Endings

Latley I have seen (or will shortly see) a lot of endings. I am ending my job with BNP for many reasons, but I will miss those people. I have worked with them off and on since June and totally on since the end of August. I am a little sad about leaving but more excited about proceeding with the plan to work out of the home and be available to stay at home mom's within two church congregations to 'break' them occasionally. I have heard many mothers say "I just need one afternoon to myself!" I want to be able to tell them okay you pick the afternoon and drop your kids off with me and we will have lots of fun. I am looking into some assemble at home jobs. All I need is something that meets the bills and enables me to serve others. Emily and I are also seeing an end to the regular Christmas celebration. Mom and Dad will be in Williamsburgh this year...it is the first time that the four of us will not be together as a family unit over Christmas. I am really okay with it. They will be with extended family as will we. I can truly say I am VERY blessed in my life to have such a loving family. We have our days and our faults but over all I know I am loved and they know I love them as well. I have more than a lot of people in this world have. Thank you God for it! I have also seen an end of a friendship. One of my friends has decided that because I won't condone her decision to be a lesbian, and accept her significant other, that she no longer wants to have a relationship of any kind with me. Now she was the person I considered my best friend for about six years so when she wrote the letter ending our relationship she knew exactly what to say and how to say it to inflict the most damage to me. Man is she good, it hurt massively. The thing is I know that this is not who she is meant to be, I saw her give her life to Christ and be baptized, she has told me even since moving in with a woman that she knows it is a sin. I hurt so much for her, I am scared for her. I am so scared that when I get to heaven I will not see her there. She is so angry, and i guess for now I have to bear the brunt of that anger. I honestly do not think that it is ME she is angry with, but what i represent. So if you are reading this I ask that you take a second and just lift C.Y. up to the Lord in prayer. It would mean a lot to me. And finally the end of the year fast approaches, a time to reflect on what we have done this year and ponder what we want to do next year....or if you are like me it is a night to eat pizza and play games and try (usually in vain) to stay awake until midnight. I don't spend a lot of time looking back or forward....it is too depressing. So I choose to enjoy the New Year as just another reason to get together with family and enjoy each other. So what ever you are doing I hope you enjoy it and remember to tell those you love that you love them! Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!

The question has been posed...

The question has been posed, "where do you find such great random pictures?" and so it must be answered.

I have AADD (adult attention Deficit Disorder, (hey kids if they tell you that you will grow out of it, tell them they lie!!!!!)) So I have a tendency to go off on mental tangents, I think oh I need to search the internet for such-and-such. Well an hour later I have no idea why I got on the internet or how i got to the site I am at but-ohhh that is a pretty picture I will save it for that one thing i want to do for that one person. So a week later I am looking through my picture files wondering why I have this picture? Hmmmm...that reminds me that I wanted to look up such-and-such on the internet....and it all begins again. I am positively a WEALTH of random pictures! I am also a hoarder (I am learning that that goes hand in hand with AADD, I can't throw it away cause I don't remember what it was for and it might be important later, so I will keep it for another month and then throw it out....next month I don't remember to go through stuff and throw things out...so by the time I get back to it i have to give it another month to see if I need it.) Sigh....I would benefit from medication....I hate health insurance (or lack thereof) And ya know if drug companies didn't spend three times as much on advertising as they do R&D it wouldn't be so bloomin expensive to take meds!!!! Money IS the root of a lot of evil.....Satan is a piss-ant!!!!!

So there you have it (the answer to the question and SO much more than you really needed to know but hey! I am generous like that!) Please feel free to ask any other questions and i will answer them to the best of my ability. And here for you enjoyment are TWO random pictures. Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!
(here is John Elway in one of his better (if not THE best) Super Bowl appearances. Not only could the man throw the football he wasn't afraid of taking hit, or two either!
For more on space go to www.nasa.gov.

numb3rs and other random things.

Today is Friday. Every Friday I am at home in the evening I like to watch Numb3rs. It is about two brothers and their relationship with each other and their father too. One is a math genius, and the other an FBI agent. It is smartly written, engaging, and witty. You don't have to worry about sex, language, or gore. It is a riveting tv show without all those things! I think that is why I am enjoying it so much.
It snowed about three inches yesterday here in Chicago... it was my first heavy snowfall since moving into the city. I hate snow traffic. Getting home usually takes me about a half an hour. Last night I left at 4:45 p.m. and parked my car at 6:15 p.m. It was nasty.
Today my car wouldn't start. I am hoping that is is just too cold or something. I am going to go out and try it again in awhile.
I think that we will have spaghetti with meat sauce, homemade garlic cheese bread sticks and spinach salad for dinner. That means I have to go to the store for cheese...if my car starts we will have garlic cheese breadsticks if not...then just garlic breadsticks. That sound fair.
Sunday we (Dana Emily and myself) made a full course Turkey dinner with all the sides. Emily even mashed her own potatoes. It was really yummy, but I HATE turkey sandwiches. Em and Dana both like em so when I saw the turkey (12 lbs for under $10) I went ahead a got it, knowing that i would have to eat leftover turkey in many different forms. It hasn't been that bad however, and making the meal all together was a lot of fun.
Tomorrow two friends from ELkhart are coming up and we are going to the Field Muesum and then to Navy Pier to see Polar Express at the IMAX in 3D. I am fairly excited about it. I have never seen nor read the book so it should beinteresting.
I don't think I have anything else to say right now so I will end this posting. Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day. Oh here is a random picture.

Intellectual stimulation....

okay so my last post was the beginning of November, I am sorry. Things are going here in CHi-town. The company I am working for got rid of their GM and things have been in an uproar ever since. The owner of the company is trying to get things in order after the disasterous management. He has good people working for him. The only problem is him. He doesn't handle stress in a healthy way. He yells. I truly mean yell, screaming at the top of his lungs turning red, heart attack inducing yelling. One of these days I know he is just going ot keel over clutching his chest during one of his yelling fits. I have been moved into an AR (accounts receivable) postion. I hate it. Accounting is NOT good for a person with ADHD. Just not good, oh so not good. It is more than just not liking the job I can't do the job up to the standards I hold myself to. I don't want to try and then get everything all messed up and end up leaving them in a worse situation then they are already in. So I let them know that I will hang in until Christmas to give them time to find someone else but that after that if they have something else there for me great if not I will continue on my way looking for where God wants me. So I dearly covet your prayers on this matter. I have a new cousin...she doesn't have a name yet but here is a picture...yes her parents are trying hard to decide on a name. I love you all! Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day.

Some random thoughts...oh and slinkys rock!

I think that I would be a good pre-school teacher because I still think like them. I often look at something (food, glue, shampoo, paint, condiments, etc...) and think I wonder what it would feel like to stick my hand in that? Or I bet that would stick to the wall. When it comes to bath time...bubbles are still the ultimate. Fingers are suppose to be used for many things including but not limited to; painting eating, digging, 'dancing' in water (my fingers love to 'dance' in water especially if it is mixed with dirt). So that is why I think I could be a good Pre-school teacher. Oh, oh, oh!!! I almost forgot!!! I get really excited over the simplest things...like Slinkys!!!! One slinky ten flights of stairs and I am happy for hours.

I think that i would NOT be a good high school teacher because, high schoolers seriously annoy me. They often smell, are so caught up in self, and most don't want to be in school to learn anything anyway.

I don't think I would be a good sixth grade teacher because I think that they should all be tied to their chairs and gags in their mouths or maybe if that doesn't work hog tied. I think 6th grade is the worst, they start thinking they know it all at this age and from there it is down hill until they are near then end of college and realize how little they truly know.

So that is all I have for now, take it or leave it I couldn't be less interested. Oh and here is a random picture too!!!!

This is a picture of The Art Palace at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. This is the ONLY building that was made to last beyond the fair. IT was actually made of Stone (granite and marble I believe) instead of staff (plaster). It can now be seen by one and all who are in Chicago. It is now call The Muesum of Science and Industry.
If you want to see more of the amazing building sof the 1893 Expo please click on the following link. http://columbus.gl.iit.edu/ It really is the most amazing story. I strongly encourage any history buffs out there to delve into this. It is truly an amazing feat.

Upheaval...

Why is it that sometimes people who mean well at the start of somthing end up tromping on peoples toes with combat boots? There is a difference between doing something nice for someone and overhelming them thereby giving them a sense of powerlessness. A living room is beign redecorated. The people doing it (we will call them the Givers) have heard the Receiver say several times over the last couple of years that "I think i would like the living room painted, it might lighten it up in here. It would be nice" But the Receiver never did it. So the Givers thought "Hey lets get together and re-do the livign room for the Receiver!" They did this because they love the Receiver. However they never consulted with the Receiver, never asked what colors or when it would be good to do it. The Givers just did it. Now the Receiver is getting ready for a house full of company this weekend. Receiver cleaned hard in prep for this now the house is in upheaval and it is a mess. Now the Givers are going to be done tonight (Thursday) so then they can clean and put everything ot rights, however the Receiver is feeling VERY overhelmed and at a loss, not to mention that Reciever isn't feeling like this is a gift of love any longer. It has turned into somthing that was forced on her withotu her knowledge or permission. I just am at a loss as how to talk to the Givers. I want to let them know that Thank you for doing this in love but here can you see how it became very bitter for the Receiver? Arrggg.

been down and out...

Last Thursday I went home from work early, Friday I didn't go to work at all. Saturday I didn't do anything, and Sunday I managed to leave the house for over an hour. I have been dog sick. It is truly AMAZING how much snot the human body can produce. So after dealing with loads of snot the mucus decided that "Hey it is too easy for her to get rid of us if we stay in the nose...everyone we're moving!!!!" and down to the lungs/chest they go. I cannot think of anything much worse than coughing up massive amounts of phlegm and mucus. It is just not something that anyone should have to do two to three times a years. And yet that is exactly what i do and have done all of my life. I hate chest colds. SO I am drinking lots to keep the phlegm moist and supple so it comes out easier, and taking cough syrup with expectorant to help break it up and rid it out as well. I hate this. Okay so that is a wonderful and uplifting blog entry for you all today!!! Hope you enjoyed it! Keep up the good work people, if we dont' give up we might just make it through this day!!!!

Daylight 'savings' and pain tolerance...

Okay first subject....daylight savings. What is the point of daylight savings??? It doesn't save us any daylight IN FACT it is darker at five now than it was before we 'saved' daylight! This is extremely dumb. I need to know why it was thought up in the first place and if that reason i s still relevant. I think we should all work off of GMT! Alright I am off my soap box for now...next topic...pain tolerance, or lack thereof. We recently discovered that my sister has VERY LITTLE pain tolerance. Last night she sliced off approx. an 1/8 of an ich off the side of her pinky finger. It bleeds a lot, this moring while I was changing the dressing which stuck to the wound and hurt when it came off, we were afraid she was going to pass out. Literally pass out. After I was done she had to lay down for a little bit. She has never really injured herself to speak of so she has had no reason to develope high pain tolerance. I think in the long run this will be good for her, plus I got to talk to my cousins in Washington D.C. last night! Jason is an ER doctor so I calle dto make sure that we weren't being foolish by not going ot the ER. He assured me that since there was no flap of skin to suture over the wound that we could tend it just as well as the ER. So pray for my sisters speedy recovery adn that this daylight saving doesn't kill us all. Keep up the good work people if we don't give up we might just make it through this day.

My DVD player.

So two very kind friends have been trying to help me with my DVD player in my computer. It seems that as I now try every (well not every but quite a few) DVD I own in it I can watch the following: The second disc of Pride and Prejudice (P&P), 4 outta the 6 discs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7th season), Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail Special Edition (both discs), With Honors, Beauty and the Beast Platinum Edition (both discs), most of the Angel discs (I didn't try all thirty discs, but outta the ones i tried only one didn't work.), Marry Poppins, Lion King Platinum Edition both discs, Real Genius, X-Men, and X2. Here are a few of the ones it WON'T play: Batman Begins, National Treasure, P&P disc one, two outta 6 Buffy Discs, and Princess Diaries. I am so tired of doing this that I am not going ot go upstairs to get the rest of my DVDs outta the living room, it would be too depressing to learn that I can't watch more of my DVDs. If anyone has any ideas why this is happening and how to correct it I would be interested in hearing any theory you have. It can't be a driver (can it?) cause it will play some discs. It isn't the Media Player Update cause it DOES work sometimes (right?) I am so tired of trying so I am watching Beauty and the Beast now. A little B&B is like balm for the bruised and tattered psyche. Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day (my DVD player may not but we may.)

Chicago White Sox

For years the Chicago White Sox have been the other team in Chicago. The southside team didn't get much exposure on Chicago television stations or newspapers. Then they had an incredible season in 2005. So they got noticed a lot right? Nope. This past summer the majority of what I heard and read was about how the Cubs could improve, and what game the Cubs had just lost. Now my grandparents are BIG TIME Cubs fans so by default I was too. On the other hand my Dad is a White Sox fan so by default I was too. Before I came to live in Chicago I didn't really care much for one team over the other. I do now. All summer I was rooting for the Sox. I guess it just really rankled with me that the team who was doing this AMAZING job did not get the respect they deserved. SO I started ignoring the Cubs and backing the Sox. Now don't get me wrong, I would love to see the Cub win a championship before my grandmother dies, but this year it was really all about the White Sox! So now as they bring home their first World Championship to Chicago I hope that they will no longer be the other team, but rather the team. Congratulations Chicago White Sox, 2005 MLB World Series Champions.

OH YEAH.......

Congratulation to the Chicago White Sox! 2005 World Series Champions! Way to go SOX!!!!!!!

Technology...

Sigh...one never knows how much they value something until it doesn't work right. My DVD playerin my computer is suddenly VERY biased in which discs it will play. Let me rephrase that which DISC it will play. Apparently I will now only be watching the second disc of Pride and Prejudice (the BBC A&E one.) While I REALLY enjoy it I am a little miffed at my DVD player. It suddenly won't play discs that it has played dozens of times before. I never knew how much I enjoyed it until it now isn't working. I really don't think that in the long run technology is our friend, but THAT is a whole other blog post. So good night, the Sox are in the tenth inning but I am going to bed. Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!!!!

Game Two...

Excitement, tension, triumph. Game two had it all, I love games that end incredibly. Last night's home run in the ninth by White Sox Scott Podsednik to give the Sox the win was just such a game. So as we prepare for Game 3 tonight, the town of Chicago waits with bated breath to see if the Sox can keep it going in enemy territory. GO SOX!!!!

Left: Scott Podsednik runs the bases after his home run gave the White Sox the win in Game 2.

Below: The team welcomes Scott to home plate.

One down three more to go....

GAME ONE:
Chicago White Sox 5
Houston Astros 3

Bobby Jenks (left) celebrates after throwing the final out to end Game One of the 2005 World Series.

(Below) John Elway watches Game One at the Cell. (oh for him to be so close but not to see him....sigh.)

SAFE!

Thieving can be good...

Let me clarify that title. Yesterday two people I know went around Northern Chicago looking at all the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times newspapers boxes, to see if they still had the promotional cardboard advertisement at the bottom. See the White Sox are in the World Series....GO SOX!...and these two people have an uncle who has been a Sox fan (dies hard fan) forever. So these two have decided that they were going to send him stuff about the games from the local papers and such. They started doing this at the beginning of the playoffs. So now we are at the World Series (very exciting) so they went to gather these for their Uncle. Technically it is stealing. Native Chicagoans have assured these people that the newspapers KNOW and EXPECT the posters to be taken. But it still felt like stealing to these to people....at first. Then as they had some success in finding both of the ones they wanted one of them realized a very important thing. Have you ever wondered where those fans in the stands get the signs that are just alike and say something like 'Bring it Home! GO SOX' Well This person realized that MANY fans are thieves! The papers DO expect them to be stolen..er..taken. So in the end these two people have become just a little more of Chicagoans than they were before. Moral of the story...stealing money, cars, personal property BAD, taking newspaper promotions not a crime. (at least not in Chicago) So on this the first day of the 2005 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the other team who isn't going to win I just want to say 'Bring it Home! GO SOX!'

My sister...take two...

I didn't proof my blog when I posted Emilys writing so when I did look at is I was appalled...here is what she really wrote...

What I sent to Emily:
allergies very bad, head reaching maximum psi, shortlyto enter critical psi, eminent explosion predicted.

What Emily sent back:
(Initiating emergency depressurization protocol)
-Sinus engineering response team, report to emergency stations
-All non-essential personnel please evacuate sinus decks immediately
-I repeat: all non-essential personnel evacuate to pressure-safe areas immediately: this is not a drill.

-Chief engineer, report to Cerebral Cortex Control ASAP.

(sinus response team requests status of anti-histamine reserves)
(cerebral cortex accessing procurement files re: anti-histamine reserves)
(cerebral cortex reports anti-histamine reserves at 0%)
(sinus response team reports critical psi levels)

-SRT, this is Chief Engineer Snotty: what's the estimated overload time on those psi-taxed areas?

-chief, without anti-histamines, critical overload psi will be achieved within 2 hours. Explosive decompression occurring within 15 minutes of critical overload. Do we have anti-histamine coming?

-negative, SRT, reserves are depleted to zero

- punch what holes you can to stave off critical overload arrival; we're sending you some blow out teams as well; do what you can and keep me updated on what you've got. CCC is brainstorming possible anti-histamine acquisition scenarios.

-copy, chief: will continue with emergency depressurization protocol as long as possible. Will advise every ten minutes. SRT out.

-Attention: Blow Out Teams 3 and 8, report to Sinus levels ASAP. I repeat, Blow Out Teams 3 and 8, report to Sinus levels ASAP. This is not a drill.


So there you have it a normal day living with my sister MLE. Man am I glad that I got her for a sister instead of some freaky girl! ;)

Soxtober....

Yesterday was a very good day. Not only did the Denver Broncos win their 5th game in a row but the Chicago White Sox beat the Anahiem Angels 6-3 to earn their way into the World Series!!!!

Sorry Kids....its hamburger.

I have been very busy (hooray) working at Brand New Products. It is a small company that makes candy/toys. They specialize in Giant Pez candy roll Dispensers. The NFL one just came in yesterday and the Bronco guy is really great, I want one. On Thursday I had two conversations, one with Steve the owner, and one with Greg the General Manager. Both led me to believe that I would be discussing full time employment with them on Friday. Friday came and went and nothing was ever discussed. There was a conversation with Greg that really confused me, he asked if I could come back on Monday. I said 'of course' then I asked 'will it be more than just Monday?' He hesitated and then said 'yeah probably Tuesday too.' So now I am confused, the discussions on Thursady were pretty straight forward about seeing what could be done about keeping me on in a permanent fashion...so I would really covet all your prayers an this matter. So I guess that is all the relevant news from me right now. Emily and I were talking about the Falling Cow sign last night and she mentioned that it hasn't been on my blog yet so today I think I shall put it on...I REALLY want to know where this is and what the story behind it is. Now I have seen cows and observed their actions & they really are rather stupid animals but to walk off a cliff....com'on! And I think that if a cow was in free fall that it would NOT look like it does in the picture! The hooves would be flailing and the cow would be twisting and bellowing. It would not be a pretty site. I wonder if that really happened to someone and that is why they had to put the sign up to cover their butts and for insurance purposes? Hmmm. So as we get into this Halloween season.....BEWARE THE FALLING COWS!!!!!!! MMM-WAAA-MMWW-WAAAAA!!!!! Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!

As requested...

And here now by special request...more pictures of Emily and myself looking foolish but having fun in Indy rooting for the Broncos!!!!! The orange sign reads 'We may be stuck here in Indiana, but our blood runs ORANGE, Merry Christmas Denver from Glenn Emily and Cindy'

Okay the sign Emily is holding reads:

Elam

Sharpe

Plummer

Nalen the Colts

(it spells ESPN but the schmucks didn't show a SINGLE Bronco's fan the ENTIRE game on television, only Colts fans.....we were ticked when we watched the tape.)

progress....

I am working! It is a temp job that I have done twice before and they ask for me specifically when they call the temp agency. I also think there may be an opportunity of full-time employment with this company in the kinda near future. There are some other circumstances surrounding that that I won't go into right now. Suffice it to say I really need your prayers that they are willing to wait about two months for me. (If they actually want me for real.) So sorry this is brief and not funny but I am tired, the Sox were losing last I looked and I have to get up and go to work tomorrow....hurray!(hurray to the work only! I am rooting for the Sox) I love you all. Here is a pity picture, ya know one i just throw out there cause I feel sorry for you all that I haven't had more time to be witty. This one is sent out special to Lissa and Rog, and all you others who are lucky enough to still be living in Colorado! It was taken at the last game of the season not last season but the season before in Indy. (We beat 'em soundly.) Enjoy! (Bet you never thought you'd see my father looking like that did you! Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!

Pictures of Stupidity Pictures

hmmm...very, very interesting....

Sox, weather and so much more...

First off, WAY TO GO SOX! WHITE SOX that is! So I am NOT going to the second game of the series tonight between the White and Red Sox. The weather; high yesterday 90, high today 88, predicted high tomorrow...56!!!! What is up with this screwy weather, huh?!?! I am just glad that it is dropping again. October and 90 degrees? It just isn't right. So I am NOT sad that the hot humid weather is leaving my fair city. Now I believe I have covered the Sox, the weather, abd it is now time for 'so much more.' Today I have decided to share another of my "Pictures of Stupidity Pictures." (yes I meant to say that.)Here we go. (Disclaimer: if you are from Kentucky or have a strong loyalty to Kentucky for some reason I mean no offense, it is all in fun now ya'hear!) Okay to the left we have a sign that just makes me sigh and shake my head. I'd really like to know what state it is from. My best guess is Kentucky, whose largest state export is weed. (I didn't just make that up, a real Kentuckian told me that. Of course he did also tell me that Kentucky is one of if not the highest states for illiteracy...hmmmm, I think I see a connection here.) Such a noble message made into a joke. Maybe I should offer to move to Kentucky and be a state sign editor. :) Never mind that would mean moving to Kentucky. I want to go west not south and east. Well that is all I have for today kids, hope you enjoyed. Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might jsut make it through this day.

The band wagon....

The wagon can be a good and a bad thing. If you jump on and off of band wagons just because some movie star tells you too, I think it is a bad thing. If, however, it alerts you to something that is worthwhile and means something to you and you jump on for the long haul it can be a good thing. (I am the QUEEN of the run-ons!) Two weekends ago Emily and I went home to Indiana for the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale and Quilt Auction. It is something we try and go to ever year if possible. While there at the MCC pavilion I noticed several baskets of bracelets. You know the ones, Live Strong, if you live in Chi-town they say Believe for the Cubs (hum...that one didn't work) anyway these were white and simply said ONE. I read the note behind it stating that for a dollar you could take a bracelet and if everyone in the USA alone would donate just one dollar we could pay the debt of like 12 African nations. (I can't remember the actual number so don't quote me on that, it was somewhere around 12.) That got me to thinking...I am not rich. I struggle to meet rent and bills (especially cause I haven't been working in a while) but I can afford one dollar. So I gave and took a bracelet. I decided that I was also going to use it to remind myself that ONE person CAN make a difference in this world. I can make a difference in this world. I had noticed on the inside of the bracelet that there was a web site. I didn't think much of it, until today and while I was reading my bible it became apparent that I needed to look into the web site and make sure what I was supporting was truly something that I should be supporting. It is. I am amazed that I haven't heard of this before, seeing as how many public figures and relief agencies created and support this thing. Including Mennonite Central Committee, World Vision, Save the Children, UNICEF, the United Nations Foundation and SO much more. So I encourage you all to visit http://www.one.org/ and consider if this is something that you can support and agree with. I for one will continue to wear my bracelet proudly and answer any who ask about it. Jesus said "That which you do for the least of them, you also do for Me." Good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!

Feeling pretty good right now...

I am NOT having a bad day! I have just sent out a total of six resumes in the last two hours. I have a good feeling that one of them will come to fruition. It isn't raining outside yet so I am going to hurriedly post and then walk down to the Library. (Hopefully there and back before it rains again.) Well hot dang! I actually just checked the weather....I don't have to worry 'bout no rain no 'mo! I was under the impression that today was suppose to be wet and dreary. Now iIfind out it is suppose to be clearing off with SUN this afternoon!!! This day jsut keeps getting better!!!! Oh I have a picture to share with you all. Now there are several things about this picture that I want to discuss. First off, wow am I glad that those in the morgue remained dead! I was a little worried there for a minute. Although that woud put a whole new twist on death if being shot when you are dead revives you back to live...but no it just isn't so. Second, what kind of idiot goes to a morgue to shoot dead bodies? What profit is there in it? They have already had their personal effects removed from them, they have no watches, wallets or credit cards! They can't plead for their lives, thereby giving the shooter the rush of being in control and having the power. They stink, they aren't even going to bleed. It just makes no sense at all. But then again shooting living people makes no sense to me either. I guess if there is going to be someone shooting I would rather them shoot at dead people than live people. So now I am off to the Library...I don't know about you but libraries hold a special place in my heart, I just love 'em. The way the books smell, the wealth of information, they're just wonderful. So I am off (in more ways than one!) Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day!

New Topic...

Things I am NOT doing. I am NOT blogging for the next few days. I am 'fasting' from blogging for a few days...the time usually spent blogging I will be devoting to prayer and reading the Word. The reason is simple....I have NOT been reading and praying much at all in the recent weeks for a variety of reasons. I have gone through jour vacation day by day so now is a perfect time to take a break. Lis I am sorry for you shall not have any Bedlam to read nor MLE pictures to view for a little while. Never fear I will return, and rememeber; Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day. God bless your day, and week.

(Note: I tried to post a funny picture for you all to view but Blogger seems to be having...issues. So I am sorry no budda baby today.)

Day Six...

Day Six: Thursday. Events: Chilling, Packing, Swimming, Bumming (It was a VERY full day.) ;)
Thursday was nice because we could just chill and not go anywhere. Emily and I spent part of this day getting her meds (please see Emily's blog for more on that www.leinbacker.blogspot.com) we then spent time taking our new Gnome around getting pictures of him at all the place we had been to. During this time Rod, Michelle, and the girls went to the state park and 'hiked' a trail there. So today's pictures are just ones of us bumming and having fun together. The first picture you see is Kira and Kirsten after baths eating their evening snack. Well it is Kirsten's evening snack and Kira is just trying to get to it. She had a different snack but of course she wanted what big sis was having. She was just out of luck though. Next we have a couple of pictures of true budding hairstylists. After we got back from Moose Jaw Kira did Michelle's hair while Kirsten did Emily's. I must admit we were all impressed with how straight Kirsten was able to put the clips in Emily's hair. It was amusing to see Kira 'doing' mama's hair. Every now and then she would forget to let go of the hair and just keep pulling...ahh the things mothers put up with. I am just going to post some more pictures of family time below here no explainations, just pics. I guess the kinda concludes the vacation tour. I hope you have enjoyed seeing what we did on our vacation and if you ever have a chance to go to Wisconsin Dells, feel free to take us with you! Monday will be a showcase of Mortimor pictures. Until then, keep up the good work everyone, if we don't give up with might just make it through this day.

Day Five...

Day Five: Wednesday. Events: Lost Canyon Horse Drawn Tour
Now as previously discussed, Kirsten LOVES horses. Seeing as how Kira is too young to go horseback riding at all (most companies have policies about age) we opted for the next best thing. Horse drawn wagon tours. I was excited for this because I couldn't wait to see Kirsten around the horses but I had no idea how beautiful the area we were taken through truly was. Our guide Chris and his team Mike and Tom lead us through an area that had been carved out by a glacial stream a long long time ago. The area is just amazing. It is all sandstone but unlike the sandstone on the river, this was sturdier & not as easy to crumble. The thing about this entire area (the Dells I mean) it that because of the sandstone and all the moisture it holds trees and plants can grow right out of the rock. It really is quite breath-taking to see the beauty of God's creation, even in rock God can sustain life. :) The stone itself was very interesting with the layers exposed, the bands of color contrasting so nicely with each other. The way the water must have flowed to form the rock the way it is now. If we ever get up to the Dells again Emily and I want to make sure that we spend time in the State Parks and do the full river tour, it is beautiful country up there. The pictures I took don't really do it justice, especially because in all but one you can't really get the feel of how narrow the canyon is. Here is the only picture where you kind of get a sense of how small a space it was, it also happens to be Emily's favorite picture of all of them I took during this event. Now some of you may be thinking 'hey we sure do see a lot of pictures of Emily but we don't see much of Cindy.' The explaniation to that is simple...I had the camera most of the time. It wasn't planned that way it just kinda happened. So there are a few pictures of me and I will make sure at least two get into my blog. At the office of Lost Canyon there is this tree that looks like a tune fork or an upsidedown wish bone and they call it the 'wishbone tree' (real inventive right?) anyway at the base of where the two main trunks come together is a natural cavity in which they have placed a little bank box to insert money. All money from the tree goes to the local Humane Shelter. We thought that was a nice gesture. Most of the Dells is BUY BUY BUY. This still wanted money but it was not going to line someones pocket. Here is a Picture of Kira through the Wishbone Tree. Of course in the true nature of kids at the last second before the picture took she looked down. She had been looking right at me and was smiling, but of course it was not to be. I think it is a primal thing within kids that they look away just at the split second the picture is taken. After that we headed back to the condo for naps and swimming. After everyone woke up, we (all six of us) went back to Paint it pottery to pick up our finished products (which you have already seen pictures of) then proceded next door to the Cold Stone Creamery....yummmmmm. This place is great. You pick your flavor base icec ream (cheesecake, cookie dough batter, vanilla, chocolate, sweet cream, coffee, blueberry, strawberry, peanutbutter, etc...) Then you pick your 'toppings' (almonds, pecans, cashews, peanuts, m&m's, reeses, berries (like five different kinds), oreos, chocolate chips, yellow cake, brownies, apples, peaches, and so much more I can't remember.) Then they 'knead' it all together on the granite slab on the counter and serve it up in a cone or cone bowl or just a regular bowl. The smallest size they have is more than enough ice cream. It is really high quality ice cream. The Peanut Butter is WOW! We all enjoyed our treats including Mortimor, who you could say really got into his. ;) Okay so that was kinda weak, you'll have to excuse it. I giggled at it when I thought it, but then my family often says that I am usually the only person that thinks my jokes are funny. I think it is a Leinbach curse that we tell dumb jokes. Well I think that does it for day Five. Tomorrow will be day Six and anything other rondom picture I want to show and tell. Keep up the good work people, if we dont' give up we might just make it through this day.

Day Four Continued...

Day Four: Tuesday. Events: Mining, Pottery, and in the evening Moose Jaw.
Okay so I forgot the we went to Moose Jaw for dinner on Tuesday. This place was really yummy and fun too. The waitress was a ditz, but the food was very good. It is a Pizza brewery place with a lot of atmosphere. They brew their own beers, grape soda, orange soda, and root beer. Michelle and Em got the root beer they said it was good. I tasted Em's but couldn't tell any difference from other Root Beer it was just sweet to me. (I am so used to sugar free (or diet) pop that when I have regular stuff all I taste is sweet.) The pizza we got was yummy. We got half supreme and half Alfredo with chicken and tomato and onion. I went for the Alfredo and loved it. But I have to say that one of the greatest things about Moose Jaw in my opinion is their delivery vehicles; shown here. They have two PT Cruisers with Giant Moose on the top of them. Next time we go to the Dells Ema nd I are going to order pizza just to have the Moose Cruisers come to our condo/hotel. Here is another shot of the Moose mobile and well at the front entrance. A lot of the Dells has adopted the 'rustic pioneer' decor. It worked well here. Okay below is the last Moose Jaw picture I promise. This picture is prolly gonna get me in a heap of trouble but seeing as how I have a very small audience and the fact that I know you all... well I HAD to include it. (Please pray for me when Emily sees that I put it on the web....tee-hee) I know that what goes around comes around and man and I in for it at some point in my life. Isn't she a cute little female moose? Make all the boy mooses go 'Whaa-aaa-aaa-aaa-aaa' (Five bonus points if you can name that movie...Emily you are not eligible to play.) So you all will have to wait for days Five and Six until tomorrow (Assuming that I am still alive tomorrow of course) and as always; keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day.

Days Three and Four...

WARNING! SPOILER, SPOLIER, SPOILER. Melissa do not read or look at this blog until you have called or received a call from MLE. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Day Three: Monday. Events: The Orginial Wisconsin Ducks, and Paint it Pottery. The Ducks were a blast. I hadn't been particularly excited about this event but Rod and Michelle were so that was why it was in the schedule. After going on it I would go on it again and again. It was so much fun. These are incredible vehicles. They can go up to 50 MPH on land and 15 MPH on water. The tour itself was fantasic. We saw a lot of Wisconsin scenery both on the river and in the woods. These things were built to be used in World War II but very few of them actually were used in the war. There are two or three companies in Wisconsin Dells who offer these Duck Tours. We went with the Original Wicsonsin Duck company. Our tour guide Seth was very knowledgeable about the area and the duck (well duh they wouldn't let him drive one if he wasn't.) Sorry I get carried away talking to myself sometimes. Moving on...maybe five minutes into it we saw a deer under a large rock overhang the picture is very blurry sorry. Just think of it as one of the Eye Spy pictures...Can you find the deer in this picture? We went very fast down some little hills, it was fun. We then made it to the water. Once on the water I was amazed at the beauty of the river. Our guide pointed out a couple of rock formations and the second or maybe third one was called Hawks beak and next to it on a tree hanging down was a Bald Eagle. Here again you may have to play Eye Spy. Go ahead and click on it to enlarge it and then it is much easier to see. All of these pictures were taken with my mothers digital camera the Canon Powershot A510 so while I was thankful to have it with me I realize that it has many limitations. In the afternoon Emily and I went to Paint it Pottery. Each of us agonized for awhile over what piece to glaze but finally decided. As you already know I did a Gnome, but I also did a 5X5 inch tile. I just tried wierd stuff out on the tile, the Gnome I spent more time on. I didn't spend NEAR the time Emmy did on her piece. She chose a Dragon bank for her 'psuedo' niece in Colorado. The total time spent on this thing was aprox. 7 hours, three on Monday and four on Tuesday. It was worth it though the finished dragon is as you see adorable. Those were the only events for Monday other than swimming, and as you all my have been able to figure out by now we did that a lot. It was great I love the water. I wish I was in a pool right now...sigh...

Day Four: Tuesday Events: Dells Mining Company and Paint it Pottery...again.
Emily and I took Kirsten to pan for 'jewels' while Rod and Michelle took Kira to explore downtown Dells on foot. Now this place was cool, we were the only ones there (the off season is great) They give you these buckets of sand with rough gemstones (low end row gemstones but they were cool none the less.) Then you pan out the sand and put your newly discovered treasures into an empty pan box to bag later and take home. Oh before you go home they have someone tell you the names of all your stones. It was fun and Kirsten had a great time. Here is Mortimor with our findings in front of the building. From there we took Kirsten to Paint it Pottery for a two fold reason. One so Kirsten could paint something, and two so Emily could finish her bank. So while I helped Kirsten with her (can you guess what she painted?) yup you're right if you guessed a HORSE. It was a flat horse that after it was fired had magnets attached to the back so she can put it on the fridge at home. Anyway while I helped her Em continued the cute dragon. Don't you just love Kirsten's expression?! That is her normal picture taking face when she doesn't want to take the picture in the first place. It ended up that Kirsten and I left Em there to meet Rod Michelle and Kira for old-time pictures. (just the four of them I was there to help with child placation.) That was interesting to get two little girls to cooperate for this. (however Kirsten's somber face came in handy for this situation.) But they turned out very well. (sorry no pic) Then we went back to the condo and ate lunch. The girls went down for naps and I went to go get Emily. So FINALLY done we left our new friend Deb (the lady working at Paint it Pottery) and came back to wait for the girls to wake up and we all went....swimming! Here is Kirsten using the stairs to lean on and putting her legs out behind her to kick. This is a new skill she was learning with Emily and I. She did really well, we were very proud of her for trying so much new stuff with us in the pool. Well I think that is all for today. Keep up the good work people, if we don't give up we might just make it through this day.