Morning Meanderings…Through The Years and A Trip To OZ

1j

Good morning!  It’s Saturday and I am sooooooo excited.  Today I have nothing concrete on the agenda.  I LOVE days like this.  I can hang out, blog, read, clean, nap, whatever – at my leisure.  These days are too few and far between and other than a possible trip to the gym this afternoon (I am 7 days out from the 7K) and maybe a movie with hubby…. I am here for the day. 😀

Today I thought I would post a couple of pictures of my boys for Saturday Snapshot:

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I love this picture.  That is Brad left and Justin right.  This picture graces my book room.  This past winter, right after Christmas I was on Facebook one day and seen this picture on Justin’s page.  He was having a voting contest to see who thought who was cuter, he or Brad.  *Take note, Justin is 22 now and in College.  Brad is 25 and in the Navy. 

I was stunned, but it was pretty hilarious.  Both boys were going back and forth trying to get their friends to comment on who was cuter. I popped in with a “Boys!  What is going on here?”  😛

Then Brad made a comment that I had text him and told him that he was cuter but couldn’t put it on Facebook as I did not want to hurt Justin’s feelings.  Justin commented back that he thought that was funny because I had text him and told him that same thing about him.

This thing went on for days and I don’t recall who won – or even if the votes were fair but they had over 100 comments and it was pretty funny.

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This one I really like too.  Justin looks like someone from a century ago.  I remember doing Brad’s hair that day… he wanted it that way.

Currently, Justin is in Honduras on his 5th Mission trip to the country working with the kids who live on the street.  Brad, as of last night was in Georgia sitting on his back deck with friends having a fire and conversation.  He has 3 out of 4 weekends off in the Navy. 

As you can imagine, I am so proud of both of them. 😀

These pictures were posted today for the Saturday Snapshot meme, check it out at At Home With Books.

Last night my friend Wendy and I went to OZ, The Great and Powerful.  I thought it was done so well and it was impressive to watch the actors, they played some fun rolls.   Mila Kunis was incredible, especially the later part of the movie.  Rachel Weisz?  Well first let me say wow does she look incredible.  She easily passes as Mila’s sister.  Michelle Williams… awesome.  I think my favorite was the China Doll… really once she entered the picture I lost my heart to that little broken girl. 

I am not sure what to think of James Franco… maybe he was perfect, what do I know. 😀  At times, he just seemed off and maybe that was intentional… I have no idea who could have done it better. 

 

My thoughts… yes, see it.  I loved the fact that some of the scenes and settings are more to the original book then the past movies. 😀

Morning Meanderings… Funny Facebook Happenings

1j

Good Morning Friends of Book Journey!  Do not be afraid!  I come in peace and with coffee. 😛

What a great week I have been having.  I am accomplishing much, feeling good, working out, and digging my way through preparations for the Spring book sale at the Library, camp registrations for Camp Benedict, organizing paperwork, using Luminosity to keep sharp….

about the only thing that is lacking, is my reading.  Hopefully I can get that back in the mix too… Book club is next Tuesday – I need to read that book this weekend 😀

So, for fun I thought I would share with a friend of mines post on Facebook last night:

Just for fun I thought I’d try to walk with a swagger. Dang. Blew out a knee. (Guess it’s a lot harder than ‘they’ make it look!)

 

Thats true!  She did! 😛  I laughed…then I felt bad.  But she is ok, and laughing at herself as well.  She posted this morning the link to the commercial she was watching that made her try it:

 

 

Hee hee.  SO my suggestion was that no one should swagger unless taking swagger lessons at their local gym and of course… stretching first. 😀  

I’m off.  I have a fun and busy morning and early afternoon.  Lots of good things going on.  Hope your Friday is wonderful 😀

Morning Meanderings… Happy Birthday Mater!

1j

Good morning!  Today is all about Mater!  Recently when looking at his papers he came with from the vet, I noted that he was born on March 6.  I made a note not to forget that. 😀

Mater came on our radar last July when my Navy son was home and had a friend who worked at a Vet near by and told him the story of Mater.  Mater was an abused puppy part beagle part basset hound who had a serious surgery at 10 weeks old because his owners were giving him alcohol.  After the surgery, Mater was placed in a foster home where he fell out of the back of a movie truck and broke his shoulder and had another surgery.

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Hearing his story my heart went out to this little dog.  They were looking to find him a good home and were interviewing people.  I was told that many people had tried to get him and were denied.  They wanted to make sure whoever adopted him would provide him a “forever home”.

That third week on July, after an hour interview with the vet and three hours of waiting by the phone, we were told he was ours.

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He fit right in…. played until he would fall asleep with bones still in his mouth.

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He grew fast – but made best friends with Sammy.

Happy Birthday Mater!

Morning Meanderings… Ahhhh… March In Minnesota

1j

Good morning!  Less than two weeks out from my first 7K of the year and I wake to this:

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Two days ago it was melting like the wicked witch of the west, now it is back in full force.  It started snowing yesterday afternoon just lightly, by the time I got out of the gym at 6:30 pm it had a good two inches on the ground and now…

well..

now I wait for the sun.  😀

I have no big book news to report as I ran around all day yesterday and by the time I stopped moving it was 8 pm and after trying to do a little blogging and a little tv watching, I gave up and was in bed by 10:30.  Hopefully today I will get a little time to dig into beautiful Creatures, and a little audio too.

I am curious, friends in other places – how is your spring coming along? 

Morning Meanderings… Check Out These New Books (SSSQQQUUUEEEEE!!!!!)

1j

Good morning!  *Big sip of COFFEE*

I would have posted a little earlier but I got into the time suck of Facebook Home Page.  You know the one, where all your friends post and you can just scroll down and see what is happening in the lives of those you know….  in recap here is what I learned:

Grade schooler suspended from school for having a pop tart shaped like a gun

My friend’s daughter started her first job

Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews) posted a picture of how much sugar is in the different beverages we drink (Hello water!)

Our friends and a co-worker are currently in Hawaii with family (*jealous!*)

A friends mom is at an Autism Walk at Ridgedale Mall today

Coffee is on at my church!  😛

A guy I graduated with just was hired by Prince!  Yes, Prince the musician!

Alyce (At home with books) is packed to move and celebrating her birthday by flashlight… no idea where the matches are 😀

Trish Collins is jonesing for Girl Scout Cookies

Hunger Games asks what talent do we have to become a victor…. ummmm…

A girl I graduated with is going off… about something I have no idea really…

My friend Lori once again posted pictures about abused pets … so sad.

My friend Belinda posted about how it is ok to be who you are.  YES!  😀

My friend Ryan looks like he had a fun time bowling with friends last night.

Anyhoo… you get it… Facebook is fascinating but wow can you blow a lot of time hanging out there 😀

Back on track, here are the books that came into the house this week (a lot more than last week!)

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The top two books Milkweed (for Book Club) and Confessions Of A Prairie Bitch (for giggles) are purchased by me.  The rest are for review and there are some exciting titles here!  Can’t wait to dig in!

My Sunday will consist of church, the working out at the YMCA with my cousin, working on writing up a story about my aunt for a magazine, and later a movie with my hubby – his pick this time.  It is going to be a good day. 😀

Morning Meanderings… The BIG Painting Project

1j

Squeaking in late today.  I got up and hit the gym and then went and set the new March window at the Library.  Then picked up a few groceries so I would not have to leave the house again today.. unless I want to… unless Al and I go to a movie… you know, something fun 😀

Last week I painted the downstairs of our house and I had said I would post the pictures today for Saturday Snapshot, so here they are:

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A fun fact I found out last week, painting burns 320 calories an hour.  This explains why after a day of painting we are a little stiff the next day.  😀
Check out more Saturday Snapshots at Alyce’s At Home With Books. 

Morning Meanderings… March! Need to pick up the pace :)

1j

Whoa!  Is anyone else looking at their calendar and wondering what happened to February?  😯  It just flew by right?  On one hand I am thinking “YAY!!!  We are close to Spring and grass and bike rides and gardens!”  On the other hand I am thinking “Holy smokes. I am behind on book reviews, I have big projects coming up I need to get going on…”

😛

So yeah, if you know me you probably look at that above paragraph and think, “Yeah, that’s sounds about right for you… nothing really different from any other month, or year… ” And honestly… you would be right. 😀

Today I have a little to do list I will be working on.  Normally a day off for me can be like a “free space” on a bingo card and I can let myself veg out, lay low, read, or watch a movie…  while that may happen later today- it is not going to be the norm anymore.  I have made myself a little check list for the day:

1.  I needed to write my month 2 Challenge post for the 12K Challenge and recap for month 1.  (Done!)

2.  I wanted to put up this post (Done!)

3.  I need to write my Shine On post for the reading of The Shining. (Done!)

4.  I need to connect with the Lodge today and see if they will host our September Wine and Words Library fundraiser so I have something to share with the Friends of The Library at our meeting on Monday.

5.  I have lunch with friends at 1:00.

6.  I need to pop into the library and reset the Book Clubs window for March

7.  Pay my cell phone bill.  (Done!)

8.  Do a little shopping. 

9.  End of month wrap up post here.

10.  Get in a work out. 

There is more I need to do, could do – but I am not putting it on me today.  If I can get this done I am happy. 😀  Another goal for this month is to get back to my visiting other blogs.  I miss it 😀 

Ok – better get moving! 

Morning Meanderings… What Are The Odds Of Character Names Like That?

1j

Hee hee.  I look like the above picture this morning.  HELLO Coffee 🙂 

Over the weekend if you have been hanging out (lurking?  😛 ) around here you know I took on a MASSIVE painting project. While painting 12 hours over the weekend I listened to and finished two audio books, A Grown Up Kind Of Pretty, and The Sky Is Everywhere.  What was interesting about these two books (well, one of the things that was interesting) is that they both have a pretty important character named ‘Big’ in them.  Yes, Big.

SO I finished listening to A Grown Up Kind Of Pretty where our main girl lives with her Grandmother, Big.  Then I move on to The Sky is Everywhere and as the book starts I hear the narrator talk about Uncle Big and I am thinking I heard wrong.  I can imagine there being two Bobs or Jenny’s or John’s.  But Big?  I can not think of any other book I have read in all my years of reading that had a character named Big. 

Now I can mention two.

😛

I have yet to write-up the reviews but expect to see The Sky Is Everywhere today mainly because I can not stop gushing about this book and that is all I can think about as I try to choose my next audio knowing there is a pretty good chance it will not be as good as what I have just listened to. 

Alright, I must go get ready for work.  Any books or audio that you have LOVED this much recently?  Please share titles!  😀

Morning Meanderings…Sunday Things

1j

Good morning and happy Sunday.  There are many great things about today.  1) I finished the BIG painting project.  I am tired, I am sore, but thrilled with the results.  (Oh and if you are curious if painting burns calories, check out my finds here).  If you are my Facebook friend (Sheila DeChantal), you can see the pictures I posted this morning.  Blog readers, I will post the pics here next Saturday for the Saturday Snapshot.  2) Tonight we have a special event at work for leaders that I am kind of excited about.  We are honoring volunteers and I am planning a little “Willy Wonka” like surprise for our group. 😛 .  And 3) and most importantly…. Al comes home this afternoon.  SSSQQQQQQQQUUUUEEEEEEE!!!!!!  He has officially been gone since February 4th at the equipment auctions in Florida.  He had a great time, spent a couple of weekends with our Navy son, friends of ours spent about 4 days with him, but now he is returning home and I am so glad.  😀  (Oh and for those of you who had seen my messy table post…. I have cleaned that up.) 

It was a light book week here, two books graced my doorstep:

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And speaking of reading… my book time this past week has been horrible, however my audio time is rocking.  I listened to audio the entire time I painted and made it through two audio books.  YAY!!!  This week should be a better reading one.  With Al home I will have help around the house and should get a wee bit more down time.

Morning Meanderings… Snapshots of My Minnesota Life

1j

Good morning!  Happy Saturday.  I am in the middle… no, that’s not right… I am in the first third of a MASSIVE painting project.  I decided I was going to paint our downstairs addition yesterday so off I went to buy paint and all the fixings.  This is a HUGE undertaking.  We finished off the basement in 2004 and the area I am painting is all of that… the wall at the top of the stairs, the stairwell wall area, a couple smaller areas and then an open family area.  Basically about 5 gallons of paint worth.  😯  It sounded like a great idea yesterday to surprise Al with this but after not getting started until 5:30 pm last night and working on it until 10:30 pm and knowing I have about 5 or 6 more hours of paining ahead of me… yeah….lets just say I better LOVE this color a LONG time.  😛  Pics of this next weekend.

Today however, I thought it would be fun to show you some pictures (for Saturday Snapshot)of what my Minnesota life is like.  Not all of you live in areas that have winters like we do, or if you, you may not heat your home the way we do.

We heat our house with hot water heat.  Yes, that was a new term to me about 8 years ago too.  

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The stove sits outside between our business (DeChantal Excavating) and our home. It burns wood that heats pipes that are filled with water – so essentially hears out home and business with a hot water heat that is a clean heat.

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In cold temps it can be a real pain, but this winter has been fairly mild so usually it is filled once in the morning, once mid afternoon, and once at night. You control the heat in house with a temperature dial.

 

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Here is our business, far behind the house. Initially the stove was going to be just to hear that, but when installed we discovered it was only a couple hundred dollars more to run the pipes to the house as well.

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For me the wood pile can be a real pain. I search out pieces I can lift and since I can not pick up the great big ones that fill it fast, it takes me about 10 – 15 trips to fill the stove.

 

 

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This is the back up pile in the event that what we have cut up does not make it through the winter. We purchase the wood locally.

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One fun bonus – about 7 wild cats live in the excess woodpile. No idea where they came from but sometimes in the afternoon I will see them when I fill the stove and they will watch me. Occasionally I leave them scraps but they are all rather healthy looking so they are finding food somewhere. I was hoping to get some pictures of them but they were not out this morning.

So there is a little about my life beyond the books.  😀  For more Saturday Snapshots, stop by Alyce’s At Home With Books.