Quarters

Alright It's Wednesday... I have nothing to blog about..nor any photos to post.  So I'll post something totally random...

When we were little girls we used to LOVE to play at the quarter machines outside of walmart...or any restaurant that had them.  You know what ones I'm talking about?  The ones that had all the cheap toys inside the plastic ball??  And the ones with the "claw"??  I could probably buy a house with all the quarters I've wasted in those machines or at least build a house of stuffed animals because I did have an uncany ability to get a stuffed animal every time in the "claw" machine...  I should put that on my resume under "special Skills...."

So have you ever experienced this??  ...you haven't thought of something in years and then all the sudden the topic is brought up 5 times in a week?  Or haven't ever heard a word before and then you hear it 4 or 5 times shortly after that??  Well this happened to me on the quarter machines last week.  I haven't thought about those things in years and then all of the sudden they are brought up everywhere!  It's like God wants me to think about quarter machines??

This weekend We ate at a restaurant that had a claw and Mom bet me I couldn't get a stuffed animal...and I didn't!!  This was very unusual for me given my past history.  It was like the claw didn't work like it used to...   Then yesterday there was a special on TV talking about how the claw machines are rigged so that when you press the button for the claw to grab it gains pressure to close then immediatley looses pressure so it can't hold on to the prize...what cheaters!!

The second quarter machine flash back I had was when mom brought up the story of the "army man"  I had totally forgotten about this story... You may not find it as funny as I did but you just have to know my sister to find it funny...  This Sister (The "Middle" child)  ha..  See we were at a restaurant and they had a quarter machine.  The front of the machine showed all the cool prizes you might win like a super cool tatoo, or a shiny ring, or some soldier figurines for boys...  I was probably about 8 or so and Leah was 5 ish.  We had gotten a quarters from mom and we got some pretty cool cheap prizes that would probably end up under the seat of the car in .5 minutes... Well  Leah had her eye on something in that machine and apparenly she hadn't gotten it yet with all the other quarters she had spent so she begged for one last quarter to use on our way out the door.  She just knew she was going to put that quarter in and get exactly what she wanted.  

When we got in the car Leah had a pout on her face and was real quiet for the ride home, which was unsual... Mom finally asked her what was wrong and she replied.   "I got a STUPID army man!"  ...I don't know why that makes me laugh but it was just really funny. 

We loved those quarter machines...we colleced smiley face stickers...tattoos to wear on our arms during softball tournaments, and of course wads of gumballs!!

The tattos had to be fierce if we wanted to look cool during softball season!!  The smiley faces went on my mirror and if you had more than your friends you were really cool...

I'm prettty sure gretchen has inherited many of the stuffed animals won at thoses claw machines...most of them are headless :)  

 So was I the only weird kid that was obsessed with those machines???

My Bad

Every night before bed I take a relaxing hot bath.  It helps me wind down and forget the stress of my day and puts me in sleep mode. 

Sometimes I read in my bath, Sometimes I just lay there and relax, and sometimes I actually fall asleep!  Sometimes I add bathsalts and sometimes I add bubbles. 

Sometimes Birdie and Banjo will come lay next to the bathtub with me and nap and once Birdie tried to take a drink of the bathwater.  I had to get on to her so she doesn't do that anymore. 

Since I've been so busy lately I've started taking my laptop in with me and getting some work done.  It's a really small notebook Mac computer so it's light.  My bathtub is a huge garden tub so I have plenty of room in there.  I'm always careful not to get my Mac wet.

Until Wednesday Night. 

I've been pretending the past two days like this accident didn't happen.  Like everything is fine and that I'm not stupid but I think last night it finally hit me that I actually did drop my laptop into the tub.  I actually did ruin my laptop.  My lap top with all my photos on it, with all my editing software, all my music, all my wedding photos...MY WHOLE LIFE is in that stupid lap top..

...Oh but you backed it up right Jenna?  You saved everything on a backup drive so you don't have any problems right?

Wrong...

So I've had it open and upside down for the past two days letting it air out, hoping and praying it will work.  I turned it on last night and it worked!  

Kind of

The screen is no longer colorful.  It's very faded and water blotches are everywhere.

The shift key is evidently stuck along with the caps lock key because every time I tried to type I just kept getting this:  !@#$%^  AND THIS

I'm typing from my work computer, which will have to be my sole computer until I can get mine fixed but I'm screwed on the weekends.

Do you have any suggestions for me?  Can this be fixed or will I have to buy another computer?  Can apple fix this or the Geek squad?    Has anyone else been this stupid and taken their computer into the bathtub with them then watched in slow motion as it dropped into the water while you desperately tried to stop it but you just couldn't do anything but stare at it open mouthed and dumbfounded?

What does a person do without a computer?!  Without the internet!?  I'm scared...help me.

Crotch..?

In case you didn't notice I have replaced the photo of me on my banner photo.  Sean pointed out to me on Friday that His crotch was right above my head in the photo of me.  I had NEVER noticed it!! I guess I was too busy admiring myself?    Anyway so I just ignored him and thought he was the only one that noticed it because he was admiring himself instaed of me...until I got a sweet email today from a very nice reader that pointed it out to me! 

**Edited to add:  Ok the nice reader didn't send me that photo with Sean's crotch circled and labled.. I did that so you could notice it again and relive the embarrassment with me.

SOOO now that I know it's totally noticeable and no telling how many visitors are Really visiting my blog just to stare at my husbands crotch..I had to change my photo...And I thought people liked my blog for me!  I might loose some visitors but I'm willing to take that risk.  Oh well.. hopefully I can get a better picture of myself but since I'm usually the one behind the camera it won't happen soon...unless Birdie learns how to use my camera. 

I apologize for the PG-13 photo...I can't promise it won't happen again.

Random Things

Here's a few random thoughts for the day.

All Day Long I thought it was Tuesday...It's really Wednesday! 

Sean is leaving for Ft. Worth today and is up tomorrow.  Lets pray he does good because we need some mulah!

My Good Blog Friend Trish Gave me an award  Woo Hoo!  Thanks Trish!

Last night at the gym I killed my legs in the weight room and them killed them even more on the treadmill while watching American Idol.  I'm up to run/walking 1.5 miles and it took 20 whole minutes.  I'm gonna have to kick it into gear if I want to run a 5K in four weeks!

Speaking of American Idol...Um  Shania Twain looks older than I remember her...I think it was the hair color?  But she's still beautiful.   And WOo HOo and 16 year old from Arkansas made it to HOllyWOod!!  

Another Kris Allen Maybe??

Ok So Any of you guys Baseball fans??   Do you know who Cliff Lee is?  Well he was the pitcher for the Phillies and he is now traded to another team but he is from here in Benton, and knows Sean because they grew up in church together.  I've met him a lot because he goes to the Gym we go to and Every time I see him I just get star struck and speechless because hes so cute and I don't know I just get all giddy when he's around.  He won the Cy Young award last year too and that is just awesome!  

Anyways last night after getting the the treadmill, me and my workout partner Stephanie went into the aerobic room to do some yoga stretching and cooling down.  Oh and let me insert here..Sean doesn't work out at my gym anymore, he cancelled his membership since he is on the road so much and now works out at a buddy's house that has a weight room when he's here...ok anyway as we were leaving the cardio room to go to the aerobics room Sean and his workout buddy were at my gym getting a protein shake from the drink bar and him and a couple of people were all talking.  I walked up to him and I was going to be all cute and put my arm around him and hang on him like I was so worn out because of all the running I just did BUT on my way to do that I tripped and rammed into Sean and then lost my balance and fell back and almost knocked another guy down. 

It was pretty embarrassing but the most embarrassing thing was when I realized after regaining my footing that one of the guys Sean was talking to was CLiff Lee!!  I was so much more embarassed because he laughed at me.   I was so embarrassed that I just walked off and didn't say anything.  I should've laughed and played it off but I was so nervous in the presence of someone famous that I just walked quickly away and made an even bigger ass of myself. 

I'm so smooth and graceful sometimes :)

Have a good Wednesday

Oink

Well Flu Season is in Full Swing at My house. I started symptoms on Thursday and by Friday at My sisters Homecoming I felt pretty awful. I've been asleep on and off ever since then. I went to the doctor today and he confirmed it was the flu and he gave me some cough medicine but said that was pretty much all he could do.

I really think I'm dying...that's how horrible I feel. I regret not getting a flu shot this year. I really was going to...I just never got around to it. You see, I'm scared of needles. Deathly Scared. I pass out every time one enters my skin. Oh I'm about to pass out thinking about it. Is it sad that I would risk getting the flu rather than getting a shot? It's been 5 years since I last had the flu. 5 long years of no flu..5 long years of no flu shot...that would make me immune right?? I thought I was immune!! ...Please no lectures..I've already heard it from Mom.

Thank goodness I was at my parents house when I started feeling bad, now Mom can take care of me and I won't have to depend on Sean who isn't at our house during the day. I accidentally passed the flu on to my Dad, who is feeling about as bad as I am.

The doctor informed me I'd have about one more week give or take a few days to endure this horrible pain So if you don't mind sending Up prayers for me and Dad to have a Speedy recovery it would be much appreciated!

Here are some helpful hints on how to prevent yourself from getting the flu from CDC.gov. Please, use these!! I don't want anyone to have to feel as I do right now!!
*Get a flu shot!
* Wash your hands often with soap and water often! If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other measures to keep our distance from each other to lessen the spread of flu.

If I were you I'd carry around a tub of the water free hand rub, and use it every minute!!

Stay well!

Hey Honey

It is exactly one week until Fall Starts. Because of the recent cool rainy weather I have been in the Fall mood. I thought it would be fun to give you guys a little bit of info I found about September and the upcoming Fall Season.

The full moon occurring nearest to the autumnal equinox is Also known as the Harvest Moon. You can see the Harvest moon TONIGHT!! This year the equinox is September 22, or the first day of Fall! The Night and Day will be equal lengths.

Did you know we carve pumpkins because during the Irish Potato Famine immigrants that came over to America carved turnips, potatoes, and beats and put them in their windows with a candle inside to welcome the deceased. Because they didn’t have many turnips, potatoes, or beats they started using Pumpkins. This makes me never want to carve a pumpkin again. I really don't want to welcome dead spirits into my home.

September 7th Was Labor Day

September 13th was Grandparents day (happy belated Grandparents day to my grandparents)

September 25th is Native American Day.

On September 1, 1830 “Mary had a little lamb was published”

September is National Baby safety Month, National Honey Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month.


Here are some Fun Honey Facts…

There are 300 varieties in the US.

There are no two honeys exactly alike in flavor or nutritional content.

Honey may contain pollen and could possible relieve allergy symptoms

Studies suggest Sugar is a great source of energy and may enhance athletic performance

All-natural honey is an effective treatment for minor abrasions and burns.

Honey is naturally hydrating and non-irritating.

For relief of the irritating symptoms of sore throats caused by viruses, try a spoonful of honey to soothe and coat the throat. In between, keep up liquids with a steaming cup of tea sweetened with honey.


So Happy September Everyone! Be safe with your babies, remember your Hispanic Heritage and Eat Honey!!

Oops

I wasn't going to tell anyone about what I'm about to tell you because at the time it wasn't funny, but now that a few days have gone by, it's kind of funny..kind of.

So the other day I took the dogs to the creek to play. It's be BEAUTIFUL here in Central AR, Perfect weather!! So I was playing fetch with Birdie. She loves being in the water so I was throwing a stick into the deepest part of the creek while standing on the banks in front of a steep 1 foot drop off into the 4 water.

After watching the dog jumping contests on TV earlier that week I was determined to teach Birdie how to dive into the water. She didn't like the idea too much and would run around to where the water became shallow and walk out into the deep water, then swim to the stick. I wanted her to leap into the water like the TV dogs!

I decided I would get close to the water's edge and get her really excited by getting excited myself. My thinking was that she would get so excited that she's just jump right in. Well I got so excited I lost my balance and fell into the creek, it was about three feet deep, and it would've have been that bad if I was dressed in t-shirt and shorts, but no I had on my work clothes, jewelry, and my cowboy boots (No I didn't wear them to work, just to the creek) I didn't just like fall in and catch my balance, I went all the way under. I was soaked from head to toe. Birdie ran around to the shallow end and walked/swam out to me really excited that I was going to play. I looked around to make sure no one was watching...like anyone could've seen me in the pasture anyway. But It was embarrassing. I jumped out of the water quickly, dumped the water out of my boots and ran home and showered.

I won't get that close to the water again needless to say.

Orion's Belt

Caution: Before you look at this picture be warned that My nappy hair and Shiny forehead may cause night blindness.


So, this may come as a surprise to some of you but I'm a Church League Softball Superstar. Yeah that's right, superstar. OK...maybe not but I really love to play! I play left field and the last two teams we have played were the hardest teams we'll play in the league. I have gotten probably a total of 15 fly balls. So I've been running my butt off and I'm proud to say I've caught every one of them. (yes, I'm bragging)

As for my batting, I will say I'm in somewhat of a slump at the moment. Actually I've been in a slump for a few years. OK so I've never been good at batting. The picture below proves to you how much I suck at batting. I hit myself in the forehead with a foul ball. Yeah that's right.... I hit. myself. in the forehead. with a foul ball.

The pitch was inside so I thought I'd try to step back and rip it (yeahright) . I watched the ball hit my bat and I felt a sudden pain in my head. I'm pretty sure I was more embarrassed than in pain, because it really didn't hurt that bad.


The Ump looked at me and asked if I was OK and I don't know what came over me ... I guess I was a little stunned at what had just happened... but for some reason I stared blankly at him and frantically said "I can't see!" A look came across his face like he had just pooped his pants. I laughed immediately and he realized that I was joking. He laughed nervously. I don't think he thought it was as funny as I did because he called the next pitch a strike and it totally should've been a ball. I still don't know why I said that to him..?

Anyway I was left with a nice row of stitch marks from the softball on my forehead that look mysteriously like the constellation Orion's Belt. Please do not confuse the three stitch marks with the freckle on the other side of my forehead, because it looks exactly the same. I just knew it would swell and bruise but I hasn't yet and it's been three days. So I guess I lucked out and just got a good little reminder that I suck at batting.


By the way. When I called Mom and told her I had stitches in my forehead from a foul ball she thought that I literally had to go get stitches in my forehead and I had been hit by a foul ball that someone else hit and that I just wasn't paying attention. Thanks Mom.