Clint Eastwood, a regular day cowboy in most movies, is not an actor that I rush to the box office to see. I must admit that when I read the short description of this movie at the RedBox booth before adding it to my cart, I thought "hey, Jim might like this." I arrive home Sunday with my one night rental and found that Jim had already seen this rough and tough movie, so I threw it in my purse on Monday morning. I was taking on the phone with my friend Julie from work as I walked into Albertsons to visit the RedBox kiosk when she quickly declared, "you want to keep that one until you watch it!" Okay, okay, so I returned to my car. Monday night came and went with no time for a movie. I arrived home last night and declared to the boys that mommy had a movie to watch so we needed to get through dinner, homework, baths, and reading quickly, to which they obliged. I found myself nodding off about half way through the movie, as usual, but awoke at 1:15am (as usual too) and pressed play to continue. WOW!! If you have not seen this movie, it is well worth the rental (or even purchase price)! I found myself laughing and crying, and in a way saw my grandfather in Eastwood's character every now and then. This one gets 5 STARS from me!Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Clint Eastwood, a regular day cowboy in most movies, is not an actor that I rush to the box office to see. I must admit that when I read the short description of this movie at the RedBox booth before adding it to my cart, I thought "hey, Jim might like this." I arrive home Sunday with my one night rental and found that Jim had already seen this rough and tough movie, so I threw it in my purse on Monday morning. I was taking on the phone with my friend Julie from work as I walked into Albertsons to visit the RedBox kiosk when she quickly declared, "you want to keep that one until you watch it!" Okay, okay, so I returned to my car. Monday night came and went with no time for a movie. I arrived home last night and declared to the boys that mommy had a movie to watch so we needed to get through dinner, homework, baths, and reading quickly, to which they obliged. I found myself nodding off about half way through the movie, as usual, but awoke at 1:15am (as usual too) and pressed play to continue. WOW!! If you have not seen this movie, it is well worth the rental (or even purchase price)! I found myself laughing and crying, and in a way saw my grandfather in Eastwood's character every now and then. This one gets 5 STARS from me!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Travel I Must
Monday was a big travel plans day for me. My friend Kara is celebrating her birthday in October with a Girls' Weekend in Avila and has invited me to join her! She booked the weekend yesterday and we are beginning to plan our "festival" of sorts. I'm sure it will include a trip to the salon for massages and pedicures, maybe some time on the beach (weather dependent of course), a night out in downtown SLO, and maybe even a visit to a few wineries. No matter what we do, it is sure to be a fun and fantastic weekend with just us girls!
Most of you probably remember my defunked trip to Nashville in June thanks to United Airlines. I haven't quite recovered from that one, especially since I ended up in the hole on money. Did any of you watch the replay of the CMA Festival on ABC last night? If you did then you know where this is going. Through tomorrow, tickets to the 2010 festival are half off using the code ABCTV. Thank goodness my best pal Brandie is always looking out for a deal and booked us tickets for the bargain price of $85 for four full days. How's that for a bargain? Words cannot express how excited I am that I get to do a "do-over" for half the price. There are tons of flights available with my airline miles so I am sure to experience no hiccups this time around.
....and to Kara and Brandie, my life would not be the same without you two wonderful ladies. God has certainly blessed me! I love you both.
Most of you probably remember my defunked trip to Nashville in June thanks to United Airlines. I haven't quite recovered from that one, especially since I ended up in the hole on money. Did any of you watch the replay of the CMA Festival on ABC last night? If you did then you know where this is going. Through tomorrow, tickets to the 2010 festival are half off using the code ABCTV. Thank goodness my best pal Brandie is always looking out for a deal and booked us tickets for the bargain price of $85 for four full days. How's that for a bargain? Words cannot express how excited I am that I get to do a "do-over" for half the price. There are tons of flights available with my airline miles so I am sure to experience no hiccups this time around.
....and to Kara and Brandie, my life would not be the same without you two wonderful ladies. God has certainly blessed me! I love you both.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Guns a Blazin'
It's very rare that I would become excited about a gun, and even more rare that I would actually put one in my hands, but I'm just dying to share my day yesterday. The Boy Scouts Chapter in Bakersfield hosts an annual Clay Shoot at the 5 Dogs Shooting Range in the outskirts of Bakersfield. Since my boss is actively involved in the Scouts (this year he is the local President) I have attended this event on several occasions to assist with the logistics of the shoot (registration, raffle ticket sales, score tally, etc). This year Jim was invited along to join one of the teams as I feverishly sold thousands of dollars worth of raffle tickets.
Jim and I ventured to Bakersfield late on Thursday night for an early rise on Friday morning. We arrived under cool temps at the event at around 7:15am and got to work. By 10am I would say the temp had risen to well over 90 degrees, and after walking around on the shadeless range for an hour or so I was hot and sweaty, and wishing there was a pool I could jump into. While the shooters finished their last few stations, I decided to assist with lunch preparation....BAD IDEA. My co-worker Steve dropped a huge block of butter, real butter, into a hot pan of melted butter and the "splash" it created splattered all over me....yes, butter plus any type of clothing equals disaster! I'm sure hoping that the oodles of shout gel I covered my shirt with does the trick because I paid a decent amount for the shirt at a boutique. Thank goodness I packed a few extra things (to Jim's dismay) so I was able to freshen up with a clean, butter free shirt.
....and on to the awards for the day. Jim's team won first place in his division which earned him a box of shotgun shells and a framed certificate. Unfortunately, Jim himself was not on his best game and received recognition for the lowest scoring non-amateur in the group. Might I add that there were two individuals that scored lower than him but since they had both left the event early, he was recognized. The best part was that he had to stand next to my boss as he was awarded a book on how to shoot. The event concluded at noontime after the raffle (go figure, we bought $110 worth of tickets and won nothing!)
Now comes the fun part. After eveyone left, it was my turn to shoot. Several years ago I picked up a 12 gauge shotgun and pledged to never do that again. The "throw-back" of the gun after I pulled the trigger was enough to inflict a decent amount of pain on my shoulder. Charlie, my boss, brought along his son's "youth" gun and insisted I try again. WOW! What a rush! The type of shotgun really makes a difference. Although I couldn't aim and/or hit anything to save my life, I was satisfied that I COULD handle a shotgun. Maybe after some more practice I can accompany Jim on a hunting trip.....then again, maybe not. The thought of shooting live animals definitely does not appeal to me. In addition to the shotgun, Charlie brought along a few pistols. Okay...so I shoulda' been a cop! (or not!) Words cannot express the adrenaline rush that overcame me as I wrapped my hands around this little piece of power. Jim has agreed to take me out to the pistol range on my day off next week....I can't wait. I think as women, we should all know how to handle a handgun just in case...
Jim and I ventured to Bakersfield late on Thursday night for an early rise on Friday morning. We arrived under cool temps at the event at around 7:15am and got to work. By 10am I would say the temp had risen to well over 90 degrees, and after walking around on the shadeless range for an hour or so I was hot and sweaty, and wishing there was a pool I could jump into. While the shooters finished their last few stations, I decided to assist with lunch preparation....BAD IDEA. My co-worker Steve dropped a huge block of butter, real butter, into a hot pan of melted butter and the "splash" it created splattered all over me....yes, butter plus any type of clothing equals disaster! I'm sure hoping that the oodles of shout gel I covered my shirt with does the trick because I paid a decent amount for the shirt at a boutique. Thank goodness I packed a few extra things (to Jim's dismay) so I was able to freshen up with a clean, butter free shirt.
....and on to the awards for the day. Jim's team won first place in his division which earned him a box of shotgun shells and a framed certificate. Unfortunately, Jim himself was not on his best game and received recognition for the lowest scoring non-amateur in the group. Might I add that there were two individuals that scored lower than him but since they had both left the event early, he was recognized. The best part was that he had to stand next to my boss as he was awarded a book on how to shoot. The event concluded at noontime after the raffle (go figure, we bought $110 worth of tickets and won nothing!)
Now comes the fun part. After eveyone left, it was my turn to shoot. Several years ago I picked up a 12 gauge shotgun and pledged to never do that again. The "throw-back" of the gun after I pulled the trigger was enough to inflict a decent amount of pain on my shoulder. Charlie, my boss, brought along his son's "youth" gun and insisted I try again. WOW! What a rush! The type of shotgun really makes a difference. Although I couldn't aim and/or hit anything to save my life, I was satisfied that I COULD handle a shotgun. Maybe after some more practice I can accompany Jim on a hunting trip.....then again, maybe not. The thought of shooting live animals definitely does not appeal to me. In addition to the shotgun, Charlie brought along a few pistols. Okay...so I shoulda' been a cop! (or not!) Words cannot express the adrenaline rush that overcame me as I wrapped my hands around this little piece of power. Jim has agreed to take me out to the pistol range on my day off next week....I can't wait. I think as women, we should all know how to handle a handgun just in case...
Monday, August 24, 2009
A First Day for the Second Grade
He survived! Believe it or not I was the basket case this morning as Joshua and I arrived for his first day of school. I don't know why I had such a hard time leaving him, but I suspect it was because it was his first day on the "big" campus and he had only a handful of friends in his new class that he knows. He would have preferred for me to stay for a bit longer, but I really felt that it was best that I left when I did since it was already 10 minutes after the bell rang.
I absolutely LOVE Mrs. Shutt as she put my mind at ease by sharing a story about leaving her youngest son Ryan (who is now 17) in his 1st grade class for the first day. It probably helps that she is the mother to two boys so we have a bit in common.
Joshua expressed that he had a fun day at school when I picked him up at YMCA today, and even brought a thank you note home from Mrs. Shutt for the items we purchased for the class. I'm hoping that 2nd grade will be just as fun as 1st grade and that we all survive our oldest son growing up way too fast! We love you, Joshua!
I absolutely LOVE Mrs. Shutt as she put my mind at ease by sharing a story about leaving her youngest son Ryan (who is now 17) in his 1st grade class for the first day. It probably helps that she is the mother to two boys so we have a bit in common.
Joshua expressed that he had a fun day at school when I picked him up at YMCA today, and even brought a thank you note home from Mrs. Shutt for the items we purchased for the class. I'm hoping that 2nd grade will be just as fun as 1st grade and that we all survive our oldest son growing up way too fast! We love you, Joshua!
My New Favorite Gadget
With over 75% of my home covered with tile or hardwood floors, I have struggled for years to do more than run the vacuum over it for the simple fact that mopping is my least favorite thing to do (and is time consuming). Problem solved! With the help of a few sales contests, I was awarded enough My Reward points at work to order this little green clean machine.....and might I say that I absolutely LOVE it! For months I've had black scuff marks on several tiles in my bathroom, and I assumed it was something that was permanent. Boy was I wrong. A few swipes of this thing and it came up with ease. I would highly recommend the Bissell Steam Mop if you have non-carpeted surfaces in your home. What a great invention for us working moms!
Blessed
God works in amazing ways, yes He does. Two and a half months ago it was fate that brought me to the Haushalter family. After a trying afternoon/evening in the ER with Matthew that was destined to halt our appearance at a graduation party, I felt compelled to find a way to attend. With Jim and my mom caring for little man, I loaded up the Tahoe with Joshua and Dominic in hopes that they would have a fun evening with the multitude of kids that would be joining us there. Little did I know that God had something else in store for me/us. I was blessed to meet Kara and Paul (and I put Kara first just because her and I have an amazing connection)that night and since then, we have created a bond that will most certainly surpass this lifetime.
Every now and then we come across people whom we just "click" with. There is no rhyme or reason to this fact, but it happens to all of us. God knew that Kara and I needed each other.....kindred spirits in a way. We have so much in common; so much that it's almost scary. I am honored (and blessed) that tese two wonderful people and their children have befriended our family, and that both have joined our circle of friends.
Paul and Kara, thank you for your company yesterday afternoon. We very much enjoyed our "lunch date" and the boys ALL enjoyed playing together. Here's to a lifetime of friendship.
Every now and then we come across people whom we just "click" with. There is no rhyme or reason to this fact, but it happens to all of us. God knew that Kara and I needed each other.....kindred spirits in a way. We have so much in common; so much that it's almost scary. I am honored (and blessed) that tese two wonderful people and their children have befriended our family, and that both have joined our circle of friends.
Paul and Kara, thank you for your company yesterday afternoon. We very much enjoyed our "lunch date" and the boys ALL enjoyed playing together. Here's to a lifetime of friendship.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Last Day of Summer
It's hard to believe that Monday marks the first day of school. After arriving home from Disneyland yesterday, I took Joshua to meet his second grade teacher. He will be in room 25 with Mrs. Shutt this school year. We were lucky enough to find Mrs. Shutt still in her classroom so we were able to take a look around and see where Joshua would be learning in 2nd grade. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts in California, the class size has increased significantly and Joshua has around 30 kids in his classroom....VERY scary!! Joshua was rather upset that he would not have Mrs. Spencer again this year but I told him we would go to school early on Monday so we could stop in and tell her hello. I also had to explain to Joshua that he would get new teachers every year, and that he would like all of them. We do, however, have our favorites and I suspect Mrs. Spencer will be one of his. I must agree that we will both miss her terribly this school year.
We also stopped by the YMCA to pick up a bus pass; something new this year. In order for Joshua to get on bus "C", he needs a tag attached to his backpack reflecting that he will be going to YMCA.
Here's to an enjoyable last day of summer with the Haushalter family tomorrow.
We also stopped by the YMCA to pick up a bus pass; something new this year. In order for Joshua to get on bus "C", he needs a tag attached to his backpack reflecting that he will be going to YMCA.
Here's to an enjoyable last day of summer with the Haushalter family tomorrow.
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