Hadrian's Wall

Every year John and his friends (collectively known as The Groovy Gang) have a weekend away wreaking havoc in some European city. I don't mind him going, but I'd like it if he put as much effort into a weekend away with me as he does with his mates. I can't remember the last time we went somewhere just the two of us, and I mentioned this to him about 6 weeks ago. He asked me where I'd like to go. I said Italy.

So he booked us into a bed and breakfast on an organic farm in Northumberland National Park.

His reasons for this were really sensible. Lots of people go on vacation at Easter because the kids are off school for two weeks, so the price of flights and hotels goes up. Since we like hiking and being outdoors (and we all know my love of highland cows), an organic farm seemed like a good idea. It was.

We left on Thursday afternoon for Newcastle, to spend the night with John's niece and her boyfriend. We went out for drinks and a nice dinner, and on Friday morning, after dropping Leanne off in the city center for work, we set off for Bardon Mill and the farm. We visited this area of England only in passing many years ago on our way to a weekend in Edinburgh, long before we had kids, so it was like we'd never been there before.

I should have been a history teacher.

We spent most of our time walking along Hadrian's Wall. What an amazing piece of engineering. How did they do it? I was so impressed by it, that I'd stand and just look at it for long periods of time - well, I also stood still alot because I was stuck in either mud or sheep poop or both, or out of breath from climbing all the hills. When we weren't walking along the wall, we were visiting Roman forts built along it. We visited three which were closest to us - Vindolanda, Housesteads and Chesters. We also spent alot of time in the evenings at the Twice Brewed Inn, which had their own fabulous ale and the best sticky toffee pudding I have ever tasted.

If you've got 10 minutes of your life that you're not bothered about getting back, you can see the slideshow of our weekend - don't worry, it's clean except for some mud. There's also a video, which isn't so clean because I'm having a little rant and sharing my real feelings about (a) being stuck in sheep poop and (b) my husband videotaping it. So if the kids are around, turn the volume down.

If Anyone Can Get Away

My sister-in-law and I are going to the Blue Monkey....Common Bond (Shelia's brother's band) is playing tonight from 10-1....Now, I know I wont last til 1am, but an hour or 2 is better than nothing.

American Idol

The show was 'okay' last night. I find myself disagreeing with the judges - but isn't that normal. I really didn't like the version of 'Billy Jean' that David Cook did - but I have to admit the boy can sing. When I heard that Brooke White was going to sing a 'Police/Sting' song, I thought she had made a huge mistake - but I was quite suprised how it sounded. Carly Smithson has a great voice, but she needs to start picking better songs. David Archuleta has a great voice, but again, what is with the song choice? I didn't 'love' Michael Johns version of the Queen songs, however, he does sing pretty well. I don't think he will win unless he starts doing a little better, he needs to go back to how he sang in Hollywood.

My picks for the bottom 3 are: Chikezie, Jason Castro, and Ramiele Malubay. My pick for going home is Ramiele Malubay. I thought Kristy picked a very good song, and that will keep her out of the bottom 3 - but then again, maybe she will be in the bottom 3 and Jason won't be.

Let the debate begin!

How do you like your peeps:
1) Fresh or Stale?
2) Chicks or bunnies?
3) Pink, Yellow, Purple or Blue?
4) Have you ever committed "peepocide" in the microwave?
5) Only for Easter or at every holiday?

Peep Show

My favorite Easter candy is letting loose this holiday. What a great way to de-stress. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Portrait Party

I posted about The Portrait Party site a little while ago. I exchanged photographs with someone and we drew one another's portraits. Her portrait of me is great. You can see them here.

Ode to Louie

For thirteen years, I had to share my bed with him (and Trina). I don't remember what is is like to NOT have to clean up dog crap. He was always at the door when I got home. Always underfoot when I cooked, and always there to catch the food I dropped.
I shared my meals with him (he even ate off the same spoon when eating cereal), and always made extra for his future meals. I truly loved Louie and will miss him, but I am glad he no longer has to suffer the everyday problems that plagued him for nearly the past year or so. I am sure the meds weren't fun (even though he got them inside a Krimpet or vanilla pudding) for the last few months. I'm sure he did not like his heart failing him and allowing his lungs to fill with fluids.
I know he loved when I came home from shopping because that always meant he would get a treat or six. I know he loved the attention and companionship that he got from everyone in the house (though he lost his brother Chuckie a few summers ago). He loved to lick, he loved to sleep, and he loved to fart.
He was a "crusty old man" and I actually got teary eyed this morning as I looked at his spot in the bed and he was not there. He was loved and always gave unconditional love and though I will not miss wiping his butt or carrying him up and down the stairs, I will miss him.

I love Lou. . .

Do you have Faith?

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5



How many of us were forced to go to church as children? How many of us have strayed away from church? How many of us are forcing our children to go to church?



Growing up I never had a choice and went every Sunday. It was either church service or Sunday school. Summer time was for bible school. What did I get out of all of this? I stopped going all together in my late 20's and began questioning religion, faith, the bible, and God. From the time I had stopped going to church I had an empty feeling within me that words cannot explain to this day. It was almost like a dull stomach ache that just never went away (best way to describe it). I have tried filling that void with so many different hobbies and activities but it just never seemed to go away.



My Sunday morning bike rides with my buddies became my "church" if you want to call it that. We all pretty much had the same opinion about church and how being forced to go as children changed our outlook on church as adults.



Since my wife went back to college and has made many new friends in her classes, one particular friend and her boyfriend became really close to us. This young 20 year old woman carried a different kind of presence about her. I found it interesting to see how she was always so happy, filled with life, and not your typical 20 year old of today. She went to a smaller school than ours and was also a Christian School. We began to talk about church and how I felt it was a load of crap. After a few more talks I began to question my faith and how I really felt about church.



I began searching for a new church and the first one I tried was the same denomination that I grew up in. My daughter and I sat through a service and it was so boring. I promised her that I would not put her through what I went through. There had to be other churches out there where I can actually get something out of it. I asked some close friends and some family members about churches that they go to and one in particular began to stand out. So I went by myself to one service and it was nothing like I was accustomed to. It was odd but a good odd. I left there with a message that I could apply to my everyday life. That has never happened before. So I went back the following week with my daughter and she was surprised how much she really enjoyed it as much as I did. This journey began last fall for me and I have not missed one service since that time.



It is so different now because I have found a church that I really connect with and the message is clear every week and it applies to daily life. All the BS is taken out of the service and they teach right from the bible.



How many have read the bible in its entirety? I have not myself but have made it my goal to read it in a year. I began reading it January first and have not missed a day (some days I don't get to but make up for it the following day).



Oh, I almost forgot, that empty feeling (dull pain in the abdomen) is gone! In less then one month of going back to church that emptiness is no longer with me. I carried that emptiness for almost 13 years since I stopped going to church.



My daughter is really active in the youth group and looks forward to going to church each Sunday that she is with me. I see a difference in her as well.



Think what you want about this post. I just wanted to share with you some life changing events that has taken place in my life at age 40. The video is a reflection of what we are faced with everyday. Our children are faced with more battles and challenges than we ever were.

American Idol

I have to say some of the singers really impressed me last night. Chikezie and Carly Smithson blew me away with their songs, while I though Brooke White did a very nice rendition of "Let It Be".

I still can't believe the judges like Amanda Overmyer. I really feel that her voice is like nails on a chalkboard and I thought she was horrendous last night. I really couldn't understand the words she was singing. I thought this was also the first really bad performance from David Archuleta, but I am confident he will go to the next round.

My pick for going home tonight is David Hernandez or Kristy Lee Cook - although I really wish it was Amanda but I think she is going to be around a little while longer. She reminds me of Nikki from Season 1 who finished 3rd. David H. may stick around because of all the publicity, but hopefully not.

Have to wait and see tonight!!

AAADD

AAADD- KNOW THE SYMPTOMS

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.
Somehow I feel better, even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.
This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table,
put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table,
and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back
on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think,
since I'm going to be near the mailbox
when I take out the garbage any way,
I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table,
and see that there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study,
so I go inside the house to my desk where
I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks,
but first I need to push the Coke aside
so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Coke is getting warm,
and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke,
a vase of flowers on the counter
catches my eye--they need water.

I put the Coke on the counter and
discover my reading glasses that
I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk,
but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter,
fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV,
I'll be looking for the remote,
but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,
so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,
but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers,
but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table,
get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to
remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

the car isn't washed

the bills aren't paid

there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter

the flowers don't have enough water,

there is still only 1 check in my checkbook,

I can't find the remote,

I can't find my glasses,

and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,
I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long
and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem,
and I'll try to get some help for it,
but first I'll check my e-mail..........................

Another Blonde Joke

The other day, I was at my local garage having some work done. A blonde came in and ask for a seven-hundred-ten. We all looked at each other and another customer asked, "What is a seven-hundred-ten?"

She replied, "You know, that little piece in the middle of the engine. I have lost it, and I need a new one." She also said that she did not know what it was, but the piece had always been there.

The mechanic gave her a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to draw a picture of what the piece looked like. She drew a circle, and in the middle of it, wrote 710. He then took her over to another car that had its hood up and asked her, "is there a 710 on this car?"

She pointed, and said, "of course, it's right there!"

If you're not sure what a 710 looks like, copy & paste the below

http://www.hotautoweb.com/cogifs/710.jpg

Cool Website

There is this cool blog where people pair up, draw one another and then post their artwork. There are all different levels of ability. Check it out!

hey Kristen there is a Rick Springfield special on bio channel right now. I didn't even recognize him with all that facial hair.

American Idol - Women

I was not too impressed last night. I don't know why they pick songs that most people don't know. With all the great songs of the 80's, I just don't get it.

I do not like the the same contestants that the judges do. I can't stand Amanda Overmyer - rocker nurse, but they seem to like her. I really don't like Carly Smithson - tattoo lady - either. Can you believe what Brooke White did to the Pat Benator song? Yuck!! The only girl that really impressed me was Syesha Mercado. She sounded pretty close to Whitney.

My votes for going home tonight are Kade Malloy and Amanda Overmyer.

What do others think about the women?

American Idol - Men

What did everyone think about last night's show?

I really like Jason Castro - man with the dreadlocks. I also liked the rocker dude - Michael Johns - but I'm still not sure if I really like his voice or not.

My picks for going home this week are: Luke Menard and Danny Noriega. I really liked Danny in the auditions but he is acting way too "faggy" and cocky for me.