Yoda

"The force is stong in that one."

She and SD saved my butt tonight. I was working on a project with a rub-on phrase and I wasn't paying attention. I *screwed it up." She and SD helped fix it. Now, it looks awesome.

Yoda also gave me some awesome hints at the crop last night. She truly is my Yoda and I am her not-so-young Jedi. I am a Jedi in training. Inspires me, she does.

Fake Nails, Weight Loss and Inspiration

Okay, the fake nails addiction needs to go. They have begun to interfere with my scrapbooking. Do you know how hard it is to handle a mini brad or an eyelet with those things? It's crazy. Since I was too cheap to get a new set this past time, I got them polished. (Which, by the way, can and *will* transfer to your projects.) They are also too expensive. I'd rather spend my money on scrapbook stuff. Maybe if I'd lose some weight I wouldn't need artificial means to feel better about myself. (Ouch! Yes, I said it.)

That brings me to my next subject. I'm feeling a need to really pull this weight off, tone my *not so sexy* body and get in shape. I *hate* the huge mirror in my bathroom. I feel sorry for David. He must really love me because I'm really not looking good. At all. It's time to put some action to it. I've lost at Weight Watchers before and I know I can do it again. Truth be told, if I'd stayed with the program, I wouldn't have gained all of my weight back in the first place. It's a lifestyle change. I need to change my lifestyle. I've got kids now. I need to do it for them. I want to run and play with them both now and with their kids many years from now. That first step is the hardest. I need to be completely committed or it won't work. My mirror is quite an inspiration. I want to feel pretty. Right now I don't. I know there's more to a person than outward beauty. Okay, I'm rambling. I'm going to lose weight. No more of "well, I'll start after that birthday party or after I go to that crop. It starts this week. Goodbye Fatty McButter Pants (any King of Queens fans?). Hello new, thinner, sexier, healthier, happier Me!

Wal-Mart.com Photo Center Sucks

Ugh..... Let me say that again. UGH!!!!!!!!!

I have been picking out pictures all week to have printed out for my crop tonight. I submitted them online to Wal-Mart at 9:21 this morning. Because of their "high volume" my order summary said they would be ready at 11:21. I can forgive an hour. Even though one-hour service isn't technically one hour anymore, but whatever. I need to quit using one hour service and plan a little further ahead next time. That's beside the point.

I went at 12:00 (I gave them an extra 39 minutes) and THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY ORDER. Yes, I'm yelling. Not at you. It's my frustration. I had a *small* window where I could pick up my pictures, head to my LSS, powerscrap the pictures and head back home. They called some 800 number in Dallas and 10 minutes later told me that there was a "problem with my account" and I could get my picture in 3 - 5 days. Huh???? That doesn't exactly do me a lot of good for tonight. I have a freakin' project I'm working on. I have a crop tonight. CRAP!!! Then, that butt-munch at the counter said to me, very condescendingly, "Well, did you get e-mail confirmation of your order?" No, I didn't. I assumed that because my order summary said that they'd be ready at 11:21, then that was good enough. Apparently not. Then that *man* asked me that question again. (Same tone.) I could feel the steam shooting out of my ears just like in the cartoons. He's real lucky I've been doing a Bible Study lately that helped me keep my composure and not just absolutely *go-off* on him. It wasn't his fault, but he didn't have to act like such a *man.* I was the dumb woman who didn't wait for my e-mail confirmation. I shouldn't let anyone make me feel that way.

So, I get home, calm down a little. It's not worth the headache I'm getting. I called the customer service number for Wal-Mart.com myself. A woman answers. (After I listened to their stupid hold music for five minutes. Are you adding up how much of my *valuable* time I've waited on them today?) My intelligence was further insulted after she read an obviously scripted response to me. It's not just me, it's their online one hour service. They have since taken the service off of their site all-together until it is fixed.

Did they send me an e-mail telling me there would be a delay? No. Did they offer to give me a discount or give me some other "perk" for my inconvenience? NO. Will I submit pictures to them ever again? No.

Whew, I feel a little better. But if they charge my credit card, after I cancelled the order, I *will* go off. Ugh.

Chicken Soup

I got my new book yesterday. It is Chicken Soup for the Scrapbookers Soul. It's extra special because my friend Ami has a story in there about how she and Jody got together and opened our local scrapbook store. They had an adorable party promoting the book and even signed books for people. The book is really sweet and funny. I started reading it last night. Don't wast your time if you are not a scrapbooker. You won't get it. But if you are, can I get an amen?

Missing Items

When I was single, and lived by myself, things were always in their place. My apartment was always orderly, and I might add, quite clean. I mean actually clean. I always had time to vacuum, dust and keep my bathroom sparkling. My bed was *always* made and the place smelled as fresh as an apartment could. Laundry even stayed done, ironed, folded and put away.

In comes husband followed by two little boys. (Actually, I moved in to his place, but that's beside the point.) Talk about rocking my structured little world. I guess what has provoked this post is my missing acrylic cutting board. It was the perfect size. And now, gone. I don't know what happened to it. I know that I either put it: in the third drawer from the top next to the stove, on the counter to cut something up, from there to the kitchen sink, then to the dishwasher and back into said drawer. It's in *none* of those places. This has also happened to one of my steak knives, a tupperware plate from a matched four piece set and various serving utensils.

Since C can't even walk yet, that leaves two other suspects. I can't imagine Dr. J taking it and cutting up some veggies or some fruit. Stranger things have happened, but not likely. Who does that leave? Could it be the grown up little boy who lives in my home as well? He doesn't exactly have the best track record. I've retrieved some of my "non outdoor" kitchen necessities from next to his bbq grill before. He is usually admonished and then says it will never happen again. I'm beginning to think that he is just humoring me. He acts all aloof, like he has no clue what I'm talking about. I'm not buying it anymore. Actually, I will have to buy it. At the store. A new one. I miss my cutting board.

Paper Cut

I just got a paper cut while working on my All About Me album. How ironic is that? It only bled a little. But David said, "Only a scrapbook amateur gets a paper cut while scrapbooking." Could he be right? Anyway, that's the kind of humor I love about him. He's so quick. Most people think he's all business. Not the David I know. He makes me laugh all of the time. He's watching The Wedding Crashers while I'm working on my album. It cracks me up to hear him laugh at the funny parts. It's his *real* laugh. I love that. My finger feels better. Back to work...

I'm Insane

Yes, I called my buddies. It was so funny. SD answered the phone. It was about 9:45 and she did everything she could to try to talk me into "sneaking out" and joining them. I felt like a teenager. I told her that I couldn't because I'd " get in trouble."

She was indeed the "little devil on my shoulder." I was content to just look over a few things and then go to bed early. Ha! I got out my February QVC purchase. I've been kicking myself because I hadn't gotten to this yet and thought I ought to look it over and prepare myself to get to work. It is Lisa Bearnson's Favorite Albums. It doesn't spark a lot of creativity, but by the end of 2006, it will be four completed 8 x 8 albums. (Which, by the way, is my favorite album size these days.) Everything you need, except the journaling and the pictures, is power-scrapped for you. It is awesome. Here is a link to it, should you decide you need a visual. http://www.lisabearnson.com/FavoriteAlbums/index.php

I've received the first two albums and the third should be here by the end of the month. SD inspired the scrapper in me. (Maybe I was just jealous because they were all scrapping and I wasn't.) Needless to say, I started working on the "All About Me" album. I kind of like it that I'm forced to finally do something about myself. I don't *ever* do that. I gave myself an hour and a half to get it going. I had to *make* myself stop two hours later. Now, I am struggling with what I struggle with *every time* I get home from a night of scrapping. My mind wants to keep going. I feel like I'm on a roll. It's so hard to stop. Does that make me insane?

It's all put away now and I'm going to attempt to get some sleep. Thank goodness church doesn't begin until 10:30 in the morning! BTW, Justin *is* asleep, but he's only been that way for about an hour. What am I going to do with him?

Bummed...

I'm bummed. My scrapbook buddies are scrappin' tonight and I'm not. I think I'll give them a call...

The Results

I think it was a tie...

I'm going to do my best to see that the little booger doesn't take a nap today. We are going swimming at Papaw's and Mamaw's late this afternoon. That should wear his little hiney out!

Have a Blessed Weekend!

My Son is Still Awake...

What did I do to deserve this? Dr. J is still awake. I take him to MDO so that he can interact with friends and I can get a little break. It wears him out and he falls asleep for a nap, quite late in the day. Try as I might, I can't wake him up. And now, he's WIDE AWAKE and I'm not. I'm very tired and did not have a nap. Being a Mom is exhausting. Do they make Ambien for children? They should....lots of parents would stock up on it! Ha ha! I know what you are thinking. I would never do that to my children. (I won't share my Ambien with anyone, it's like gold to me.) He'll fall asleep, eventually. The real question is: who will cave first? Me or him? I'll let you know.

Horrible Movies to Avoid At ALL Costs

1. Dante's Peak - This is mine and Bob's basis movie for bad movies. It was so horrible. Really, it was just plain stupid. I won't get into the details. Just rest assured, it was bad.
2. Flight Plan - 2005's version of Dante Peak. So disappointing. I'm glad I didn't waste a precious night out at the movies on that one. It was a rental. Come on, we know the kid is on the plane. This wasn't a "Left Behind" movie in disguise. Give me a break. And that was the most retarded movie ending ever.
3. Open Water - 2003's version of Dante's Peak. I was sick in bed and had nothing else to watch. It had come on tv and I taped it. I thought, "what the heck?" It could be good. WRONG!!! I'm sorry, but don't read on if you don't want the spoiler for this one. I just have to say it. I only hung on for the ending of that movie with the hope that those dipwads would get eaten up by sharks and the movie would end. Well, knock me over with a feather. That's exactly what happened. It was my only redemption for that hour and a half of my life I'd desperately like to have back. Don't watch it. I'm thinking I'd watch Dante's Peak again first. Or, it might be fun to watch it muted and create my own dialog for like the sharks or something. Yikes, make it stop. Does the grading system go below an F? I guess if it's my system it does. So, I'm going to go with an "S+." That's the best I can do.

Everything else I have seen this year has actually been somewhat decent. I'll leave my negativeness (is that a real word?) to those above unless I stumble across a new contender.