing falsetto--Ah, ha, ha, ha....)

(Or--there is the picture of me dancing disco, singing falsetto in a white spandex straight jacket...)

(--oh I just can't decide....)

Stayin Alive

Well, you can tell by the way I cross my eyes,

I've lost my mind: no time to talk.

The kids are loud and the freezer's warm, I've been kicked around

Since they were born.

And now it's alright. It's ok.

And you may look the other way.

We can try to understand

why it is I can no longer stand.

Whether your're a brother or whether you're a mother,

Your're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Feel my mind breakin', and everybody shakin',

And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

AH, HA, HA, HA stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

AH, HA,HA,HA stayin' alive.

Well now, I get low and I get high,

All medication I will gladly try.

Got my Mother's voice in my head.

On my phone, just shoot me dead.

You know it's alright, it's ok.

She'll live to see another day.

We can try to understand

"frosted" flakes effect, oh man.

Whether your're a brother or whether you're a mother,

Your're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Feel my mind breakin', and everybody shakin',

And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

AH, HA, HA, HA stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

AH, HA,HA,HA stayin' alive.

Life goin' everywhere. Somebody help me.

Somebody help me, yeah.

Life goin' everywhere. Somebody help me.

Somebody help me, yeah. Stayin' alive.

Well, second daughter gets mono and needs Mom,

Must retrieve her and bring her home.

Dad's still sick and hanging on,

School is out, I'm barely hangin' on.

And now it's alright. It's ok.

And you may look the other way.

While I try to understand

The reason I am mad.

Whether your're a brother or whether you're a mother.

Your're stayin' alive, staying' alive.

Feel the van is breakin' cuz it's a really shakin',

So far we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

AH, HA, HA, HA, stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

AH, HA, HA, HA, stayin' alive.

Life goin' everywhere. Somebody help me.

Somebody help me, yeah.

Life goin' everywhere. Somebody help me, yeah.

I'm stayin' alive.

Hey everyone! Yes, my nose is still above water but the waves are high. (Cuz everyone loves a good nautical mixed metaphor- right?!) Anyways--more soon---hope all is well!!

No wonder no one ever comes to my parties........

This was in the subject line of an email I got recently-----

"Where are the germs in your house? -Fun Facts for Parties"





huh....







................does that mean Twister is out?



.....................................I find myself deeply confused.....with a side order of disturbed.






And a little aside note: the whole Valium frosted flakes issue with my Mom--

I know it is morally wrong--reprehensible even.

What I wanted to know was, if it is illegal, how illegal is it?

I mean, are we talking jail time or just probation?

There comes a point (and I am soooo there) when moral doesn't really seem to matter and picking up trash by the side of the road seems almost therapeutic.

Is this illegal?

I was just wondering....

Is it illegal to :

1. Crush your mother's tranquilizers into a powdery like substance that looks remarkably like sugar

2. Steam open her favorite box of cereal that she eats 3 to 4 bowls of a day

3. Pour said sugar dust into the box and then seal it up

4. Give said cereal box with said dust to her as a birthday gift?


That's all--just wondering.............

WEINER!!! WEINER!!!!!

So..............

I can't believe I haven't posted since I posted the giveaway?! What is up with that??!!

It was just a little stressful putting that all together and then I wanted to catch up with everyone. Did you know that if your google reader goes over 1,000 it just says 1000+. Yup--it's the truth.

Then my engaged daughter wanted me to jump on the getting married ride with her and then she came up and then we flew #1 daughter up because she's the maid of honor and we figured she should be here--so that has been mind boggling busy.

And my Dad got a little better and then a lot worse and had to go back in the hospital for a transfusion and they needed more freezer meals so....ya-da-ya-da--I've been having to spend a lot more time here in reality than I am used to--I miss you all~!!

What's that you say.....???????

What???

The what?????

Won??????

OH......

That's right...

I had a giveaway that ended yesterday........

Where did I put that????????

Dang.........

JUST KIDDING!!!!!

Number 3 daughter picks.......

She scores......

(I think she is saying,"tage" in hostage--at least I hope that is why she looks like that....)

I'M BEING HELD HOSTAGE OVER AT

IN THE GUTTER

WINS!!!!

YEAH!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!

Just to make it PERFECTLY clear--Kelly is NOT being held hostage--in the gutter or anywhere else--HA!! I just noticed that--I CRACK myelf up!!

It also kills me that I can't just go out and buy more chocolate and have more winners like I did last time--its hard to have just one winner. It will be sad to lose some of my new followers---but it was fun while it lasted----deep sigh.....

I hope you guys had a good time and I will be posting part 2 of my garage door saga soon as well as why I wanted to know how you defined those 4 terms. Just gotta make it through the bride to be visit/planning/up till 1 am/really? You want ME to tell you about "marital relations???""AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Email me Gutter baby--I have never sent anything overseas. Kelly said she would be glad to deliver it in person--tee-heee

!!!!!!!100th POST GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!! I made it to my 100th post! And, I thought it was especially cool that my 100th post was the announcement of my daughters engagement!

I have been slowly collecting the items for my giveaway. I am on a strict, little budget--and now with Natty getting married--money is so very limited.

I decided to go with a "theme" of things that represent me and things I like and do. When I purchased one of "these things" for myself--I purchased one for the giveaway.

I am going to list each item individually because that is the only way I know how to link to where I got it from. For those things I got on Etsy and such, I want to honor the creator and make it possible for you to go look at other lovely things they make. Everyone has given me permission to use their descriptions and pictures. Does that sound good? (just to make it perfectly clear--I paid for all of these things)


Here we go!!


#1--


Add some flair to the book you are reading or your bookshelf with a


BOOK HOOK

The slim metal book hook has a chain attached to a long beaded pendant. The beads include metal, carved bone or horn, and glass.





I have at least 100 bookmarks, I probably need an intervention, but these are just so BEAUTIFUL!!

#2-


An assortment of Charbonneau's Hand Dipped Truffles

Handmade truffles. Can include: Cheesecake, Amaretto, Belgium, Orange, Raspberry, Rum, French Silk Mint, and German Chocolate Cake. Made with rich heavy cream, and milk, dark, and ivory chocolate.

Welcome to Charbonneaus Chocolate Company
We welcome you to Charbonneaus Chocolate Company where we do things the old fashioned way by producing handmade chocolate one piece at a time. Beginning with high quality ingredients, no preservatives, waxes, mixes, or fillers. We proudly offer several varieties of handmade chocolates, Gourmet Truffles, Original Creamery Fudge, creams, brittles, nuts, chews, and fine Montana novelties. Family recipes have been handed down through the years to create one of a kind confections for your enjoyment.
We are proud to be a "Made In Montana" business.

ALSO:


An assortment of their "special" candy bars. Clueless Joe's Sports Bar, Medusa's PMS Bar, The Menopause Bar, Bubba's Redneck Bar and Cindy's Blonde Bar.

I am thinking I don't need to explain why chocolate is on my list. But Charbonneau's chocolate is the only kind I buy. My girlfriend runs it and her family owns it and their chocolate is so yummy and they still hand dip. Your box may or may not be missing one--just sayin.....

#3-

$25 Amazon Gift Card

I LOVE shopping on Amazon!


I love that when I sign on and my opening page, it is always filled with things I never knew existed, let alone needed to own. Life is good on Amazon.

#4-

Handmade Journal

I bought a Parley's Leather Journal for myself and one for the giveaway but then I got to thinking (ouch) that some of you out there might be against the whole use of animal hide thing (sorry--I'm now out of the closet I guess---I use animal hide products) so I went to Etsy and found an equally delightful Vegan alternative. I so would have bought one for me but I was out of cashola.

IF YOU WIN THIS GIVEAWAY YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER--YOU DO NOT GET BOTH JOURNALS

Leather Parley's Journal

from The Collection-Spirit of You

(The description below, is from Jovencio de la Paz --the creator of this BEAUTIFUL Vegan journal)

Shimmery Blue Vegan leather notebook

Many of you have asked if I would come up with a line of non-leather, vegan friendly notebook. So here they are! I have used neither leather nor bee's wax in the making of this notebook. The shimmery polyurethane vinyl/vegan leather has a wonderfully smooth and easy to clean surface. Along with the pure white linen thread stitching exposed on the spine, this book is both luxurious and sleek.

The compact size of this book makes it perfect for travel, whether to someplace special or for daily use. This book will fit perfectly in most any book bag, messenger bag, large purse or standard briefcase.

On the inside, the pages are made from blank white card stock, which matches the stitching perfectly and is great for both pen and pencil. As always, a matching wraparound band keeps the book closed and pages safe when not in use.

I hope you enjoy these animal friendly notebooks.

300 blank pages recto/verso
3 1/2" x 4 1/4" x 2"

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THESE JOURNALS ARE SMALL-ISH--FIT IN YOUR HAND SIZE

#5

Little known fact: I am the intervention needed poster child when it comes to all things paper, pens, notebooks, journals, office products of any kind--pretty much Staples. I could spend hours in Staples. There is not much that equals to opening a new notebook, journal and seeing that fresh, clean page, or just a clean sheet of paper and a Ticonderoga soft leaded pencil.I get all quivery just typing it. Like I (and my family and friends) said,

Lisa = poster child for office products intervention.

And I am strangely okay with that.

And hopefully you will be okay with a $25 gift card from there!

Sorry, I am rambling, but hey--it's my giveaway...

So... what does a handcrafted journal need like peanut butter needs jelly?!

A HANDCRAFTED PEN!!

These pens are so beautiful, smooth to the touch and perfectly balanced. Mine isn't of Bethlehem Wood--I love the thought of touching wood from Bethlehem--so cool! (Obviously I have been caressing yours--

pen-----that is)

Here is their description:

Slim Wood Pen (Bethlehem Olivewood)
Hand crafted of Bethlehem Olivewood.

Bethlehem Olivewood is Olivewood cut in Jerusalem, using the prunes of young olive trees sprouts from the trunks of the old, unproductive trees. By law, no tree is ever damaged or destroyed in the process of harvesting the wood. Bethlehem olive wood is heavy, dense and durable with distinctive colors that range in nuances of red and creamy pigments with irregular gray, brown, and wild black lines. This pen comes with a certificate of authenticity.


Center twist, black ink, and standard Cross style refill.

Fittings are Titanium Gold, the hardest finish available on the market.

Slim shape allows this pen to fit neatly into purse, checkbook, planner sleeves, etc.

Comes in velvet gift pen sleeve.

#6-

$25 iTunes Gift Certificate

If you are puzzled as to why I included this, see HERE

#7-

Okay--when I got these in the mail my #3 daughter just shook her head and said, "Mom--y0u are soooo weird". Sad but true.

I was just looking under the geekery section of Etsy and these came up! I thought they were so funny, I laughed out loud. I mean, come on, anyone can make a magnet with a butterfly on it--don't you just want to MEET the person who came up with putting the elements of poison on a set of magnets??!!!

GeekMagnets-The Elements of Poison

Check out the macabre side of the periodic table. These four elements are extremely poisonous - mercury, lead, arsenic and radon. Give these to that slightly off-center person in your life, who's interested in old-time stories of mystery poisonings. Note that the magnets themselves aren't poisonous. Unless you swallow them, which I do not recommend.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Each GeekMagnet is hand-assembled from a clean and shiny glass marble, sturdy cardstock, and a strong ceramic magnet. The glue used is the good stuff, so your GeekMagnets are solidly constructed.
The glass used for these GeekMagnets may have bubbles and other imperfections. Just like the nasty villain who uses these poisons on his adversaries!
These magnets are 1.5 inches in diameter (~4cm) and are a fantastically cool addition to your home, lab or office. They're not just cute - they can hold multiple papers or pictures too!
Magnets from Anandi's Laboratory are packaged in a lovely star-sprinkled organza bag that you can reuse.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

(thank heavens--I thought this was going to go on all day!!)

I have been known to go to this store and just walk up and down the isles, just running my fingers gently along the book spines. I could pack my sleeping bag and live at this store for at least a week. Just driving by the store makes me smile. Sorry--

#8-

A $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card

It would have been more but I wanted more money on my card.

Okay here are the rules:

A person can get up to 4 entries---

1-Go to THIS earlier post and define what those 4 terms mean to you

(if you have already done so--you can count it)

2-Leave a comment on this GIVEAWAY post answering these 2 questions:

*If _________ fell on the floor at the _________ for longer than 20 seconds, I would totally pick it up and still eat it.

*What song, piece of music, etc... best describes your soul?

3-Blog about my giveaway on your blog and link back to it

4-Become a follower

(if you already follow you can still be counted because you were "garage door" before "garage door" was cool)

When you leave a comment answering the questions--let me know how many votes you have HONESTLY earned. I will wait till I see how many entries I get before I choose my method of choosing. It will be papers in a bowl or that random integer thing-a-am-jig. There will be only 1 winner but you all are winners in my eyes, blah, blah, blah...

I will accept entries from anonymous posters only if you include a valid Name and email address so you can be contacted. I won't include you if you don't answer my pre-drawing email. If you have always wanted to comment here in blog world but just don't know how--you can go HERE and set up a google account and then use that user ID and password to leave comments. I will ship internationally--hec--damn the torpedo's--full speed ahead. I am not responsible if the postman or anyone else steals it.

THIS CONTEST WILL END ON TUESDAY MAY 12th AT 10:00 pm Mountain Standard Time. Or middle of nowhere Montana--whichever works best for you.

GOOD LUCK--I added it all up and its worth just a little under $200--cool!! (thats a lot here in my neck of the woods...just sayin...)

And now I can finally catch up with all of you--I think my google reader is close to 1000--yikes!

THANX FOR ALL THE GREAT ENTRIES!! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! WILL ANNOUNCE TOMORROW -----5/13

The things I do for Jon Schmidt

I DO NOT go to concerts. That whole mass of people thing--NOT MY THING.

SERIOUS CLAUSTROPHOBIA ISSUES!!!(whole 'nother post)

BUT, and isn't there always a but?

My dearest, sweetest Pood read my blog and watched the Jon Schmidt youtube, called me (from work in Alaska) and told me that I needed to take him to a concert. Yeah, he IS that romantic.

So... tomorrow I am taking him to Pocatello,Idaho to see Jon Schmidt in concert!!! WOO! WOO!!

I am extremely excited and am hoping it will last long enough to mask any anxiety caused by doing the mass of people thing.

Even more exciting is the fact that my newly engaged Natty, and my 3 hours away daughter Tae will be going with us--not many more times in this life that it will just be us and the kids, I am thinking. I intend to make a memory!!

In case anyone else from Montana is planning on taking I-15 to the concert tomorrow--we will be the red Tahoe with the crazy lady at the wheel and Jon Schmidt on the Bose!!

Friday I will be posting my 100th POST giveaway!!!! Please come enter!!

NATALIE IS ENGAGED!!

In the wee small hours of this morning, my number 2 baby girl got herself engaged! This is my first time on the mother of the bride roller coaster. Wish me luck! His name is Ben and he is from Utah. He is a great young man and we are really excited to get to know him better. It is hard to be so far away, here in Montana, from all the happenings but I am excited all the same. I am pretty sure it was just yesterday she joined our family and now she begins her own. I love you Natty Gan....

I "borrowed" these photos from one of Ben's sister's blog here--she has lots more and some posed photos of them too if you want a look see.

THE PROPOSAL

SHE SAID YES!

THE RING

Apparently tackling the man is a part of the acceptance ritual

LOOK AT US--WE ARE ENGAGED!!!

Addendum

So as I am visiting with my daughter today (in the Costco parking lot) and we started talking about my post yesterday. (cuz my blog is just THAT awesome)

Kelly: So, what the hec do the people in Virginia care about a garage door on the ceiling?

Me: huh? Oooohhh.....don't you know about the story of the little girl, Virginia, who wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper to ask if there was a Santa Claus?

Kelly: Huh??!

I think it may be a generational thing (or another--Lisa is so weird thing) so I thought I would clear that up before I moved on with the story. The whole--"Yes, Virginia there is a garage door was meant to be a parody on THIS letter and story from 1897. Sorry if there was any misunderstanding. I love the people of Virginia ---enough said.

Yes, Virginia or the Number 2

Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that people cannot have a garage door on their ceiling. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth; can people have a garage door on their ceiling?
Virginia O’ Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe even what they see. They think there is nothing can be comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, people can have a garage door on their ceiling.

I asked a question of you all the other day.
I wanted to know how you defined the terms;
*Redneck
*White trash
*Blue collar
*White collar
I was poking around, trying to find out how you would define me, what color I would be—after this post.

This post will seem to go on forever, ignore the voice in your head that says you have better things to be doing.

My parents were both raised on farms and couldn’t wait to grow up and leave that life behind. They are/were very intelligent (book smart) people. Smart to the point that their social interactions with others weren’t very good and as a result only ever had a small circle of friends. My Dad was a civil engineer and my Mom was a R.N.I am the oldest and only birth child in my family. I really only had a couple of friends before I went to school, I had a pretty secluded childhood. So secluded that I had read the dictionary through to the “H’s” by the time I was 4. We didn’t have a television in my home till I was 5. My home was filled with classical music and lots and lots of books. Mozart clears my head, Beethoven speaks to my darker side and Bach makes me smile. Debussy is my favorite composer to play on the piano. We were not fantastically rich but we were comfortable. I went to college for a year and a half until I got mono and had to go home.

My point is, that I was raised to be a cultural snob, (I promise I am not—but my Mom keeps the hope alive) raised in what I think is considered to be a very white collar home.

In 1986, I married my husband. We moved around a lot in the first 8 or so years of our marriage; Alaska, Utah, Louisiana and finally Montana. During those 8 years, we always rented. When we moved to Montana we bought 10 acres of land and this****

***That is a little 5 year old Natalie in 1994***

Yes, Virginia, this is a garage. When we bought the 10 acres, this was already on it, not quite finished but we thought it would be great. We would finish the garage and move into it temporarily while we built our house, up on the knoll that I am standing on to take the picture above. The picture below was the view we would have from the house when it was built.

This concludes Part 1 of a 2 part series. We hope you’ve enjoyed your trip. Please remain seated till the story has come to a complete stop and thanking you for flying Garage Door Airlines.

P.S. I TOLD you guys I was a whiner—sheesh!! Sorry though—I WAS a little out of control. Nothing but pearly whites from here on out—hope you had a happy Thursday!