More Christmas Pictures

The last batch is from Christmas Day. I am now posting pictures from my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. I am so proud to have grandparents that believe that marriage is for life. (My other grandparents have been married for 56 years.)

Christmas Pictures

Mom with her new calendar.

Above: Pa being goofy for a picture.
Below: Neleh with Pa.

Christmas has come and gone. School didn't get out until Dec. 21st, so Christmas cards just didn't happen. (I will send them next year, but I usually have a week before Christmas to get things done.) I figure I will post some pictures. I took plenty, but they take forever to load on blogger. (I would do facebook, but most of the family isn't on facebook.) Enjoy!

Jason brings out the evil in Jewel

The image to the left is the Vampire Bat at the Louisville Zoo. Compare this image with "Evil Jewel." Notice the bat like ears and mouth.

You should know by now that Jewel does not like Jason. He not only can't spell her name (he spells it Jewell) he brought Shadrack into the house. Please note that Jason is the one making her do the "bat face." (I guess I am not innocent since I took the picture. She can ALWAYS run away!)

The Bat Face Cat

Jason has dubbed Jewel as "bat face." Please note the side view of the bat face. If you go to the zoo and look at vampire bats, they look very similar!

Find the cat--part 2

I am still running around crazy. I am presenting at a conference in Lexington over the weekend. I am also joining the U of L alumi pep band. Don't ask how I have the time.

Here are more pictures of Jewel.

Busy busy busy

Well, I am very busy right now with school. However, it is starting to become manageable. I am actually not as stressed anymore. And I have had more parent compliments this year than in years past. They love my emails and communication! I will try to post more pictures of Jewel and the carpet. I just don't have time to do "silly stuff." Also, my school computer is strictly school right now. I promise to get back to posting eventually.

Find the cat!!

We have always laughed that Jewel blends in with the carpet. Here is proof! Try to find Jewel.

Here is a picture of us.

Florida Pictures

Ok, I have really no time to breathe. However, we did go to Florida over Labor day and here are a few pictures. Side note: I have a killer picture of me on the beach, but to honor my husband I will not post it. (But I look really good!!)

This is G-ma's and G-pa's pool. And you wonder why I want to move to FL.

This Coconut tree is in their backyard. I really wanted to bring a coconut back to KY, but they said they were not ripe.

Here is Cocoa Beach!

Here is a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Steel family (minus Graham.) This is Jason's aunt and her family. (She is a teacher!) They a bunch of crazy people!!

Here are Jason and his grandparents. Please note: You are looking at a rocket scientist. (No joke! He has the NASA plaque to prove it!)

School started......no time to post

Ok, since school has begun, I have had NO time to post anything. I do blog at school for my students, but not on this one. I am on facebook, which is fun. We are going to FL this weekend, so maybe I'll post pictures.

Good-bye summer....hello students

Well, as of tomorrow, school has started. It has been an interesting summer. Here is a list of the cool things I did over the summer.

-Went to Alaska (way cool!)
-Read all the Harry Potter books (more reading than I will do for the next three years combined.)
-Rearranged my house
-Hosted a Sunday School picnic at the house (which is why I rearranged it)
-Slept
-Watched TV
-Gained 5 lbs (as a result of watching tv and sleeping too much)
-Took the cats to the vet (Jewel twice!)
-Grew tomatoes and peppers
-Went to Morehead KY
-Went back to Lexington---bowled with Mom
-Went to the zoo 3 times
-Created a blog!!

Basically I was a lazy bum. I guess it is good that I go back to work. It makes me get up in the morning and be productive all day long. It is fun while it lasts, but I would get bored if I didn't have anything to do. (Which is why I figure I can be a stay at home mom. I will have PLENTY to do with little ones.) I will try to blog once a week, but who knows. I am checking on my facebook a lot, but that will probably stop this week. I will be exhausted every night this week, so don't expect me to be productive. (I will try to be "awake" enough for Thursday night.)

Have a great school year!!!!

Arg! I am too busy to blog!

Yes, school starts in 7 days and I have been very busy to blog. I have also been introduced to facebook. The funny part is that I don't even know what to do on facebook. I mean, what is the point of having that and a blog?? I guess so "non-facebook" people can see. But it is a lot of work and seems as if I am doing double duty. Well, school starts soon so the chances of me being able to keep up with both is slim. Besides, I don't think JCPS will let you on at school.

Puking cats are no fun

Yes, that is correct. Jewel has been feeling under the weather and well, I am tired of it!!! She has been clingy cat and whenever she eats, she pukes. The good news is that she did not puke up the tuna water I gave her, so that is progress. Poor Shadrack has been starved since I cannot leave food out for Jewel. (I try to sneak food to him, but he doesn't understand that it is now or never.) I called the vet and he wants me to buy VERY expensive cat food that is gentle on her stomach. Hopefully I can get away with buying a small amount and she will get over this. Please pray that Jewel feels better. School is starting and it is hard to miss a day. (Even if it a very good reason.)

PS Tell Jason happy birthday on the 1st.

Zoo Pictures

For the past 2 years, I have taken Neleh, my niece, to the zoo for her birthday. Here are this year's pictures.

It was a cool day so the animals were ACTUALLY doing something. The giraffes were butting heads.

This is the "Neleh" gorilla. Notice the blankie.

What a cute baby elephant!!

Two dorks that are related.

The birthday girl, Neleh, and her sister, Becka. (Becka is in the green.)

Arg! Schools starts in 2 weeks!

Yes, JCPS starts back on August 13th. It really sucks b/c that is a Monday. The kids are going to go nuts by the end of the week. Anyway, my posts will start to dwindle to maybe once a week. My plate is full at the beginning of the year. I am starting a process called "National Board Certification." It is a rigorous process. In the end I will be "National Board Certified" and will make more money. I am also coaching the JV Quick Recall team and am doing a pilot project in the county called RICH. (Not to mention teaching Algebra 2 for the first time.)

I have confidence I can do everything, but nothing more. I went back to a workshop for 3 days last week and boy I was wiped out!! I actually went to bed BEFORE Jason. This will become standard starting the first full week of August. I actually only have 2 days free until school starts. The rest I will be working in my room or at workshops. It was fun while it lasted.

My HP7 stance-------SPOILER

I have now read Harry Potter 7. WARNING: I AM GIVING AWAY THE ENDING. PLEASE DO NOT READ MY BLOG IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED AND CARE.

I am saddened by end of the series. I don't know what I will do now with my summers. I am happy about the way she ended it. Good idea to put an epilogue so people can't add on endings or what not. (Though someone probably will.) I liked how Harry and Ginny ended up together and naming their children after the fallen. (Especially Albus.)

So I was wrong about Snape! He was just so bitter that Lily died and that Harry was still alive. I am very glad that Snape gave Harry his memories. I think all of my questions did get answered. It was weird that they were trying to turn the readers and Harry on Dumbledore. That Rita Skeeter! I wish Hermione had pulled out a can of stuff on her, but I guess it was too late anyway.

JK Rowling was true to her word. Major people did die. :-( And you thought some other majors would die, like Harry. I would like to say that the chapter with Dumbledore and Harry reminded me a lot of Star Wars with Luke and Obi-Wan. (Maybe more like Lord of the Rings and Gandalf.) Hopefully I will continue to read other books.There is always book club.......

Snape is BAD!

Ok, I have offically taken my position. Snape is evil. If you don't believe me, just re-read chapter 2 in book 6. Dumbledore is being taken for a ride with the rest of the order. I hope someone survives 7. I may post my thoughts on 7, but I promise to put SPOILER in the title so the other HP fans won't mistep.

Side note: I have not read the book club book yet. The whole world is having a book club on Saturday and I can't miss it!!

Snape.......here is my opinion!

Any Harry Potter fan would know, that Snape is in fact scum. I am currently re-reading all the books gearing up for Friday at 12am. (Or technically that is Saturday......oh well!) Although I have been to a Harry Potter release at midnight before, I decided that I am not going to go this year. It is going to be even crazier than 4 years ago when I went for Order of the Phoenix. (And I don't like large crowds!)

My husband can't get over the fact that I am constantly reading. (He should take a picture because it is rare!) Harry Potter and British language is filing my brain. For example, I look at trash and say "rubbish." Or I think about a crazy person and call him a "nutter." I tried to use the word "git" in Boggle, but my mom declared it wasn't a word. (BOOOOO!)

I am almost finished with HP5. (My friend who use to work at the seminary, calls it HP. I'll go off on this later!) I really need to get into 6. I have only read that once. While I am reading 5, I really can't decide what I think about Snape. I mean, I want to believe he is on the order's side, but then HOW could he let Malfoy plot to kill Dumbledore. I am hoping for the Star Wars effect. (That he comes back via a spirit or through all the pictures of him.)

Who knows! No matter what, I still don't like Snape. Death Eater or not, I wouldn't ever treat students like he does! Even if I REALLY hate them, I try to keep it to myself. And that is about all of that!

A picture of GG

Here is the kids new "great aunt." I guess this means that she is my aunt. Hmmmmm.

Ok, for those that knew Coco, it looks like she has the evil Coco stare. :-)

GG the cat

I spoke to Pa yesterday. She came home around 4:00pm from the cat hospital. (They were obeying Bob Barker.) Her name is Georgina or GG for short. I asked for a picture, so hopefully I will get one soon. I would love for Jewel and Shadrack to meet her, but I don't think that is possible. (The cats don't like the car AT ALL!)

How do you get a "Great Aunt"?

I don't know, but ask Granny Pat and Pa. They made a very important decision today and adopted a cat. I am very excited. Hopefully it will be an improvement. Their last cat, Coco, was anything but lovely. Spoiled, but ornery. My mom got it for them b/c they had a mouse problem. (My mom is very practical.) She got it from an ad that said free kittens. Free was hardly the word. At least they adopted through the humane society this time. They take of natural selection for us. (Don't get me started about humans!)

Who knows what this cat will be like? On the flip side, Coco was abused by some, cough, grandchildren. I think it will be a good match. Hopefully, it will not get fat cat disease! As much grief as we gave Granny Pat and Pa with Coco, she did live to be 16, which is pretty old for a cat.

I can't wait to meet her. Now, what was her name again???

I found another Alaska Picture!!

We are starting to see pictures taken by other family members. So here are a few more.

Here is Jason eating ice from a glacier! Brrr!

This is us in front of a glacier.

This is a whale fin. They call it fluking or something like that. All I know is that it sounds really cool when it blows water out of the blow hole.

This is Shadrack's new friend.................just kidding! Note the fence.

I will post more as I find them.

Out with the Wii, in with the MR2

I've decided to give up on the Wii....for now. After much pondering, I figured that I wouldn't have the time to "devote" to it as I want. If it is like any other game system, it will get cheaper after Christmas. No, I decided what to do with my fireworks money.

There is this car in my driveway. At least I think it is a car, I haven't seen it run in over two years. I told Jason that if he could revive the MR2 with my fireworks money, then consider it an early birthday present. Although it is not enough to make it look pretty, he thinks he can fix it. Now my weekends will be spent buzzing around town in a 1987 Toyota MR2. (I hear it gets good gas mileage.)

As much as I complain about the MR2, there are some good points. 1. A backup car for Jason (if it works) 2. Good gas mileage. 3. I cannot drive it. (I know this shouldn't be good, but it is. I can't imagine what would happen if I drove the car and it got a scratch!! Not to mention if a moron rear-ended me!) 4. A pet project for Jason. 5. It is cool b/c the engine is in the back so the trunk is in the front.

Now if he fixes it, I will get the 2nd chance to ride in it since we have been together in FOUR years. :-) I love my Beast.

No more fireworks!

Well, another year has come and gone. I worked my 60 hours and sold fireworks for a week. Several people have remarked that it is a ton of hours. True----but let's look at what I do. I knitted 2 scarfs, read 2 Harry Potter Books, and read an Algebra 2 book. On the 3rd and the 4th I did sell a ton of fireworks. The fourth was the craziest fourth I have ever had in five years of doing this. Who thought having the 4th of July on a Wednesday would the most profitable? It was the same at the other tents.

I want a Wii

Typically when a fad comes out, I just laugh at it and move on. Sometimes, I will get on the bandwagon----maybe later than the rest though. Some examples are Star Wars and Harry Potter. Now I want a Wii. :-) I am trying to convince Jason to let me buy one with my fireworks money. He thinks I will play with it until school starts and then it will collect dust until Christmas. (And then I will play it for only a week since I am going on a cruise.)

Who cares! I think it would be cool. I wouldn't just be a couch potato. I can actually get up and move to do better at the sports games. If a 50+ year old man likes the Wii, I am sure I will love it also. Maybe I could save money to buy a few games too. (I hear you can download the old school games. Mario in HD..............gotta love it!)

I also ALWAYS wanted a Nintendo growing up. I even learned how to spell it to put it on my Christmas list. I only got a 1986 Nintendo when I got to college. I bought it off my brother-in-law for $10. And it STILL WORKS!! Now is the chance for me to get a Wii. They are only $250. There is one little problem------finding one for $250. I'd better find one now. Good luck finding one closer to Christmas. They are going like hotcakes and Christmas is still six months away.

If you know my husband, try to convince him that we need a Wii. I don't know what Shadrack or Jewel thinks. Actually Jewel is all in favor of me doing something that annoys her dad. I try not to that when possible. When I get a Wii, I am going to have a Wii party. All are invited that actually care about video games. (Pond, you have to come to the 'Ville.)

Where are the Alaska Pictures??

Some of you are visiting this site to see these pictures. Never fear! Look to the right side and scroll until you see the list of my postings. They are labeled. You can always check out the rest of my blog too!

Fireworks!!

Come one, come all to my fireworks tent! Yes, it is that time of year when I sit in a tent for a week and sell fireworks. It is easy money and I get to pretend to be a smooth talking sales man with nothing at stake. The only downside is that I don't get to enjoy the fireworks on the 4th since I have to work 16 hours. :-(

Feel free to come by. I am in front of the Highland Cleaners across from the Summit. (Make sure you come after 4 since I do the night shift.) I do give good deals to people I know. I might have a show in my driveway sometime after the 4th. I know it defeats the purpose, but Jason needs to be able to blow things up at least once a year.

My recommendations:

Jumping Jelly Bean
Run Like Hell
Shoot the Works
Cu-Cou* (I can't spell.)
Killer bees*

To be honest, I don't really like the last two, but people seem to love them. I hate the loud noises.

Ones to avoid:

Sydney Harbor
Royal Flush

These were MAJOR disappointments for the price. The Sydney is $17.99!!

I do get tired of explaining to people that Kentucky sucks b/c they do not allow the "cool" ones. (ie Roman candles and firecrackers) Though it is all about perspective. People from New York and Utah are so excited b/c ALL fireworks are illegal. People from Texas and Tennessee get mad b/c our fireworks are lame. (Then I give them a $3 free firework coupon for the tent in Indiana and try to sell them Pop-Its and Sparklers.) Can you believe that people will spend HUNDREDS of dollars on fireworks?! It puts the true meaning to "burning money." Just tonight I sold a guys $80 of fireworks. Not that I mind since part of my check is commission, but I can think of much better things to do with $80. (It gets almost 2 games for the Nintendo Wii. See future blog for that.)

I am going to bed. It is hard to hit the sack at a decent hour when you get home at midnight. (Not to mention the diet coke I had a 8pm.)

Shadrack the Maine-Coon Cat

What is a Maine Coon? Is it a cross between a raccoon and a cat? Not exactly. I found this website (randomly) and thought I saw Shadrack's picture. It was a picture of a Maine coon.
http://www.petplace.com/cats/choosing-a-maine-coon/page1.aspx

It describes Shadrack so well that Jason thought I was making it up. (It even mentions that one of their favorite games is fetch.) He is a silly little boy!

Jewel update

Jenny expressed concern in Jewel so I thought I would give my readers a report. :-) Jewel was not feeling well yesterday. I think she had hairballs. She was real lethargic and didn't even care when Jason petted her. She has snapped out of it and is back to her old self. I guess she saw me type "vet" and decided to get well. Cats are funny creatures.

More Pictures

This is the Ididorod Dog Sled tour. I can't spell it.

This is us in front of a glacier.

This is Lauren, Jason, Chris, Greg and me. (Note: I froze on this trip. Glacier is ice. Ice is cold. Need I say more?)

Us in Seward.

On the train to Denali.

Me in Talkeetna

I went hunting and shot a wolf.......yey right!

Jason at the gold panning sight. The reason it is cloudy is because of the forest fires.

Pictures Part 2

Here are pictures of people. If you don't recognize them, they are members of Jason's family.

This is Jason, Chris (Jason's mom) and me.

Pictures from our off roading jeep tour. We also got to pan for gold. There is a picture of me, but my shirt was hanging a little too low for me to post it on the internet. (It is not porn, but not covered enough.)

This is me at exit glacier.

Alaska Pictures---Part 1

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures....Everyone wants to see pictures. I took over 1000 pictures and Jason took 17 rolls of film. (He used Pa's old camera that takes good pictures. A digital one of those costs almost $5000.) I will be printing some of them to show everybody. Here are some landscape pictures. Disclaimer: These are not even close to how awesome it really looked. I told Pond (aka Jennifer) that it literally looked like a picture from a book or the movies. It didn't seem real.

This was taken near Exit Glacier---near Seward.


This is another beautiful mountain taken at the Widlife Conservation. It was on the route from Anchorage to Seward.


This was taken in Seward on the Resercurrection Bay (They have rocky beaches, no sand.)

This is Mt. McKinely. You can only see it 20% of the time. Jason's cousin said, "Too many tourists, no mountain for you."