Knock knock

Who's there?

We're alive

No, I didn't start having convulsions last week with all the NKOTB hype going on... I'm alive. This past weekend we were busy doing some spring cleaning... getting ready for Dumpster Days here in the Twin Cities. Ohhhh I can't wait...

What have you been up to?

Good Mail vs. Gmail

This is what good mail looks like to me...

Freebies from being a BzzAgent the Glade^® Wisp^® Flameless Candle plus two refills and tons of coupons... do you want one? I've got four!

Freebie of Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

And last but not least... a four pack of gum!

And to think... in my gmail account I've already deleted 47 today and now I'm already back up to 56! Jeeesh... and notice... nothing in my Inbox!

What's your favorite thing to get in your mail or inbox???

25 Tips on How to Stay Married

I saw this post originally here but I thought I would share it with all of you... think about your hunny bunny and remember these 25 things.

1. Always put her first — before work, friends, even basketball. Act as if she's the best thing that ever happened to you, because we all know she is.

2. Keep no secrets. Pool your money. Allow nothing and no one to come between you.

3. Pick your fights with care. Play fair. Show some class. Hurtful words can be forgiven, but they're hard to forget.

4. Fall in love again every day. Kiss her in taxis. Flirt with her at parties. Tell her she's beautiful. Then tell her again.

5. Never miss an anniversary or a birthday or a chance to make a memory. Memories may not seem important now, but one day they'll be gold.

6. Never give her a practical gift. If she really wants a Shop-Vac, let her pick it out herself.

7. Go to church together, and pray every day for each other and your marriage.

8. Pay your bills on time and make sure you each have a living will, a durable power of attorney and life insurance, lest, God forbid, you need them.

9. Love her parents as your own, but don't ask them for money. Never criticize her family or friends. On her birthday, send flowers to her mother with a note saying, "Thank you for giving birth to the love of my life."

10. Always listen to her heart. If you're wrong, say you're sorry; if you're right, shut up.

11. Don't half-tie the knot; plan to stay married forever.

12. Never go to bed mad; talk until you're over it, or you forget why you were mad.

13. Laugh together a lot. If you can laugh at yourselves, you'll have plenty to laugh about.

14. Never criticize, correct or interrupt her in public; try not to do it in private, either.

15. Remember that people are the least lovable when they are most in need of love.

16. Never fall for the myth of perfectionism; it's a lie.

17. When you don't like each other, remember that you love each other; pray for the "good days" to return and they will.

18. Tell the truth, only the truth, with great kindness.

19. Kiss at least 10 seconds a day, all at once or spread out.

20. Memorize all her favorite things and amaze her with how very well you know her.

21. Examine your relationship as often as you change the oil in your car; keep steering it on a path you both want it to go.

22. Be content with what you have materially, honest about where you are emotionally, and never stop growing spiritually.

23. Never raise your voice unless you're on fire. Whisper when you argue.

24. Be both friends and lovers; in a blackout, light a candle, then make your own sparks.

25. Finally, be an interesting person, lead your own life. But always save your best for each other. In the end, you will know you were better together than you ever could've been apart.

Here's to happily ever after.

Woman stuck on toilet for two years

Did you guys here about this story... ???

Apparently some lady has been stuck in the bathroom for two years. Her boyfriend would bring her food and drink each day and ask her to come out. Her skin actually became one with the toilet!

Now why did it take TWO YEARS for her boyfriend to call the police to say something was wrong with her? Where is her family?

STRANGE!

Read the full story on CNN.com.

Thank God They Didn't Have... you fill in the blank

Thank god they didn't have Facebook, MySpace, Camera Phones or Blogs back when I was in high school or college. Well, they may have been invented but not everyone had them like "nowadays".

Whew, I dodged a bullet there... See what happened to some high school students when their photos were found on facebook here in Minnesota.

I'm not going to say that I would have gotten into trouble... okay yes I would have...jeeze... we were more worried about who was playing tonsil tag with who what our T-shirt said or passing notes in class in high school.

I recall one photo that came through for an ad for in our Senior yearbook. It was of a few of the "popular" girls in our class... with beer bottles and wine coolers. Needless to say, Mrs. S caught it and told them that they best find a new picture of themselves to use because that one wasn't going in her yearbook. They found another... and no, I was not in the picture!

What are you glad they didn't have when you were in High School or College?

Super Fat Tuesday 2008

Well today Super Tuesday meets Fat Tuesday...

Per Wikipedia, Super Tuesday is the Tuesday in early February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated. Minnesota is one of those states this year.

Per Wikipedia again, Fat Tuesday is the final day of Carnival, though the term is often used incorrectly to describe the days and weeks preceding Fat Tuesday.

So, who's getting your beads?

So I didn't set a New Year's resolution.Sue me.

I use to set a New Year's resolution. Lose weight. Eat healthier. Drink more water. Do the dishes every other day instead of letting them pile up until I don't have any forks. Yeah those.

Now that I've finally not set a resolution I don't have any goals for the year... Well... I can't do it. I need a resolution. I've decided I would choose one that I can actually accomplish.

Purge.

That's my resolution. I plan to purge our house... everything in the house needs to have a purpose... and not one that is "I'll need that some day". I think of the three curling irons that I have. The last time I used a curling iron... was... ummmm... let me think. I have no idea. Sure, some day I may have bangs again and want to do mall bangs. I could save one curling iron and sell the others at my "ANNUAL" garage sale. (Oh did you see that? I see resolution #2 there!)

Yep, I'm thinking I may do an annual garage sale. With the positive sale we had this past summer how could I not?

There you have it.

Do you have a resolution this year? What is it? If not, why not?

I can't wait...

I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve trying to sleep... oh wait... it is Christmas.... you know what that means! I'm waiting for the day after Christmas shopping!!! Christmas decor at 60% off... Holiday pajama sets on sale... perfume and lotions and potions at half price. Love it!

So where are you going shopping tomorrow? What time are you starting?

I plan on heading to Target, Walmart, Kohl's and Lane Bryant... who knows where else I'll go or how many Targets I will go to! I don't know what time I'll start either... since Jerome has to work perhaps I'll start early?

Freakin' Frackin' Sink

So this past Wednesday I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. I filled up the dishwasher and started it. I washed most of the pots and pans that couldn't go in the dishwasher by hand.

I went downstairs and watched a tv show with Jerome. When I came up for some water to drink... ummmmmmmmmm well I got more water than I expected.... the kitchen sink had filled up... both of them. The dishwasher was still running... but this water was from the dishwasher. UGHHHHHHHHHHH.

Our sink was clogged. I ran the disposal and the water that was in that side drained into the other
one. Dang it.

Jerome came up and got the drain-o and the plunger. He plunged the full side. Poof.... water shooting out from everywhere - the disposal side and under the sink. Sh*#!

We tried running the disposal... hot water... drain-o... nothing. Jerome and I ran to Menard's... yeah the most hated home store in the region but I had rebate cash there for about twenty bucks to spend. We bought a snake. We went home and Jerome tried to snake the drain a few times. We had bought a 25 foot snake... which he managed eventually to get all the way in the drain. He put the pipes all back together... we hoped.... but nope... nothing.

Thursday we just couldn't deal with it.

Friday I finally called Dad to see if he had any advice. He suggested that we run a hose into the pipe and try to force out the clog. Well... we tried that. NOTHING... Just water spitting back at us. Jerome tried snaking it a few dozen times again. Nothing. I don't know what's wrong with this stupid sink but it needs to get unclogged. Jeeeeeeze.

Anyone out there know a good plumber?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

This past weekend I got the tree put up and the holiday decorations out. There was a bit of a debate as to where to put the tree this year since we have some additional furniture in the living room - the two striped chairs and ottomans. Ends up that I put it in the same exact spot as last year in front of the side window.

The tree went up with the same decorations as years pasts... with the exception of two. The first is one that I didn't put up... Lily's paw printed ornament up. But what I did put up brought a smile to my face... what do you think?


On Saturday it snowed our first "storm" of the season. We got about 7 to 8 inches of snow plus drifts in places. And today it's snowed another 3 to 4 inches already... and is still snowing. Ugh. I would be complaining more... but.... I have to say that dumpster diving paid off this past year. Remember that snow blower that I said I picked up and hoped that it would work... well... IT DOES! Yahooo! Free snow blower!

The girls ended up not coming over this weekend... so... I didn't get as much candy making done as I had hoped. (I was thinking I could teach them some of the recipes for what my family makes this time of the year.) Needless to say, I still got some done.... chex mix, chocolate covered pretzels, peanut clusters, cornflake cookies, cashew turtles, and Jerome pecan candy. I had wanted to also do some of Ella's sugar cookies, Oreo Balls and who knows what else... but I'll have to do that some other time. Check out the new recipe blog for recipes and photos.

I did also make the lasagna that I had planned on - even without the extra mouths but I didn't get to the point of wrapping presents... which I need to do before we head to Wisconsin so I don't have to ship GWM and MJM's presents.

New Years...

True, Christmas isn't even here yet... but what are you doing for New Years? I'm thinking since we have so much stock left over from our birthday party that we should have another shin dig... what do you think? Are you up for it?

Goodbye 20's...

another decade down the drain... I'm just wrapping up my third one...

tomorrow... I turn.... gasp... cough... ack.... THIRTY.

Ick that's just not a pretty word now is it?

Black Friday....

Here's the first email that I had waiting for me at work this morning... how nice! I can't wait... anyone else "doing" Black Friday this year???? Last year I had such a blast with Jerome!



This is a Black Friday email alert to let you know that the 2007 version of BlackFriday.info has launched! This year we've got some really great new features that we're sure you are going to love.

New this year is our Black Friday shopping list. While browsing the Black Friday ads, you'll notice that each item has a button that allows you to add it to your personalized shopping list. This is a quick and easy way to keep track of the items that you are interested in purchasing on Black Friday. You can also share your shopping list with friends and family by sending them your personalized shopping list URL so that they have instant access to all the great Black Friday savings and they'll know what to buy you this holiday season. :)

Another feature we are highlighting this year is our daily product deals.
Every day we post deals for products that are deeply discounted and in some cases, better than the deals you find on Black Friday! Just like last year, we also have a full selection of online coupons that you can use to save even more money any time of the year.

Finally, this wouldn't be a Black Friday alert if we didn't have some Black Friday ads for you. So far, we have confirmed Black Friday ads for Ace Hardware and Harbor Freight and we also have a few of the Black Friday deals for Sears.

To view the new 2007 Black Friday site, go to:
http://www.blackfriday.info/

To view the Ace Hardware Black Friday ad, go to:
http://www.blackfriday.info/ads/acehardware-black-friday-ad.html

To view the Harbor Freight Black Friday ad, go to:
http://www.blackfriday.info/ads/harborfreight-black-friday-ad.html

To view some of the Sears Black Friday deals, go to:
http://www.blackfriday.info/ads/sears-black-friday-ad.html

We expect more Black Friday ads to be coming out very soon and we'll also be releasing a few more features to help make planning your holiday shopping even easier.

BlackFriday.info

Dreams...

I had a dream last night that I don't understand and am wondering if there are any dream analysis out there in my crowd of people reading.

I'm not sure how the dream started but this is what I do remember. I was in a dirty city with lots of dust and clay buildings, think like "old" Mexico.

I was trying to get away from a person - not sure if it was a man or woman, who was in the other room of this house that I was in. I had planned to make a run for it when this person left to get something outside of the house. I had planned to crawl through the window on a higher story of the building I was in onto the roof of the rest of the building.

When I opened the window to get out I was tapped on the shoulder by a man who yanked all of my teeth out.

Now tell me, what the heck does that mean? Needless to say, I woke up and felt for my teeth.

We've been robbed!

Well... not of anything valuable really...

See that little map over on the left side... notice anything... different?

Yep... it's started over.

I've apparently had that service for a full year. When your year is up it starts over! Man alive :(

So how many unique visitors do you think I/we had in the past year? I managed to find out... I'll post it soon!