tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168159862024-02-19T11:25:29.315-05:00Snips & Snails & Moyer TalesTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-31078974107308272762011-01-02T09:10:00.002-05:002011-01-02T09:25:47.504-05:00Welcome, 2011Here we go again. Starting a fresh new page on a new calendar. Another year has somehow whizzed right by. Goodbye, 2010, I won't exactly miss you, you were pretty tough. I'm hopeful that 2011 will prove to be better.<br /><br />I don't really make any resolutions for the new year. It's quite obvious that I can't stick with them. Just look at this blog, and you'll see. So, needless to say, I'm not resolving to do anything. I will just take things as they come and hopefully be better at managing my time to get them done. I will also shed a few pounds, but I'm not starting on one particular day. I'll be more aware of my portion sizes and squeeze in as much exercise as I possibly can.<br /><br />I will blog in 2011, but I can't promise that I'll do it daily. I'd like to, yes, but it doesn't always happen for me. I've tried and failed at this many times, but looking at the bright side, I am here today! ;) It's a start (re-start?).Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-45621637978459436492010-08-14T15:46:00.001-04:002010-08-15T00:50:21.975-04:00Garden progressI've decided to take a picture of the garden every week. I planted on Saturday, May 29th, so I'll take a pic every Saturday, if possible. I will keep coming back to this post and adding to it to hopefully watch it grow.<br /><br /><br />May 29, 2010 Planting day:<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482723174924270898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVkfMGe3AVDMTl7zcP1ZM0p_hqjsuNVNvM-8vilhet7SUljRLZPktJhwWgz6dPQ8UqlxIvsteJzyvrrFvgHxxCFfmB39oaxPIVxJHfdg1PfeqU251Mgx_uwyJ76GR3RaMpN_G/s400/DSC_0161.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482725489385193394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxGLyA8QEARZ6kOgcoaMnLBZvKtnZj14hS1jMKylxUHjPbKenrX5wAD7i-lqzB4di3NoYtuCi00U2HQXaiFYzv109KxtQB01Nh6-HIiAIyB17eNoA9sQJfrNSdh5kTzivVo_T/s400/DSC_0163.JPG" /><br /></p><p>June 5, 2010 Week 1: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482725499905293234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HATPp0EUlEgbkm7aopTlO7ATG0hDJN_lGFkEbsB70d9rYPkhYOm8hmCBB8c_zR_sG_uQAJvRw9T0gwXey_f5t83adwarFm5bii6A_kFZq3mitto6G0rjXVgTk4Plgj-4Kdtu/s400/DSC_0722.JPG" /> </p><p></p><p></p><p>June 12, 2010 Week 2:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482725512813231938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykUzQGGXjpu8tHJs5TMdgTd_ORtcemy2mgi8xlYIqMQQEHYAzTmiLe00xMm5EoD8wHwnezm1GNsawP2kgjYKIjekV7D8D3v2mbtVQFfRO5v_oC62AfAXp2C0D9HUXDeqslzwk/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" /> </p><br />June 19, 2010 Week 3:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484673518217449090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMueZU_9sddN2PA7eM8tzSRLD_Sryw2RPSGkUPhRCq7J7aXttUTudf8Ars1UZoF7GaNEKPsWHfcGgGOd2RJ8bwPTqM987t73_v-lSwNV6L6Gb47lnP3HsL8y0jrsxQE7GOlkO0/s400/DSC_0118.JPG" /><br /><br /><p>June 26, 2010- Week 4:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488788540180013282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOqmVVTKJ_IwnXHjUxYLq64s_Lrq3GBsVHaxdYy130r_M_BKcU5JvL8BSUv4B_Q3DZ3LwVZH9DMLdtHR8bnc9ZuhiiT4QnU2fje8y0X2-fIOekLPqG4jQQjAKYUpcndy89-xC/s400/DSC_0148.JPG" /></p><p></p><br /><p>July 3, 2010 Week 5:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490622071342400098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eIVeRtJAOPJZxrGB5M4AFhmyuxcGibxJ-XDIRKALDZImz9uriDo4tslL3SpkvwvxX2igKgEEor0vK_tsKfHnPPkS1mNX_R9Q1xAyJEHRwgqI8vwfZRHgV63WTLhqEd8cUhQF/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" /></p><p><br />July 10, 2010 Week 6:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494342147429257346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5Xa0IQ-757kAutlmTu9EbI23Dqg0zzGD7oRbxFYul0zugXjan13ivl3RmDDyBhlkDy7rh49hsWiqkQEbYvlQXI7WozVqtcpTNMSSoTYe5gCpDyBcdIQKwYQU21XAG7n_3pOM/s400/DSC_0079.JPG" /></p><p></p><br /><p>July 17, 2010 Week 7:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496198772515354866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aQS1Td-ow4RZ22cVtTQJjARZH71R8RPMVmYFAfI1f2gq-uroaAR0gDHU_8EHlZ0K1IHEpn2YOD-SYDsKZ_B6PpP8U-a4JROkzaJignC_tJqn4kdQTDglqyzNB_0kOa8upjDY/s400/DSC_0180.JPG" /></p><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><p>July 25, 2010 Week 8 (plus one day):<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498053512684346402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgaXv9ZOd5G3Tkwl_JXFtER72UGPOd89CTAHAn4il5V1Hf_sGyHRRFr6qQ15gVKrUnMwsVQewrsi2Vg94olnmoWlexyUIYCWAkwmvKc4F-ZE4Vhnz9PcdRuUZ2zFj66pWSdP9/s400/DSC_0323.JPG" /></p><p></p><br /><br /><p>July 31, 2010 Week 9:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505490803830162018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0jk0xLoCfxrItgeLA6uvlDwYqdGti8fxeArfnamdQTrvBvRwpPGhUrwdxqKuK7JJ8c6TUQEMewfpHXQNMEnEmUJwbYugal4GbDLd5MwiEQ9oB0XHUvdzG7NZ51fwErino0oM/s400/DSC_0334.JPG" /></p><p></p><p>August 7, 2010 Week 10:<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF61UGduM7oM6Q1aMj0HK6OO0lnYiaqNWt9iSw4nK9ZMCV57y2Id3zBhEUqsVr7vtBiX_hEWJRvWct9Qa_Ndg5Jf9pPtXxyp4jhK0THcOed49xDXy359qHsGN15EYUJlrr8hQ/s1600/DSC_0533.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505492349112359730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF61UGduM7oM6Q1aMj0HK6OO0lnYiaqNWt9iSw4nK9ZMCV57y2Id3zBhEUqsVr7vtBiX_hEWJRvWct9Qa_Ndg5Jf9pPtXxyp4jhK0THcOed49xDXy359qHsGN15EYUJlrr8hQ/s400/DSC_0533.JPG" /></a></p><p></p><p>August 14, 2010 Week 11:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmFEel2yIg_h2wtozsy1lqjR_Ia6pLGJnNONejuEt9uYR9XJYfbAf2n6YyHWV-vxcb7qYmioT7l-hqdpdLhjHC_vaZ5kX_BHjGAON4PEvE0H05ILtuBwa_G_SfTUpmuypKV9K/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505493720558248898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmFEel2yIg_h2wtozsy1lqjR_Ia6pLGJnNONejuEt9uYR9XJYfbAf2n6YyHWV-vxcb7qYmioT7l-hqdpdLhjHC_vaZ5kX_BHjGAON4PEvE0H05ILtuBwa_G_SfTUpmuypKV9K/s400/DSC_0173.JPG" /></a> </p>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-23709614702837349342010-07-18T22:38:00.004-04:002010-07-20T23:52:37.404-04:00The Tale of "Jerry Garcia Mousie"It was a warm July day. Bradley, Corey, Collin, and I decided to take a dip in the pool. We were in the pool for some time, but not long enough to become "pruney". It was to be a quick dip before dinner.<br /><br />Before long, I decided that we should all get out of the pool and dry off some before heading into the house. If there's one thing that really irritates me, it's having dripping wet kids dripping all over in the house. I also despise wet shorts or swim trunks on a pile in the bathroom. Eeewww!! I told the boys that we'd head up to the house (the pool is at the bottom of a huge hill in our back yard) and we'd just "hang out" for a few minutes before we'd head into the house so that we'd have some time to dry off.<br /><br />As a rule, the last one out locks the gate and carries the key up to the garage. Today, it was Collin. Corey raced up the hill and ran straight into the house. (ugh) Collin, Bradley, and I took our time and Collin hung the key in the garage. Then, he ran up the steps and went into the house. Brad and I stayed in the garage where it wouldn't matter if the floor got wet.<br /><br />As we stood there, I noticed something by Dennis air compressor. It was moving! Upon closer inspection (I'm so brave!), I noticed that it was a mouse. A tiny little mouse. A cute little mouse. A tiny, cute, OH MY!!!, it's a tiny, cute, SUFFERING mouse!! As we dripped, we watched the poor little thing struggling to catch his breath. His (every animal is a "he" unless it's a cat) little heart was just about pounding out of his body as he struggled to breath. The poor little thing....well, that's what I said, not Brad, he really didn't care.<br /><br />We watched the little thing for a minute, at most, when Collin came back down and into the garage. He asked us what we were doing and we showed him the little mouse. He really didn't say too much, but was interested. The animal lover in me was coming out in full force. "Poor little thing" , "Maybe we should get "Dad" so he can end it's suffering", followed by a few more "awwwww's" and my sad face.<br /><br />It was then, that Collin realized how much of a softy his mom really is. To make me feel better, my sweet little boy told me his thoughts....we should just go upstairs and I should try to forget what I saw. How sweet of my boy! He didn't want me to be sad. If only life were that simple...just walk away and forget.<br /><br />I then found a dust pan and brush and decided to scoop the little mouse up and I grabbed a shovel to start digging a hole for his burial. I tried several times, in several spots, but I was having no luck. Do you know how hard it is to dig a hole, in rock, while wearing flip flops? The third spot was a little better, but I was still pretty much getting no where fast. :(<br /><br />As I was trying to dig, we heard Dennis in the garage. He came out and asked us what on earth we were doing. Then, we explained everything and he went in to the garage to see for himself. I told him that he would have to help us out and that we had to end the little thing's suffering. To which he replied, "OK! Who wants to shoot it with the bb gun?" To my astonishment, my sweet little boy, Collin, was the first one to excitedly pipe up with, "I will, I will"!!!<br /><br />I think my jaw hit the floor? This sweet little boy of mine, just minutes before, was feeling sad and trying to make me feel better, told me that I should just go upstairs and forget about it, was now VOLUNTEERING to be first in line at ending this poor little mousie's life!<br /><br />After watching me struggle, Dennis laughed and took the shovel from me. He finished digging the little hole and gave me a hard time about having the hole dug before the mouse was even dead. He made a few other remarks, something on the order of me being nuts.<br /><br />The three men (and I use that term lightly), Dennis, Bradley, and Collin headed into the garage......<br /><br />I could hear the pumping of the bb gun...... I put my fingers in my ears and proceeded to "la la la" while staring up at the roof. I could faintly hear the excitement of the three of them followed by laughter. I took my fingers from my ears and asked if the "job" had been done. I got a, "No". Fingers back into my ears, continued to "la la la" until I heard a faint, "Alright Brad, you got 'em"!<br /><br />Ugh.<br /><br />I then heard the scrape of the dust pan on the floor and the three of them came out to the hole. Dennis flopped him in and I covered him up. They laughed as I said a few words and named my little "friend"....Jerry (as in Tom & Jerry) Garcia (because it goes well with Jerry ;) ) Mousie (perfect last name for a mouse! They continued to laugh at me while I told them how wrong it was of them to find joy in all of this.<br /><br />Due to the "evidence" found, we did not have to perform an autopsy. No toxicology reports needed. It was determined that Jerry Garcia Mousie was poisoned. It was an assisted suicide....(Brad ultimately finished what the poison had started).<br /><br />Poor little "Jerry Garcia Mousie". RIP little rodent.<br /><br /><br /><br />"Said" poison block that "JGM" ingested.... (looks like he digested some of it too!)<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496195268738558498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpOb6o1LPt-HVnFSGDla_DM_wjQcdyjG_wvK4AftPS1LPJaB0VTaXpZIgUicx3iXwrqzNJ3xacfLT8NJ5EAFtnGEjaciTENnj7d7kElJheSIjbN68G4NgO_Lxnt04NuTQwLg_/s400/DSC_0184.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><p>The scene of the crime:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496195280598195218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDRG0Dd_b4TZWEX0m_I4iNDBgWJkbtoa1N4RlzQanMqtVH0Hhr515WeDHnEYzUD3EYhixWg6UginnVJdFdoam86zLuq34qmDnJSkZD-IsyA8QsNs_tOd5bW-Pfh9O1GuL_0RX/s400/DSC_0182.JPG" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>"JGM's" final resting place:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496195263669478098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrygY1jnzDT0FqcN7AHoJ4Ey5vWiJKj9aLB3Vuefcp6Cgb8DWN79XZ09Ne9Q79wT5HbYJlDZqAREeP1Vomdjx3BC8ZOUzSqYamtzUxXr4wJ4NpaoarKUeISSKxR1asAuDM7VTu/s400/DSC_0185.JPG" /></p>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-43352593186792305752010-07-12T23:40:00.003-04:002010-07-15T23:57:57.070-04:00First Harvest of 2010<div>The garden is doing suprisingly well, so far, this year. The compost and mushroom soil that we added before planting seems to be making a difference. The plants are looking pretty good and are much bigger than they were last year.</div><div> </div><div>I'm still kind of "new" to gardening, and I still have a lot to learn. I'm not quite sure how to get rid of insects? They are wreaking havoc on the leaves of the plants, especially the bell peppers. We're trying "Sevin" and hoping it helps. Another thing, too, is the rabbits! I've been finding some nibble marks on some of the veggies and have seen rabbits in the garden. Ugh. Needless to say, we are looking for free or cheap fencing for next year....</div><div> </div><div>Tonight, I had some cucumbers and zucchini that were ready to be picked. Mmmm!!</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494347112631849106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzuysawOVv7BE5L5vz8CvCjaHQbzHitAaAZ_N0BvsOTAb5wwQLP_px3VQ_y_Qpq8BFrGQ99MO-dr_38mXKBPKQZBoWrxVHGtnbjCCOBcLfR36_BUQV4vMIeGqPm7PL9CLSpC4/s400/DSC_0104.JPG" /><br /><br /><br />Collin was amazed by the size of the zucchini. He compared it to the height of his head. lol <div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494347103535374578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ30A2eC0qK7y7KeX_Bh1gMW7f_LDkFIFQFNtzEjc27FE_F8x3_HAvitUKWaz2cy0Zb9H1noXm2weo30L9xAGyz97lhWSsEHGvIIfDxlrh2UZNM8dWQLXoBow4FX4tjLunGAVA/s400/DSC_0103.JPG" /><br />Corey wanted a picture with the big zucchini too.<br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494347096639236658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hRtoEUwg1CDnUT6wSv0hFXDChqrkBG3THnsG8eJk1duIrV22EtJLLhA_10ssZKqiQe7O0i01rW0v8IrhzxwsIlrc9aLJ56m_xyTdiOm1kadP6xHI3IwpRUCdWLzxYioOeoXj/s400/DSC_0105.JPG" /></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-77757976404776367552010-06-25T16:01:00.006-04:002010-09-23T20:25:17.120-04:00Missing Corey Meinhart<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486823033682520386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMcFKfC_Wb8KUvPS7Jw9iF7Q3CAcZ5Erjj4QLL5uL5fs5NA7ebIEDVV9H0_cJfWdGF0HVnwddJNGMwC35h_46tIvSuGS4jrgFn62PXpgHSS5P9RAhmhhwuPkPECo2jpAqYTY_/s400/Corey0001.jpg" /><br /><div>Just as hard as it was to understand 15 years ago, I'm still unsure. On this day, back in 1995, Dennis's best friend, Corey Meinhart was killed in a motorcycle accident. I remember seeing the story air on the news, and even after the mention of his name, I thought I could wake up and find that it was all just a terrible dream. </div><div></div><br /><div>This was supposed to be a happy time in my life. I recently found out that I was pregnant and I was to be experiencing joy. How could it be, that a little over a week after losing my cousin, another loss would cause even more suffering?</div><div></div><br /><div>I met Dennis in July of 1991. Shortly there after, I met his friend, Corey. I knew from the first time talking to him, that he and I would get along great and I could certainly see why Dennis was so proud to call him his friend. Corey was the life of the party, spoke his mind, had a great taste in music, and knew how to have fun. </div><div></div><br /><div>Dennis and I would go to "Bouncing Billiards", in Palmerton with Trevor (then almost 2 years old) and we would shoot pool. It could be just us for a little while and a few straglers here and there and then, the place would start jumping and once Corey got there, it was then time for the fun to begin! Trevor, as young as he was, idolized Corey. He would later make up stories about what him and Corey would do together. One time, Trevor told us that he and Corey "partied in the pits". (A place that Trevor had never been, but he recalled Corey's story about it.)</div><div></div><br /><div>Corey was, simply put, AMAZING at shooting pool. He could run the table all night. He, most definately, mastered the skill. He couldn't be beat. He was humble, and never really bragged or thought anything of it. That's just how he was.</div><div></div><br /><div>A short while later, Dennis, Trevor, and I moved out of Palmerton and into our first apartment in Weissport. We really enjoyed Corey's visits, which surprised us, since he wasn't "tied down" like Dennis had just become. ;) We had the most fun while living there, especially when Corey and friends would visit. I still enjoyed the "parties", even though I didn't drink (one of us had to be responsible). I loved just sitting back and listening to all of the stories being told. I can still hear in my head the way Corey would say a certain profanity and how he annunciated it. He "owned" those two words.</div><div></div><br /><div>What I remember most about living there was how we knew when Corey was on his way. We could hear his stereo long before he'd even get into Weissport. He would be "up" on the 4-lane (248) and we'd know he'd soon be there. Corey really liked his music, and he liked it loud. lol He had even showed us how he had to keep tightening things on his car and adjusting mirrors from all of the bass coming out of his subs. </div><div></div><br /><div>There were a few occassions, too, that we'd go to Corey's house. I can remember being afraid to knock on the door. "Dinch", Corey's dad, was a HUGE man (prison guard!) and was very intimidating....on the outside. We'd learn just how cool of a dad Corey had later. :) Dennis is probably still wondering how he got away with breaking the windchime on the front porch. haha</div><div></div><br /><div>Another fond memory that I have is the time that a group of us got together at Corey's and then we all got into our cars and Corey led the way to some festival that he'd known about. I'm sure we're all still guessing how he'd ever heard of it in the first place. To this day, I'm sure I'd never be able to find it again. It was in the middle of nowhere.....up on a hill...with nothing else around it. It was almost as if we were part of a story in a really weird book? It was really creepy, to me, so Trevor and I stayed in the car. Our cars were the only ones there. </div><div></div><br /><div>Not long after that, Dennis and I had moved out of that apartment and to a 1/2 double house "over town", in Lehighton. Corey stopped by only once or twice and we didn't see him as much. As it turned out, he found himself "tied down" with a girl. (Long, funny story behind that one.) :) Had we known then, that in just a short time later, he'd be gone, maybe we would've made a point to go down to Palmerton more?</div><div></div><br /><div>In the early morning hours of June 25, 1995, Corey was on his motorcycle, on his way into Palmerton. He was at the intersection of Forest Inn Road and Stoney Ridge Road when he was struck by a motorist, driving a small Toyota pickup truck. I don't know the entire story, but I pray that he didn't see it coming, nor did he suffer. At 22 years young, a precious life was taken. </div><div></div><br /><div>I remember going to his funeral and still being unable to believe it. He didn't have a scratch on him and to me, he just couldn't be gone. Dennis didn't want to stay and I remember not wanting to leave. It was so hard for Dennis and he has a different take on these things than I do. I can totally understand. </div><div></div><br /><div>On January 4th, I had my baby. A boy. We had given the name, "Corey" some thought, but even the nurse agreed that our baby did "look" like a "Bradley" (the other name we had in mind).</div><div></div><br /><div>Years later, on July 3, 2001 to be exact, we found out that we were to become the parents of twins. I had hoped to have at least one girl, but later found that I was carrying two boys. On the day I found out, it was decided that our "Baby A" would be named Corey. It's kind of funny, the way God works. The "irony" of it all is that our Corey does look the part and we're not sure if the name has anything to do with it, but from the time "our" Corey picked up a pool stick, he is just amazing. Just the other day, Bradley was ashamed to admit that he had been beaten in a game of pool by an 8 year old. </div><div></div><br /><div>If Corey were here today, I'm sure he'd still be the life of every party, the joker, the prankster, the everything anyone would want in a friend and more. Though I only knew him a few short years, a big part of my heart still aches and misses him dearly. I'm sure he's up there, in heaven, running the table and I can't wait until the day that he sinks that 8 ball and beats me at the game...again. If you should make it to heaven before I do, please do me a favor and ask Corey how to catch a unique rabbit.......U-nique up on it! ;) (That was one of his favorites!) :)</div><div></div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486834128451060210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWWSZ6t0zdjWdX4NRa5SpfHUZa7-pqAjJ4Al8Qb1PAJI1R0DgAGiyhY7eZkmQLADLb6N9QbeDN48ko2nmCWr7SxqGEzSUpMkBGUO5Of-t3wjofyuC8GVRT0MPtKZwomB08NPQ/s400/coreymeinhart15yr-web.jpg" />Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-26912429261374900002010-06-19T09:45:00.013-04:002010-06-19T13:59:12.882-04:0015 Years....<div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89Iu_xoKwmtiWrkBRnVV-GXojRqAVpw3Yoaiikl8_MiFwK6jhSaNbfa-lSK_Ch1-rexnqnbXA34k0TOKd20alaj7fXTnv48CHMxZXl0STAlMv8SSEL6CDk0ilI0ROcZ2ASNyo/s1600/bobby0001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484505624846877346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89Iu_xoKwmtiWrkBRnVV-GXojRqAVpw3Yoaiikl8_MiFwK6jhSaNbfa-lSK_Ch1-rexnqnbXA34k0TOKd20alaj7fXTnv48CHMxZXl0STAlMv8SSEL6CDk0ilI0ROcZ2ASNyo/s400/bobby0001.jpg" /></a><br />Fifteen years ago, on this day, I lost a piece of my heart. What's left of it still aches and I can't help but cry as I type this. I lost my cousin, my friend, my classmate, a person that was a part of my entire life. I lost Bobby.<br /><br /><div>I guess, no one can really know how a person feels. I think what adds to the pain is knowing that my Aunt Betty lost her son. My cousins lost their brother. My Aunts and Uncles lost their nephew. Bobby was loved by everyone.</div><br /><div>I felt sort of out of place when I was there, at the hospital, moments after he had passed. I don't remember anymore who called to tell me, or how I had even gotten there. I remember wanting to be there for Aunt Betty and I wanted to see Bobby just one more time. This time, I'm sure he would understand my crying. I used to have to try soooo hard not to cry in front of him when I did go to visit him in the hospital. I think he understood just how hard that was for me. I was always the "over-emotional" one in the family. It didn't just bother me that he was in the hospital dying, it bothered me that he was in the hospital and not at home with his family. I told him that he could've been in there because of something as simple as a stubbed toe (of course, I know that's not a reason for hospitalization, just tried to make my point) and I would still cry. I never did like hospitals.<br /></div><div><div>There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Bobby. Little reminders of him pop into my head at various times of the day. I see anything with Spiderman on it, and he comes to mind. He had a pet spider and was nicknamed, "Spiderman" because of her. Even spiders in the house are given a second chance at life if we find them. It's because of Bobby that we capture them and release them outside rather than kill them.</div><div></div><br /><div>When I bake molasses crumb cake or cupcakes, I think of him. I used to bake them for him. He loved them. I'm not sure what medication did it to him, but when he had trouble "going", I baked some for him and they helped him "go".</div><br /><div>Butterflies. The day of Bobby's burial, there was a butterfly hovering around the pastor as he spoke. A few times, the pastor even waved his hand to get it to move. It fluttered around us all as we stood there. That little butterfly, to me, was Bobby. Hovering around us to let us know that he was in heaven and he was alright. He would never want us to be sad and I think he sent that butterfly to let us know. That little butterfly inspired me to write poems and has helped me as I later experienced more losses. It was included on my grandmother's funeral bulletin some years later.</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484507437829168722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYuF6tppTaurO5EPAsElvzuCjt-FPhwqNUvs5ehEz7-Yinb2RQn69gvSWaHtzWMmh8-eIziiloCfT9PLxgBJ-1bjjrj8tk2_rlVU2cZudbHGNiqK1TVv8vgGFu98aL-TGmLHT/s400/scan0002.jpg" /> I had also written a poem about spiders, just for Bobby. It was an honor when Aunt Betty (Bobby's mom) wanted it put on the back of his tombstone.<br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484509163482554498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAeAdmVmrNVYMXlol4lqT-yZx99SMBkFP_4vDkZiMjntzHz_u6-TjI5Ix-SVeoqXAakL90ibOXgHkz2zLEQ4t4WNfg8ysJyBkFYpOqQpMHvoHADQcFUqfB4ZC4Lb0LE7Ygi7O/s400/04-19-04+061.jpg" /><br /><div>Today, so much has changed since Bobby had to go. I often wonder what he would think about how far the internet has come. He was one of the first to use the internet in our family. A far cry from what it is today. I'm sure he would have the latest video games too. He was the one that introduced us to Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo. We still have yet to conquer it and we miss his little secrets to get through some of the tough levels. He never did get to play DK2 or DK3.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40GGMPBudrSm4SvRVnBHUeTdm2cGG8AWkpgKASowDhdJwdxanZUfwCGlVEfftM_bJ_QtE9TjDNND4Y0KfA7wQagNmYIVZPTNEZxv66bSjiahk4moaI1E24O9SAU0uUOT_b8Sh/s1600/cad_1279_dt.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484510275934820610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40GGMPBudrSm4SvRVnBHUeTdm2cGG8AWkpgKASowDhdJwdxanZUfwCGlVEfftM_bJ_QtE9TjDNND4Y0KfA7wQagNmYIVZPTNEZxv66bSjiahk4moaI1E24O9SAU0uUOT_b8Sh/s320/cad_1279_dt.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>I wonder, too, if Bobby got to meet Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)? Bobby LOVED the Grateful Dead and just about 2 months after Bobby passed, so did Jerry. I like to think that they did meet.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div>This past Wednesday, I went to the CCEEC. Just like any other time that I walk through the front door, I have to somewhat "prepare" myself, but still, it hits me. A burst of emotion goes through me. The first thing you see when you walk through the front door is a plaque with Bobby's picture on it. He worked there for a bit before he got sick. "Hiking Bob" is what they called him. He loved the outdoors and wildlife.</div><div></div><br /><div>Of course, too, I can't help but think of Bobby when I listen to Kenny Chesney. I doubt, at that time, that Bobby had even heard of him. Kenny's song, "Who You'd Be Today" says just about everthing that I think about and wonder about when I think of Bobby.<br /></div><br /><div>I can't pin-point just one thing or another that I miss about my cousin. I miss everything. I miss his jokes, playing cards with him, his intellegence, his funny stories, his smile. I miss his voice, his ways, his love that he had for all things. I miss everything about him.</div><br /><div>I wonder what he would look like today? What would he be doing? What new things would bring him joy. What would he excell at? What kind of car would he drive? (I'd hope he would've switched over to being a Chevy man, rather than Dodge ;) and of course I would tease with him if he didn't.)</div><div></div><br /><div>So, here I am today missing him just as much as I did back then. I am so grateful to have had him in my life as long as I did. I just wish he could've stayed longer and wouldn't have had to go through what he did to get to heaven. I'm not sure I could've handled it as well as he did, or could've put on a smile through the pain like he did to keep us from hurting for him. I know he wouldn't want us to be sad, but I'm sure he would've felt the same way about any of us if we had to endure what he did.<br /></div><br /><div>Dear Bobby,</div><br /><div>I miss you. You were the first to learn of my pregnancy but you had to go before Bradley was born. (Yes, another boy.) I gave him the middle name, "Robert", for a few reasons, and you are one of them. Dennis and I tried for a girl and we had 2 more boys, twins. Trevor still remembers you, and Bradley, Corey and Collin never met you, but they "know" you. I tell them about you often. I'm sure they would've loved you just as much as you would've loved them. </div><div></div><br /><div>I can't wait for the day that I will see you again. I can't wait to hear one of your jokes or to just reminisce with you. We've got so much catching up to do!</div><br /><div>Until then, I keep you and your memories in my heart and I take comfort in knowing that you are suffering no more.<br /></div><br /><div>Your favorite cousin,</div><br /><div>Tammy<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484544855050249474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDura3MAJ6eaKmVei6V0fiOuKPeneY_uM7OAEw8mZmZExoUruvgzfQp-9JdL6dxmqJWtVo6W11MyfKF8DrhkRNqHOUSWwZtKN4uYbb11hf-F6K17lMqNcUNd3qkLj9dXUJTDhr/s320/15+years+ago-web.jpg" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-43157417975294592032010-06-07T23:37:00.003-04:002010-06-08T00:11:38.459-04:00Getting old?Back in March I turned 40. I don't "feel" 40....mentally, I feel it physically. As I sit here tonight, I just popped 2 Tylenols. My back and legs are killing me! For most people, what I did today is just a "walk in the park". <br /><br />My day started off a little late. I just couldn't drag myself out of the bed this morning. I rushed the boys to get ready for school. Once they got on the bus, I watered the garden. Nothing major. It's just a pain in the rump that I have to go into the closet in the garage to turn the water on and I have to make sure to turn it off when I'm done.<br /><br />Once that was done, I started on the laundry. There is so much piled up and I just don't want to do it. I'm telling you, my laundry room shrank! That has to be what happened, since we all have the same clothes that we've had and the laundry room just can't hold it all anymore!<br /><br />After that I did *some* cleaning up...not much...well, not as much as I should have. I played Bingo on the computer and then sorted through some pics on my computer and started uploading to the school's website.<br /><br />Before long, Dennis called. Lunchtime! The day was just flying by! That's when I started watching the clock. I have a bad habit of doing that and when I do it, I seem to get nothing done. They boys were dismissed from school at 12:30pm and my mind just isn't capable of figuring out what time they should arrive home.<br /><br />So, instead of sitting in the house, I went outside. I checked the mail...nothing good. I started getting things ready (wheelbarrow, shovels, top soil, etc.) to do some planting and transplanting. I killed just enough time because before I knew it, the bus pulled up.<br /><br />I gathered buckets from the basement and headed to the garden. I got this brainy idea and I guess time will tell if it will work or not. I was surprised by how many of the green beans actually came up in the garden. According to the seed packet, I am to thin them out. I can't see throwing anything away, so I decided I'd take the ones I pulled from the garden and plant them in buckets, giving me even more green beans. :) So, I now have a row and 7 buckets of green bean plants. I hope it works!<br /><br />I was lucky to have a little helper with me as I worked. I can most times count on Collin to help me out. Many times, he helps without my asking. So, if he offers to help, I let him and I always thank him for his kindness. I loved, too, our little discussion as we worked together. He and I both agreed that it's silly to be inside of the house when the weather is so nice.<br /><br />As we were working, Collin spotted a few butterflies (cabbage moths, actually). He asked if he could use my (old) camera to take a movie of them. I'm not sure that he got the footage he was looking for? I'll have to check the camera tomorrow. :)<br /><br />About a week ago, my darling husband brought home 2 huge tractor tires. Why, you ask....because they were "free". I can't knock the man for wanting a good deal, but honestly, I really didn't see a need for them. lol Last week, when Ted (my brother) was here, Dennis talked him into taking one, so I just had one to deal with. When Dennis got home from work, I put him to work and had him cut the tire so that we could put it around a tree. I then hauled dirt to the tire and viola'! I had an instant flower bed. lol I put it around a tree in the back yard, by the boys' swingset. Added a little mulch...ok, A LOT of mulch, and some water, and now we hope that the animals don't eat the plants (I planted Cosmos). Did I mention that I had a helper? I did! Collin shoveled some dirt, pushed the wheelbarrow for me, and then helped water the plants. He's such a good boy! :)<br /><br />Before long, it was time to head back up to the house. Time to water the garden and other flower beds. They really are looking good! Dennis and I are doing what we can with as little money as possible, and it's really starting to look nice! I haven't had flower beds in a few years. If I remember, I will post pics tomorrow. :)<br /><br />As usual, we ate a late "quick supper" and I got the boys to bed. I'm not sure what happened to the in between time, but here I am, tired, achy, and ready for bed. I'm hoping that those two Tylenols will allow me to fall asleep. I have a few more plants to find homes for tomorrow, as well as a laundry room to find. I am hoping too, to get my rug shampooer out and clean the living room carpet. No pain, no gain......<br /><br />Good night.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-80484159332878300952010-06-07T10:27:00.002-04:002010-06-07T10:41:41.392-04:00Sweet Summertime...well, sort of...While the calander doesn't have summer scheduled to arrive until June 2oth, in our minds, summer is upon us. Today, however, we are getting a little bit of a break from the heat and humidity. A relief from the days prior. <br /><br />We've already been in the pool more times "this summer" than we were all of last summer. The water has reached 80 degrees and higher. The boys and I plan on enjoying every minute in the pool that we can and our hopes are to not stay up late at night in order to get up earlier in the morning so we can enjoy as much summer as possible.<br /><br />Of course, we are also planning more "night swims". There's nothing more fun than swimming under the light of the moon and stars!<br /><br />We understand, too, that we can't just spend all of our time in the pool. I planted the garden on the 29th of May. That will keep me busy as well. We can't forget grass cutting, either. The tractor is down so that means I will be doing a lot of mowing with the push mower. Ugh. Great exercise, yes, but in the heat and humidity it's hard to enjoy.<br /><br />Dennis is hoping that we can take a day trip out near Reading, PA for pool supplies and possibly a stop at Roadside America. I'm hoping we can also throw in a trip to Delaware to spend some time with Dennis's dad and step-mom at the beach. <br /><br />The boys are down to the final week of school. They'll be dismissing at 12:30pm today, tomorrow, and Wednesdy and then they go Thursday until 11:10am. Then, our summer vacation will "officially" begin. They'll return to school on August 25, 2010 as THIRD graders! (Where, oh where has the time gone??)<br /><br />Our plans may fall short, as far as trips go, but one thing we can count on is that we are going to have fun! Have a great summer, everyone!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-45917078857211848952010-03-12T19:02:00.006-05:002010-03-12T19:37:52.776-05:00An update, I guess?<div><div>While my last entry was in January, I can't say that I've been busy the entire time. I think I'm experiencing "Blogger's Block". Seems like no matter how hard I try, I just don't blog like I should. Ugh.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx9I31xo-K464hBhlQaGzKgXaGPO79TgvDcIKfaLNyZc3j_gsDQ-3pjgcnLAivXa9djPImDy3k1uApRKGxW58GYgR0U5MMJ2CbQYTu2diqm2l9duOL2hZ5NQPdh2Zs5-poucl/s1600-h/DSC_0496.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447909971240647490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx9I31xo-K464hBhlQaGzKgXaGPO79TgvDcIKfaLNyZc3j_gsDQ-3pjgcnLAivXa9djPImDy3k1uApRKGxW58GYgR0U5MMJ2CbQYTu2diqm2l9duOL2hZ5NQPdh2Zs5-poucl/s320/DSC_0496.JPG" /></a> <div>I hit a milestone in the time that I've been away. </div><div>I am now on my way...."over the hill". </div><div>I turned the "big 4-0" on March 4th. Thankfully, I'm taking on a young attitude about the whole thing. Leading up to this momentous day, I've been saying, "<em>Fourty is the "new" twenty</em>". </div><div> </div><div>My mom surprised me with a strawberry-whipped cream cake from the bakery. Oh My!! It was soooo yummy!!!</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>I am happy to say that my attempt at weight loss is being successful. I am showing a loss at each weigh-in. It's so exciting! I did reach one of my goals, which was to quit drininking "regular" iced tea and make the switch to the diet version. If you know me, you know just how big of an accomplishment this is! Even after that delicious birthday cake, I am STILL losing weight!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH-SAyf-_5kTsdtC4hpNB0ncyL8gp0O2L8CoeF686-F8kI3Ctkt-wnRm3-xrKljxmHfqo52bPUU2ER9nTRNFDdqNhIupKO3UJaWtCvr50F7xp9VxQDSIFO693l_Zlyjd3Vz2C/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447908906341684786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH-SAyf-_5kTsdtC4hpNB0ncyL8gp0O2L8CoeF686-F8kI3Ctkt-wnRm3-xrKljxmHfqo52bPUU2ER9nTRNFDdqNhIupKO3UJaWtCvr50F7xp9VxQDSIFO693l_Zlyjd3Vz2C/s200/DSC_0031.JPG" /></a></div><div>I didn't stop just there....I am going to get in as much sunshine and exercise as possible. The warmer temperatures are already making this possible. I took a nice long walk this past Sunday, and instead of driving I walked to Wal-Mart yesterday.<br /></div><br /><div>Of course, I wasn't "alone" on my walk. I took my camera with me and snapped a few pics. I can't wait for summer to come so I can compare the pics. I love when everything is lush and green rather than the empty brown colors that I now see. No matter what the season, I really am blessed to live in such a beautiful area.<br /></div><div>It wasn't planned, but on my Sunday walk, I saw the man that I see walking often. I'm sure we'll meet up again, and I'll get to know him a little better. He's the same man that would smile and wave as we drove past him in the car.</div><div> </div><div>Well, one thing that hasn't changed....my kids. I am now listening to Trevor complain about the lag in his game on XBox because I am uploading pics. Grrrr!! I will end for now and I shall return! I have so much more to update! </div></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-39593069202274769752010-01-14T09:16:00.003-05:002010-01-14T09:29:05.719-05:00Call it a resolution, if you'd like?I'm done apologizing for not blogging on a regular basis. I won't put myself down for it. I am a bad blogger. I have thoughts, daily, as to what I will blog about that day. Some days are more "blog worthy" than others, yet I still don't get here as I should. This is the last of excuses from me!<br /><br />It's a struggle for me and I'm hoping to make better use of my time. I want to have more time for the things that I truly enjoy. I feel sometimes that I've been sucked into "nothingness". I will be turning 40 this March and I feel it is time. Time to "re-invent" myself....time to do the things I've been wanting to do but was too afraid to try....time to lose weight and take better care of myself....time to have fun and not feel guilty.....time to focus more on what matters most!<br /><br />Welcome, 2010! This WILL be the year of all years! I'm ready!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-21265919363270626762009-09-17T11:32:00.004-04:002009-09-18T11:38:53.854-04:00Oh Man!Quote of the day: "I feel like a man", by Corey.<br /><br />Collin was up late last night/very early this morning because he was not feeling well. He has a cough that kept him up most of the night and he was near vomitting. So, today when Collin asked to stay home, I let him.<br /><br />It's still kind of weird when just one of the twins goes to school. It's most comparable to that feeling that you are just forgetting <em>something</em>. So, having just Corey this morning and because of the rain, I drove him down to the end of the driveway. He sat in the front seat, a place he has never been with the van in motion and that is when he said he felt like a man. I guess, to him, manhood begins when you can sit in the front seat. LOL Too cute.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-54752061344613487182009-09-15T22:37:00.003-04:002009-09-15T23:00:23.656-04:00"Tonight I Wanna Cry"....(by Keith Urban)<br /><br />I'm not sure if it's a horomone imbalance or if it's because I'm having a hard time adjusting to the new schedule now that the boys are back to school? Maybe it's a combination of both? I'm exhausted and feel like dirt, unappreciated dirt, that is.<br /><br />I have a husband that can't get socks from the laundry room on his own. A son that is soon going to be 20 years old and has no ambition. Another son, a teen (say no more?) that hates school, his only friend, homework, and everything else. I've got two 7 year olds that are demanding. And then, there's me. I take it all from each of them and wear my smile on top of my frown. <br /><br />I do too much for too many. I have to put a new word into my vocabulary....."NO". It's hard for me and I've struggled with this for some time now. I'm a "Yes Woman" that hopes for the other party to change their mind so I can get out of it. Of course, though it's taken me so long, I now realize that once the YES is out, there is no changing it and I am stuck doing something I don't want to.<br /><br />I was in Corey and Collin's room tonight, finally getting them to bed and as I was covering Corey I stepped on a toy and hurt my foot. Corey then said to me, "Mom, you should clean my room tomorrow". I told him I wouldn't do it for free, it would cost him 20 bucks! He said he didn't have 20 bucks so then I told him he and his brother would have to take on the job. I've cleaned their room for them more times than I'd like to admit. I have to put my foot down. They are old enough now to be responsible for their room and should have been for a long time. <br /><br />Trevor just asked me a few minutes ago, to get the clippers and give him a haircut tonight.....It's almost 11PM!! When does my day end???<br /><br />I received an e-mail from Brad's teacher a few days ago, stating that he isn't doing his homework. I asked him today, "Brad, do you have your homework done?".....Of course, the response was that he had left it in his locker. UGH!! Looks like I may be getting my punishment for that before you know it. He'll get an after school detention and guess who has to go and pick him up from the school??? (Don't think you'll even need a hint!)<br /><br />Earlier, just before he went to bed, Dennis asked me if I did any laundry today. I did some, not a whole lot. He was looking for socks. I knew there was a basket in the laundry room with clean socks that I just didn't get sorted yet. For this one, I'll give you two guesses, but I'm sure you'll get it right in one....who do you think had to search for his socks? (Clue: He didn't......and it's the same person that has to help the boys with their homework and help them with their shower or bath.)<br /><br />I could go on and on, but I will be nice and spare you. What I've typed thus far is only a smidgen of what's been going on around here. I've been wanting to update for a long time now and I just can't seem to fit it in.<br /><br />Now that I have the song in my head and today I finally fixed my iPod, I think I'll go and listen to some Keith Urban.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-75736817991106655362009-09-11T08:36:00.001-04:002009-09-11T08:36:37.527-04:00Not sure I like this or if I will even use this? I am blogging from my cell.Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-24276169662793096842009-09-11T08:33:00.001-04:002009-09-11T08:33:12.665-04:00Testing.......Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-38266261917176986902009-08-03T14:00:00.004-04:002009-08-03T14:30:04.194-04:00"Days Go By"......("Days Go By", Keith Urban)<br /><br /><br />It's hard to believe that summer vacation iw winding down already, even though it feels like it's just begun. In just 30 days, Bradley will start his final year at the Middle School, and Corey and Collin will begin their 2nd grade adventure. I am hopeful that this year will be the best one yet! Brad will be at the top of the "food chain" and I am also hopeful that he will have a much better experience than he did last year.<br /><br />I am excited to see how well Corey and Collin do being in the same classroom. Second grade was a memorable year for me, since my teacher was fabulous! I'm even more excited since Corey and Collin will have the very same teacher that I did, Mrs. Lewis! She is one of those teachers that is there because she loves teaching and not because "it's a job". I just know that my boys will love her as much as I do/have. I plan on being a parent volunteer and helping out at the school as much as possible.<br /><br />I will be setting a few goals for myself, as well. I will try and use my Wii Fit every morning and make better use of my time this year. Normally, people start exercising on January 1st, as a resolution, but I've decided to start when they go back to school and I won't have to "fight" with them for my time to use the Wii. I will be real happy if I can shed a few pounds and will look forward to getting up each morning and seeing results! (fingers crossed! lol)<br /><br />The biggest thing for me will be to conquer my cigarette addiction. It's a shameful, and not to mention, dangerously unhealthy, habit. Had I known then, that it would be this hard to quit, I would've never even tried it!<br /><br />Another goal that I've failed at several times, is that I'd like to become a better blogger. So many of my friends have them and I just love to read them. I'd like mine to be caught up. It's fun to go back and read. I almost feel that I should document every moment because time is just whizzing right by. ****I'm heading in the right direction, already, with this...I've been writing before bed each night and I am typing this from my notebook right now! YAY!!<br /><br />While I am sad to see summer drawing to an end, I am anxious to start a new school year and a new me, in a sense. Summer has always been my favorite season, the season where most memories are made and the most carefree. I will still have summer on my mind and body in the winter.......It's amazing how long I can hold on to a tan and tan lines! Haha!!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-43959078876789641912009-08-02T23:30:00.001-04:002009-08-03T14:45:04.866-04:00"Words I Coulndn't Say"......("Words I Couldn't Say", by Rascal Flatts. Song title fits, but not the song. lol)<br /><br />I'm not sure what words I could use to describe today??? I'm sure there are a few "choice" words I could use, but I won't. (My mom could be reading this! ;) )<br /><br />I've been really bummed out about my "new" computer not allowing Photoshop CS to install properly. I figured that since the computer is still "new" and not full yet, I'd do a restore and just start fresh.<br /><br />In true "Tammy" fashion, things did not go as smoothly as anticipated. Trevor tired to help me for a bit, but his suggestions didn't work either. Yes, my computer restored to it's factory settings, but now I was having problems getting connected to the internet. To add even more confusion, I'd have a router to install and set up too so that the kids could use the internet on the laptop.<br /><br />After many hours (I'm too embarrassed to give exact times) of frustration, I finally just decided to try a restore again, this time, unplugging everything and getting some of the miles of wires under control. I even moved a few things around on the desk.<br /><br />Eventually, after a little shouting match of misunderstanding with Dennis, I got the monster working again! With a big sigh of relief, the laptop is connected too! Ahhhh!<br /><br />If all goes well, (I can be hopeful, right?) I will try to install Photoshop. I can't help but fear the beast, so I am off to bed a little earlier than normal in hopes of having a clearer mind tomorrow. AND, if all goes better than expected, I will soon have scrapbook pages done, as well as many other Photoshop related projects.<br /><br />Wish me luck and minimal screams! ;) *sigh*<br /><br />Goodnight.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365810039862134658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPkY-bQwCaFDZBWv39Kcug4a47X0YQaObi5l5tzFFkfeWzVbw8MFW3pQFO5rtXjMOuno_RUHeMwt4AlY-McymrTrQiU4iacKMOQkYk1e1v43pEWlqeMWPJU_3knQ_MN7y9ng9/s400/IMG_4622.JPG" />Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-48426143098893139832009-07-31T21:09:00.002-04:002009-08-03T14:00:11.182-04:00"Happy To Be Stuck With You"....(A song from the '80's by Huey Lewis & the News)<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365796384685932194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOkI2rATIGhNw_vHglgTUOT9q5ZPoD7scJ4zRCZZKuBSPUszpSRnFbm3fugj1bcdPVmNKzHSx9IQmYFiHBLHUt98MN05A2okQ8PoJ0eKLsPrz9-h6hdywP38_w1ma1pq-wfGV/s400/8-3-2009+1%3B32%3B36+PM.jpg" /> <div>Ten years ago, on this day, I married my best friend. Ten years is a "milestone anniversary", but we've actually been together for 18 years now.<br /><br />Neither of us is afraid to admit that our marriage has not exactly been a fariytale, and we both agree that nothing could ever come between us, ever. Over the years, we've learned a lot and gained a lot too. Yes, weight included! haha<br /><br />I still get giddy and watch or listen for Dennis to get home from work. I do miss him while he's gone, but since having cell phones, he's sure to call me every day while on his lunch break. (I think he misses me, too!)<br /><br />Dennis has the ability to make me laugh as well as cry. He has also learned how to deal with me at times when I couldn't understand myself.<br /><br />Last year, he did something he doesn't like to openly admit to too many people. He took me to a Kenny Chesney concert, and we had a great time. As much as he dislikes them, he also goes to my family reunions and tries so hard not to show me how much he really doesn't want to be there. He does it for me. It isn't just a one-way street. I've made many sacrafices to make him happy too, but when I think about it, I probably haven't done near as much for him as he has for me. (Got to work on that!)<br /><br />He's my mechanic, handyman, carpenter, "pool boy", landscaper, grounds keeper, bread winner, plumber, provider, best friend, comedian, teddy bear, partner in crime, love of my life, my better half (hey, Brad! A Keith Urban song there!), my knight in shining armor, etc.. etc. I could go on and on. All that, wrapped up into one big package.<br /><br />I am so blessed beyond words, even when we have our "bad" days, deep down I still love him. We both agree, and just can't fathom the thought of us ever being apart. Coming from divorced parents, and knowing others that have gone through it, we will both do everything possible to stay together and there is nothing that would even make us want to part. We're in it for the long haul. :)<br /><br />After 18 years together, 10 years married, and 4 children later, we still are in awe about how we feel about each other. We never imagined it could be this good and hasn't gone stale. There are always new adventures awaiting us and there's really nothing that we can't or haven't conquered on the way. I look forward to more "milestone" anniversaries and growing old with him. I love you with ALL of my heart, Dennis!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I love this pic of the two of us...we really do laugh a lot! :</div><div></div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365796378182398738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDKXt9_RSdFdn-5iO18BexHQPCH0am2Aqp_J4OPfXHMxeWoA-0-FNn1mhUz7LI3NM9Z_12apGmnRzQlNRJ13ZvxoJvwC-ZwUoZNyAFb5YtVSGC1SzGpjGq3KolOSf_yhW_21X/s400/8-3-2009+1%3B34%3B17+PM.jpg" /></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><p>Dennis STILL carries this pic of us in his wallet. It was taken about a month after we'd met:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365796390194470978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NQGHDMxx21MWLOq1U2UGpcB-DCuf26be5Blx2IOu3rvUk7rm9hglokgiUdmFYiV7FXgLlUKDq_FQ-LL9a9ny8hc61EtQ9dmVJyWnB7nNP7v-yD8NCDvbxrBInZfuM_djIHNv/s400/us.jpg" /></p>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-45545308979953101032009-07-30T23:05:00.000-04:002009-08-03T13:08:50.650-04:00"The Heat Is On"......(Had to do this for Brad. It's a Glenn Frey song.)<br /><br />The past few days we've finally got a good taste of summer. We've been waiting for summer to arrive, since it had been so rainy and the temps had barely reached 80 degrees for so long.<br /><br />Today, I think, has been the warmest. The heat with the high humidity made today just barely tolerable. Tomorrow, the weatherman is predicting rain. Great for the garden, but it won't help the tan!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-26637994284669763302009-07-28T23:32:00.000-04:002009-07-31T02:48:35.896-04:00This one's for you, Brad!Did you notice that the last 2 entries had no song titles?? Hahaha!!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-21605474902212036202009-07-28T23:29:00.001-04:002009-07-31T02:45:03.305-04:00Sleeping arrangements...The boys were pretty rough on the old beds that were given to us from Uncle Larry. One bed was broken beyond repair, thanks to my over-active and bouncy boys. My mom gave Brad a double bed and we decided to give Brad's old bed to Corey and Collin. They know the importance of this bed, since it is the very bed that their dad slept in when he was young. Collin knows this and was telling Corey all about everyone that has used that bed in our house. He knew that Brad had it just before they did, and Trevor had it before Brad. He told Corey that I slept in it before that and his dad slept in it first. (There we go again....I think they see us as siblings?? lol)<br /><br />At first, they were pretty good with having the old "different" bed. They'd alternate each night until Corey decided they should sleep in it for a week at a time before they'd switch again. That was alright for a while, too, until they forgot what day of the week they'd started with.<br /><br />Tonight, I got a bit frustrated by all of the bickering. Collin came to me asking if whoever cleaned the bed off (tons of stuffed animals!) to sleep in it should be "the one" that gets to sleep in it that night. I thought it sounded pretty fair, at first, until I asked who'd slept in it the night before....Collin did!<br /><br />We were "brainstorming" how to solve this problem. Bunk beds were mentioned and I told them that bunk beds wouldn't change much because they would both want the top bunk and they'd fight over that. They each gave each other reasons as to why they should get the top bunk. Corey told of how he would not be afraid if the Johnson's made a zip-wire from the roof of their house to our pool, he would not be afraid of how high up it would be. Collin told Corey that he is not one bit scared of heights. It became a competition until Collin decided that 2 sets of bunk beds would solve the problem. He even showed me where the bunk beds would be positioned in their room.<br /><br />So you see, my boys can fight over things that they don't even have. I'm not quite sure just how we'll fix this problem and I'm sure there will be many more fights over it until we figure it out.<br /><br />Oh, and in case you were wondering who got "the" bed tonight.....it was Corey!Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-47787207321051436602009-07-28T23:20:00.001-04:002009-07-31T02:46:09.614-04:00A twinism......I overheard a conversation between Corey and Collin tonight. Corey was asking Collin what would happen if one baby is born at 11pm and then the other at 1am? He didn't say it in so many words, but I think what he was getting at was, would they still be considered twins? They then began to talk about Dennis and me. I'm not sure if they see us as twins too, or maybe even siblings? lol Dennis and I are pretty close in age, born the same year and about 3 weeks apart. Because of the closeness in age, I think that is why they think we have to be somehow "related" to each other? I often wondered when they were so small what they'd think of them being twins or if it would even mean anything at all to them. It's quite obvious that they know that they are twins themselves and kind of neat that they talk about their "twin-ness".Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-29444375122717573822009-07-18T23:05:00.001-04:002009-08-03T14:48:58.641-04:00"On the road again"........("On The Road Again, Willie Nelson)<br /><br />A big "thanks" to Trevor's biological father for helping him out with some cash to purchase a "new to him" car. Trevor bought it from a friend and I called the car insurance the day before to get quotes to see if it would be better for him to stay under my insurance or if he should go on his own.<br /><br />I was surprised, and it ended up being a win-win! YAY! Trevor's insurance will only cost him around $60/month (less than half of what he was paying before), and my premium will go down a little over $800!! Yippee!!<br /><br />His car is a 1995 Cavalier and even though it's not in "show room" condition, it's the nicest car he's had yet. (Please pray that he takes care of this one, thanks!) Let's hope I won't have to play "taxi" anymore or be stuck here without a vehicle. :)<br /><br /><br />Here's his car:<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360375432702416002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitefcxtgxJjTHiPX_OkWEBoonuu7hgPUEEOEFWtYGI9WqpmkbIGeek62SX2UUSnm8ijfzTqk17BQJT5cWEHqfA5gOQZR4yQP5ucrYe9YL8_fhmoI3kPXmve0OcaOhgq6PIECN-/s320/IMG_3933.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360375438126355474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVUtOb4f2y07FzTwAaEM2z4wabsrZmaOVcB-_mRk_Chh_Ob9I8BWNHImJoXdQDigZ7OLG8O70nAReVH3UAGhL9X7S9oBY-TZWz1uc2k4uiMHWUMl11KHndUGYKWOgl9HNQ-1H/s320/IMG_3934.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360375443663343954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvCM9JV6t0tsBCAb6fsI16agVGWq3CvMrQi7L_s4IuY8EJA8HJSD3KyBybkQMhp_E2q3Rt3izIjbAb7e9PxItJ5sIEAVtzdb7OttEk9PENDZLhw6jQPR8zEjbIrwTafeWQmHI/s320/IMG_3939.JPG" />Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-20861947993481707712009-06-30T12:18:00.005-04:002009-08-03T14:49:35.735-04:00Live those songs again.....("Live Those Songs Again", by Kenny Chesney)<br /><br />So many songs have made an impact on me. Lately, my blog has been taken over by song titles, in a way (this post included!). lol Brad finds it annoying that he can say just about anything to me and I can relate it to a song. I've loved music of all types for as long as I can remember. I even had one of those little Fisher Price record players, then graduated to the Mickey Mouse record player that played real records and then I just continued from there.<br /><br />Music has always been in my life. Some of my best memories of my dad were of him and his listening to music. We had a big console stereo in the living room (the one we didn't dare sit on the furniture) and he'd lie in front of it and just listen and even sing to the songs. He'd sometimes make his own 8-tracks and I remember that we were not allowed to make a sound and we had to be very still so the "quality" was not ruined. I'll never forget, and wish he still had the recording he made of me, on 8-track. I sang, "Dasher With The Light Upon His Tail", by Kitty Wells. I have that song in my collection today and when I hear it, it takes me back to that day I sang it when I was so young (5 or 6 maybe?). I remember, too, when I was a little older, that while mom and dad were at work, I'd sneak out dad's Billy Joel album ("Glass Houses") and crank the stereo and just sing, or my 12th birthday when my parents were freshly separated and dad got me the "Down Under" album by Men At Work. I still have the album and I'd be willing to bet that I still know all of the words by heart. When I still had a record player that worked, as I got older and newer songs came into my life, I'd get that album out on my birthday and play it. Sometimes, it would make me cry, but not always.<br /><br />I also have vivid memories of riding the school bus and Mr. Long would allow Kerry Graver to play his portable 8-track player. Imagine, a whole bus full of grade-school kids, singing and stomping to Queen's "We Will Rock You". I can remember, too, that I enjoyed when it rained because we were allowed to bring records to school and listen to them in the classroom when we couldn't go out for recess. John Harvan and I shared a love of music and we became good friends because we shared the same interest in music.<br /><br />It carried over into Jr. High when we'd have a dance and we were allowed to bring our records to school for that. I never once danced. I was always by the record player.<br /><br />Of course, by now, everyone knows that I am a big Kenny Chesney fan. His song, "I Go Back", pretty much sums it all up. You hear a song and it takes you back to that moment. A song comes on the radio and you slip off, back to that time. If you've never heard it, here it is:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFK6QOAVNbQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFK6QOAVNbQ</a><br /><br />I think that's what originally drew me to Kenny. Most of his songs are like stories that are so easy to relate to and they're like stories put to music. Some of his songs remind me of different family members or friends or different times in my life. I have yet to hear one of his songs that I dislike. He is just amazing.<br /><br />It's not just Kenny, though. There are so many artists from so many genres that I enjoy. I'll listen to just about anything. So many songs still put goosebumps on my arms when I hear them. My iPod contains quite a variety. Some are just strange, but then again, I'd bet if you looked at your friends and families' playlists, you may be surprised too!<br /><br />My most recent iTunes purchase was 2 songs: "Then" by Brad Paisley (awesome song, makes me think of me and Dennis!) and "Rock Lobster" by the B-52's (a fun, and strange song).<br /><br />My iPod contains (other than Kenny) some Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Metallica, Salt N Pepa, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Tom Petty, Kid Rock, Dierks Bentley, Crystal Gayle, Br5-49, Flo Rida, Blue Grass Hymns, and so much more. I won't even get into my Christmas collection...I have so so many of them!!<br /><br />I like that I have so much variety in my taste of music. There are times that I just have to hear a song. It all depends on the mood I am in. I love that I can have it whenever I want it. (I swear, the iPod was the greatest invention)! It's hard for me to believe that there are people that really don't enjoy music. Some just don't. I often wonder, too, if maybe I like it a little too much? LOL<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fm_-sW4Vktw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fm_-sW4Vktw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-90054794806256623632009-06-29T23:58:00.008-04:002010-08-15T10:45:44.029-04:00Almost Paradise.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmmX8iDv6ZUWoTol2YkMpEB3p3MUMpU4pEvdGPp-HqH1L2eB9z0Oe9X92S69gXlsgzFKag4M9jtTRUtftzxZf8n6HuZEMquY6BO-mubhBsXYw3Lkdh6aKruPNi7I16FKF5Hi4/s1600-h/IMG_3225.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352990609345715378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmmX8iDv6ZUWoTol2YkMpEB3p3MUMpU4pEvdGPp-HqH1L2eB9z0Oe9X92S69gXlsgzFKag4M9jtTRUtftzxZf8n6HuZEMquY6BO-mubhBsXYw3Lkdh6aKruPNi7I16FKF5Hi4/s320/IMG_3225.JPG" /></a> <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGHOA7_wwG7KkRMAh3uDzP8EDuQG5Sj7IP50Qr4bS7eJkWWB-qjYF3bjLKXFpMJXEJzo3Lv4nLGR7K2Jaabts1bDYpmPXycAGfjT8pIUDfozYLUcIQ4UMT8Jxn-Fa70DoXgOY/s1600-h/IMG_3257.JPG"></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352983171785169426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVJLbPEVezua4BSa_MdC-kcgvRVile0VEyj2iKtNv6nUgUxL8H6-uFpzYpScEZh9mszHaQo5XMjb7au-7WXpWAY-0KTsWT8LuGpIMmfcm3Cb_-5bceYfUHRB-eds-QYdQ9A_j/s320/IMG_3236.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352990603354879298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-ImJxUy-qBkOyWWNBdZa0Ba3h7C54AiOrsLGIJ_lBNeAqZ4cjnWuDDfZWjopYourUzHKC3fS9ZvV5TZJF5VXdCPpW4Bf2qAopsqc8JPKyh7rCvO9hIxDq7NTGnaHHTEHm6DO/s320/IMG_3235.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352983184920243618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFePDqgx6JRwBCdOI67_5SAO64qDi9Z1HyXoCFArVgUwW3ED79g_ipECj2rOq8JdK5frYpdHzwYjVe8wTE0QYFjrZlUJ3LrkEaNtsDj-SmQQ4sJiDCDW-iBDzYFFJbHROqB6Je/s320/IMG_3216.JPG" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoIfanqcNJkSxtEG8YL_nuCYPcx3Z4KEHcqxHd2FBAz5dEoNnzRdyOSC7rSWs4brgqYGP08Tb9VmBfFLwWkyvOQ29XXABoiNCU8cNpoTNiqQBmYE753rxJ0OaON3zik280-6l/s1600-h/IMG_3277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352983195242482482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoIfanqcNJkSxtEG8YL_nuCYPcx3Z4KEHcqxHd2FBAz5dEoNnzRdyOSC7rSWs4brgqYGP08Tb9VmBfFLwWkyvOQ29XXABoiNCU8cNpoTNiqQBmYE753rxJ0OaON3zik280-6l/s320/IMG_3277.JPG" /></a> <div><div><div><div><div><span style="color:#000000;">I'm still going strong with song titles! Remember the duet, "Almost Paradise"? Mike Reno (from Loverboy) and Ann Wilson (from Heart). Very popular in the 1980's....<br /><br />Anyway, I took the boys down to the backyard (I say "down" because you have to go down a BIG hill to get to it!) for some swimming. I wasn't feeling up to swimming, so I took a lounge chair, cell phone, camera, sun screen, bottled water, and a tablet & pen along. I kicked off my flip flops and settled into my lounge chair. After a little while, I decided to do some "old style" blogging........here is what I wrote: </span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><em>"It's 3:53pm, to be exact. As I sit here on my lounge chair by the pool, my senses are arroused by the sights, sounds, and textures all around me.</em><br /><br /><em>Are you picturing serenity? Oh Puh-leeezzzz! Corey and Collin are splashing each other and fighting over a float. They both got one for Easter from their Memmy Hedmeck. They were told not to take them from the package until they were ready to be used. So, in short, Collin's float somehow survived.</em><br /><br /><em>Oh, the delightful sounds, Corey whining and Collin's "Mom! Wipe my eyes!" every 3 seconds or so. Corey will soon be swimming in his own tears and I'm wondering how long Collin will let this continue? I've already warned that too much fighting will warrant a "sit out" for a few minutes or the rest of the day if necessary.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Between screams, I aslso hear the wind blowing through the trees. There is a real nice breeze and it makes this spot, at least, more enjoyable.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Just minutes ago, I captured some of these delightful moments with my camera.....Ahhh.....the love.....</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>4:04pm and they are now giggling, and not surprising to me, sharing. Stay tuned for more fighting in, my guess...., 10 minutes or so.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Every once and a while, I hear the sounds of an ATV, but I hear the constant sound of heavy machinery from across the street. I'm not sure what is being done over there, we hear the sounds so often and slowly see progress. THe owner of the storage units built a big bridge and is preparing the land on the other side of it for something? More storage buildings, maybe?</em><br /><br /><em>Ok, I was wrong! 4:08pm and the fighting continues. I try so hard to enjoy myself that I have my eyes lying to me.......they see it as syncronized swimming. Until it looks like there is a shark in there, I'm just going to let them sort it out for themselves....for now.</em><br /><br /><em>4:13pm, final warning, both in agreement that they don't want to get out. They are playing a game, similar to "Marco Polo"......that was, until Corey got a mouthful of water, went to the side of the pool and dry-heaved. Upon hearing this, Collin joined in....neither could produce anything. By the time they got to the steps of the pool, to let me know that they are fine, 1 towel has blown into the water. Oh boy! Let's just see what happens when it's time to get out. Two boys and one towel.........I don't even want to think about it!</em><br /><br /><em>In just a little over an hour, Dennis will be home, the boys will be prunes (hopefully not wounded prunes) and I will be whipping something up for supper. Not even sure what yet? Until then, I am going to enjoy this lovely day, snap a few pics and let my mind carry me off to the peaceful place it should be. Ahhhhhh.......</em><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">As it turns out, within minutes of my putting the tablet and pen away, Dennis pulled into the driveway. I wasn't sure why he was home early? He went in the house and didn't come down to us like I'd thought he would. Corey and Collin were done swimming and we headed up to the house. No big ordeal over the one towel like I thought there'd be! We were heading up the basement steps when I heard the shower was on. It then clicked! Dennis had an appointment to have a wisdom tooth removed!!<br /><br />Dennis went to the dentist and was back in no time. He ran to the store and I prepared a delicious meal of hot dogs and macaroni and cheese (from the box...blah!).<br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">I was sooooo close to paradise today and I look forward to trying to find it again, tomorrow. Weather permitting, of course. *Sigh*</span></div><div><span style="color:#cccccc;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#cccccc;"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352985181312085874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FJfWYF3nqk4RrcTxdjo_vRHVwY6R8Dy1Pdc9fw5w4RQyOFsKqE-vvQAEDGkkw2ndh-Zz8tYdN7ZDolemVyinHSMTDnTc4JsuGR6J2kIfxfdudinZa2GpfeivZNle0hRNXmuh/s320/IMG_3272.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352985174313852002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBdBjLVwiR0ThyphenhyphenS_DTDApZ9H1YUXV-A2kN978Mfb8BteS799IZG5QDMdAkObWYBSdlVE1SWxpTgBOG0lMAnIQ2aAQSM1grfWuvTcDdntSm6GsPSJcnTWcZpgVt2ZRELSPopcu/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352983166495482786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJrcvCsJ4aQNRYxVrqU4FSCv7Oq8zXgY-BIPh_QwkTqq8p0_TCX31yrEJCOKCU9jOEwc64FInL8j-gM2rpDctbYTwRmBNU-O7uvVMTPu1JeWNdqRfJ2MaDECWE2ruXTcXCdV1/s320/IMG_3247.JPG" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352983191156094322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9hr09fbx1xT-OWFcJ6xhXQyrNHL8ZNi4wVxHH2wlnaFzZXvGmujRh5aYS9REznt7pxEANO0VRJc7Ksbngx7XuSEyZ_ZNKbpTq-AZVMDZrrWHOgnouuJoB6Fd0a9TLxeuXbK_/s320/IMG_3243.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352985176098194354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzVl7SqjuOcNeHTALYMdNfk5vL4iSCisPvJ3IJkrAequMi7qflxrRJAaUmHW0YJGnsb9-Zp-AsHBp_vpkGqSx6aA4HdA5HmeUwwKiu6LKOY6w2PlnUEuMfQDtL_Oh6XUtwXpY/s320/IMG_3282.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352985188721796914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZAhC3bgCNDR1zaHF2BTw4-a4guShHTzlihopJpHBSJfoSChKfnCdsKK84sJBxsm2DEG6zXn04r3f8H6ILZhySHVLW_xX1q87dyzRl42p45oMqjtFMh3awuL7lLXKRl8a1R9M/s320/IMG_3283.JPG" /></div>Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16815986.post-15038217739498733442009-06-24T21:36:00.003-04:002009-06-24T21:52:41.858-04:00Last night.....Brad hates that I do this, but again, the title is not about the song by The Travelling Wilburys. I can pretty much take anything that he says and relate it to a song. Gift or nuissance, I'm not sure, but it's kind of fun for me.<br /><br />So, speaking of last night, (my whole intent of this entry!).......It was 11pm or later, 11:30pm at the latest. I was at the computer enjoying the peace and quiet after a roller coaster day. I thought I heard something and when I looked behind me, there he was.<br /><br />Corey.<br /><br />He had such a look on his face and I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear........<br /><br />Corey: "Mom"<br /><br />Me: (with a slight whisper) "What, Corey?"<br /><br />Corey: "I can't sleep good. I need a Temprapedic Bed. It automatically adjusts to my size."<br /><br />Me: (holding back the laughter) "Well, I'll have to see what we can do about it"<br /><br />Corey: (walking away) "I can sleep in it for 90 days without paying for it and then if I want it we can buy it"<br /><br />I couldn't help but laugh. I also wasn't sure that I should. I must be allowing too much tv time for him to be a walking infomercial. Yikes!<br /><br />I'm hoping Corey gets some good sleep tonight, on his "regular" bed, and if he should happen to snore, I will probably recommend the "Breathe-Rite Strips". Oh, and I can't forget the "Sham-Wow" for the tv screen. It's a bit dirty. ;)Tammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04317301822295719488noreply@blogger.com0