I Am Confident and Insighful

Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful

You've got a ton of brain power, and you leverage it into brilliant blog. Both creative and logical, you come up with amazing ideas and insights. A total perfectionist, you find yourself revising and rewriting posts a lot of the time. You blog for yourself - and you don't care how popular (or unpopular) your blog is!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

You know that bit about revising posts? Darned if I don't do that. If I find a mistake, I go in and fix the ones I find. crazy... Love you guys!! Good Night! m.

My Prayer for Myself and for You

I wrote this back in March of this year. It is as true today as it was the day I wrote it. I hope it helps. love to you all. mhn.

My Prayer for Myself and for You

When I was a child, I was extremely vocal about my thoughts and feelings. As I grew up, I learned a different way of handling things. Not better perhaps, just different. I sometimes wonder if all the fussing or saying what’s on your mind, right in the moment, isn’t sometimes better than holding on to the pain, anger and frustration.

Now I have much anxiety, have had level 2 cancer, and am not the nicest person to my family. I’m really sorry about that and I want to change this angry and completely undesirable behavior. I used to be a much happier and go-lucky type of person. Life happens, you go to college, get married, buy a house, get into debt, have a child, do stuff for other people and realize that you lost some of yourself taking care of others.

Not that I mind taking care of the others, I love them all dearly; knowing them, and loving them has brought me great joy.

Sometimes there is great pain and suffering as well. I forgot who I am. Did I ever have dreams and aspirations of my own, outside of these other people? Can you have these dreams and aspirations without feeling selfish or guilty? One does so much and yet, you still feel like a hamster running on a wheel, going nowhere fast. What is all this for? Are you really helping others or are you getting in the way of something that may have been their calling?

There are days in which I would like the world to stop for me. That will never happen, so I just do what Mom always taught us, “Just put one foot in front of the other.” This sentiment gets you through the day, but it is only existing in the world, not living life to your fullest.

I want to live my life. I want to be the best “me” I can be. It’s definitely a struggle, especially when my example has been less than stellar.

I am a blessed person to have my faith in God and His son Jesus. Thanks mom, for putting me in parochial school. You got me started on the right path to my Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. I am also fortunate to have such a wonderful husband and son. I know that if it were not for them, I would probably be dead.

I also am very grateful for my friends. They help me by letting me know that I’m not the only person who is going through all this stuff and that I’m not going insane. That helps a great deal during the day.

I have a very wise friend who told me to stand outside myself, get out of my head and look at what is going on at the moment. Is it really as bad as I think it might be? Most of the time it isn’t.

This has really helped; to put this all down on paper, to get a better perspective. These thoughts are more concrete than the ever-evolving thoughts that roll around in my gray matter. I thank all those who love me and I want you to know I love you too.

It’s nice to realize that I’m not as “mental” as I thought I was, and that I do have control of my life or at the very least, how I react to what life throws at me. I don’t have to make the mistakes my parents made. I can be cognizant of what I do and how I do it.

I truly want to be the person my creator intended me to be, the singer, writer, actor, dancer, wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter and child of God, who by her actions and words help to build His kingdom here in His creation.

You would think that this task is extremely difficult. Oh contraire, all that needs to be done, is to fully submit everything to the Father. He will lead us from there. Pride keeps all of God’s greatest creation from yielding to Him.

When you are broken and can’t go any farther, just lean into His loving embrace. His arms are there to hold you and His chest is a soft place to land. Give everything over to Him and He will make it all bearable. You will not have to land roughly on the hard ground, but softly on the green, green grass.

Submit all to Abba, then the horrors of childhood and the disappointments of adulthood will be lessened in the grand scheme of life. You will be able to forgive, move on and love again in a more pure fashion than ever before. This is my prayer for myself and for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.



mhn march 21, 2005

Just Who is This MHN for Short Anyway?

I've realised that in the course of a month or so, I haven't actually "written" many posts. They've been "personality" tests and pretty pictures. Do I no longer have the desire to let you into my soul? No. Do I have no more to say? No. Am I just drawn to the quick quips that define my inner being? A little. Am I just excited to put a pretty picture up on my blog? Sometimes.

I'd like to think that I'm a mystery to some people. Who is this "seemingly" sane person? Is she just a Christian or a Sinner?

Lately, I've been in another funk. Yelling way too much and being way to harsh with the fam. I'm falling deeper into my own bit of despair. I still have hope that God will bring me out of it. I just need to humble myself before Him and ask for His help. I guess I'm doing that now, even though I'm sharing this with you. I know He's listening and saying softly in my ear, "Come to ME my child. I AM not angry with you. Come to ME and I will help you be who you are truly to be. I love you and you are MY child. I sent my Son for you, take His hand. He will lead you through the fire and take you to the beautiful green grass with the morning dew still fresh upon it. Let ME love you, let ME speak through you, let Me guide your waking and sleeping and let ME make you WHOLE."

MHN for Short is a person who falls short of what she is to be, but still has hope for a future and love for my fellow humans who inhabit this earth, this place that the Creator has made for His children.

PERSONALITY Test? I think I knew this one.

You are dignified, spiritual, and wise. Always unsatisfied, you constantly try to better yourself. You are also a seeker of knowledge and often buried in books. You tend to be philosophical, looking for the big picture in life. You dream of inner peace for yourself, your friends, and the world. A good friend, you always give of yourself first.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Which Fantasy/Sci-Fi Character Are You?

Galadriel <--- She was one of my favs. :-)

Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Writing Notes and or Letters

It seems that in this day and age the art of writing a note or letter by hand is getting lost in the shuffle of e-mails and blogging. I am as big a culprit as anyone.

My Brother-in-law Paul died on June 22, 2005.

My Pastor, SIL and Minister of Music helped out quite a bit.

My Pastor helped my sister find a crematorium even though she and Paul were not members of our church. Simply because she was my sister, he went above and beyond the call of duty and showed what a true Christian is.
My Minister of Music provided me with the copies of the songs I wanted to borrow and copy myself. She knew I was under stress for worry about my family and had it all copied and situated for me.
And Jean, she really stepped up when I didn't really think I needed anyone to lean on. I thought that it was nice of her to want to come to the memorial for me, but I thought 'I'm not the one who just lost a husband, so I don't have the right to need support'. That was before the memorial service, as soon as I saw her, I knew that I did in fact need her there and it meant a great deal to me to have her there sitting beside me.

They were all there to listen whenever I needed an ear, as were you, my blogging family.

Now I am off to write a personal "Thank You" note to each of them. And I guess that this is my official 'Thank You' to you all who listened to me all those months.

It takes so little effort, yet a written note, to those whom you appreciate, means the world to the ones who receive it.

Divinely Decadent!

Ooooo, yesterday I did something that I've never done before. My MIL took Owen and me shopping with her(actually, I took them since we were in my car and I was driving, but anyway...).

So the first place we hit is J.C.Penney's department store. Linda (MIL) is looking for some sheets and Penney's is having a half price sale. Pretty good deal. She 's looking through the sheets at the 400 thread count sheets. Now, if you don't know what that means, it is that there are 400 threads per square inch in the fabric, very thick and very soft and almost silky. They feel so good.

Now Owen and I are basically along for the ride. I'm not buying nothing! Sure... When I felt those sheets through the package they felt sooooo soft. I'm thinking, 'We haven't bought new sheets since we bought the house.... hmmm....Dave's gonna kill me if I spend money on sheets, especially 400tc sheets. But they feel so good AND they are 1/2 price! We haven't bought new sheets for us in 10 years and those were 220tc from the Martha Stewart Everyday Living collection from KMart!'

So you guessed it. I bought the sheets. Dave called to tell me he'd be working late. I told him, 'You're gonna kill me.' 'Why?' he asked. "Because I bought some 400tc sheets at J.C. Penney. They were half off and so soft a pretty. They're green, your favourite colour....' He said that it was alright. He wasn't mad. He never is when I do something like this, which isn't often, I must say.

They are a pretty pistachio pale green that goes beautifully with our purple bedroom. We slept on them last night. When he came to the bedroom he asked, 'So, are they satin sheets?'. 'No, but they are really soft cotton, come feel.' He petted them and said, 'Hmmm, those are soft.' He got into bed and I asked him what he thought. He said in his usual way, 'They'll do.' And he snuggled into the bed covers and smiled at me and went to sleep while I read.

This morning the bed felt so good and soft with those new sheets that I didn't want to get out of bed. Owen even came in for a while and laid with me. He said, 'Momma, these sheets are sooooffftt.' You know they are nice when a 4.5 year old notices them.

Aaaah, divine decadence.

Amazing Carvings

I don't know if these are real, but they certainly are beautiful and capture the imagination. They are supposed to have been made by a carpenter in Venice. Enjoy. :-)

What Kind of Drink Are You?

I like a nice cocktail now and then. :-)

Meme, but the questions are different. :-)

1. First name? Michelle.....mon belle.....

2. Were you named after anyone? Yup. great grandmother.

3. Do you wish on stars? Yes, because when you wish upon a star....

4. When did you last cry? Last week at the thought of being a disposable human.

5. Do you like your handwriting? Not so much these days. Too much typing, makes it look horrible.

6. What is your favorite lunch meat? Oven roasted Turkey sandwich slices.

7. What is your birth date? 04.09.6?.

8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Well, since I genuinely like most music none of it "embarasses" me, but if I have to choose, it might be my Kareoke sing along cds, but then sometimes I'm able to make money with them so they are not too embarassing.

9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? sure. I'm loyal and fun. Who doesn't want a friend like that? Don't answer that... :-)

10. Do you have a journal? I guess my blog is my journal.

11. Do you use sarcasm a lot? On occasion, when it fits the moment or situation.

12. What are your nicknames? M, chelle, mom, babe, etc...

13. Would you bungee jump? WoooHooo! i might if i could be ABSOLUTELY SURE that I wouldn't die or get seriously injured! :-)

14. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Nope...

15. Do you think that you are strong? Mentally, sometimes I wonder... Physically, yep.

16. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Amy's Ice Cream, Belgian Chocolate made in to a shake with whipped cream on top. :-) Lip smackin' good!

17. Shoe Size? 10. Please don't be alarmed. I have a good understanding...

18. Red or pink? Red or pink, just not together. Yuck!

19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My temper.

20. Who do you miss most? Paw Paw H.

21. Do you want everyone you send this to send it back? Neh. Just put it on your blogs. I'll get there to read them.

22. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? none. Still in night gown.

23. What are you listening to right now? The boy whine about me makinghim clean up his room after he just dumped a box of stuff on his bedroom floor. "Mommy, I Caaaannnn'tt clean up my room. It's tooooo Hhaaaaarrrrdddd. Can you Pleeeeaaaassseeee Heeeellllppp mmeeee."

24. Last thing you ate? Whataburger with bacon, cheese, mayo and all the veggies!

25. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple, and not just a crayon, but a Crayola.

26. What is the weather like right now? Since the airconditioner is on, I can only assume that it is hot outside.

27. Last person you talked to on the phone? Surprisingly enough, my mom. Oh wait, nope. i talked to dave's mom about the dog this morning.

28. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Depends on which way they are going. Facing me, I notice the face; From behind, I notice the shoulders, then they eyes work their way down...

29. Do you like the person that sent this to you? Oh yes! She's an awesome lady and I miss her!

30. Favorite drink? Non-alcoholic: Caffeine Free Coke, Alcoholic: Demotivator from Katz! mmmm, delish!

31. FAVORITE SPORT to play? Basketball and Tennis. I suck at both, but I still like to play

32. Hair Color? Dark brown with golden and auburn highlights.

33. Eye Color? Brown/green hazel with a dark green rim around the outside.

34. Do you wear contacts? Not any more.

35. Favorite Food? Italian, specifically my Chicken Parmesan with my spaghetti sauce. mmmm, garlicy!

36. Last Movie You Watched? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

37. Favorite day of the year? Christmas! :-)

38. Scary Movies or Happy Endings? Happy Endings.

39. Summer or winter? Winter.

40. Hugs OR Kisses? Hugs

41. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? Tiramisu from Bucca Di Beppo, with a little coffee on the side...

42. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? Herge, maybe... ;-)

43. Who Is Least Likely To Respond? Dave.

44. Living Arrangements? In a house with the husband, boy, cat and nine fishies!

45. What Books Are You Reading? Chronicles of Narnia, still...... Just finished Harry Potter VI.

46. What's On Your Mouse Pad? Pokemon's Pikachu, Dave's pick.

47. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? What Not To Wear

48. Favorite Smells? Pool water and suntan lotion.

49. Favorite Sounds? Owen and or David telling me that they love me.

50. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles.

51. What's the farthest you've been from home? Seattle Washington. Wouldn't mind living there.

52. Traditional or Nontraditional Wedding? We went totally traditional. Might post some pics at a later date.

This is the Boy!!

This is Owen at a friends pool party. Isn't he adorable?! And for the most part, he is just that happy!

Scary...

The most scary of all is that I really closely IDENTIFY with almost every one of these items. Ah!


Subject: LIFE IN SMALL TOWNS
Those who grew up in small towns will laugh when they read this.
Those who didn't will be in disbelief.
1) You can name everyone you graduated with.
2) You know what 4-H means.
3) You went to parties at a pasture, barn, gravel pit, or in the middle
of a dirt road. On Monday you could always tell who was at the party
because of the scratches on their legs from running through the
woods when the party was busted. (See #6.)
4) You used to "drag" Main.
5) You said the "F" word and your parents knew within the hour.
6) You scheduled parties around the schedules of different police
officers, because you knew which ones would bust you and which
ones wouldn't.
7) You could never buy cigarettes because all the store clerks knew
how old you were (and if you were old enough, they'd tell your parents
anyhow.)
8) When you did find somebody old enough and brave enough to buy
cigarettes, you still had to go out into the country and drive on back
roads to smoke them.
9) You knew which section of the ditch you would find the beer your
buyer dropped off.
10) It was cool to date somebody from the neighboring town.
11) The whole school went to the same party after graduation.
12) You didn't give directions by street names but rather by references.
Turn by Nelson's house, go 2 blocks to Anderson's, and it's four
houses left of the track field.
13) The golf course had only 9 holes.
14) You couldn't help but date a friend's ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.
15) Your car stayed filthy because of the dirt roads, and you will
never own a dark vehicle for this reason.
16) The town next to you was considered "trashy" or "snooty," but
was actually just like your town.
17) You referred to anyone with a house newer then 1965 as the "rich
people.
18) The people in the "big city" dressed funny, and then you picked up
the trend 2 years later.
19) Anyone you wanted could be found at the local gas station or the
town bar.
20) You saw at least one friend a week driving a tractor through town
or one of your friends driving a grain truck to school occasionally.
21) The gym teacher suggested you haul hay for the summer to get
stronger.
22) Directions were given using THE stop light as a reference.
23) When you decided to walk somewhere for exercise, 5 people would
pull over and ask if you wanted a ride.
24) Your teachers called you by your older siblings' names.
25) Your teachers remembered when they taught your parents.
26) You could charge at any local store or write checks without any ID.
27) The closest McDonalds was 25 miles away (or more).
28) The closest mall was over an hour away.
29) It was normal to see an old man riding through town on a riding
lawn mower.
30) You've pee'd in a cornfield. (not this one, but I have pee'd behind a trailer at a lake in the middle of NO WHERE!)
31) Most people went by a nickname.
32) You laughed your butt off reading this because you know it is true!

Good Morning?

Good Morning? - July 21, 2005

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 (NIV) I'd like to begin this "thought for the day" with a little poem: I was up before dawn,Took a prayer walk after a storm,Saw a man pull out of his driveway,With his cell earphone on. Oh well, its not much of a poem is it? But, the story continues. I wondered that beautiful weekday morning, "who could that man possibly be talking to so early in the day?" Was it his lawyer, his jogging buddy or maybe his assistant back at work? Or, maybe he saw something dreadful in the news about the stock market and he was connecting with his broker for advice. And then I wondered, "has he spoken to the most important person of all yet this morning: God?" Many a day, we just jump out of bed (or roll out depending on whether you are a morning person or not) and get ready to do whatever our calendars say we should be doing. Maybe it's a workday and you're already running dreadfully late. Or, perhaps we're reveling in the sweet relief of a lazy Saturday morning with not a thing planned! Either way, we should consider how we start each day and that annoying thing called our "day timer". Never forget, God is our ultimate day timer each day. He plans out each of our days and every detail that goes into them. He knows the people you are going to meet, the words you are going to say and He notices the time spent away from Him. He knows when you are feeling great and when you are hurting. So why not ask Him to order your day each morning? Let Him prioritize your calendar and guide you to obey His schedule. When you opened your eyes this morning, did you welcome the idea that Jesus had been watching over you all night long and that His angels were posted at your bedside? Did you thank Him for the breaths you filled your lungs with as you awoke? Did you praise Him for a refreshing night's sleep, filled with sweet dreams dancing in your head? How about when the first ray of sunlight crept into your window? Did you turn over in disgust that it was morning, or welcome the beauty of the sunrise? How awesome God is to provide a welcome sign each day as a reminder of the intricacy of His mighty power. He shows us His love every minute of every day through blessing upon blessing. When you arise each morning, may you ask God to order your day! Be sure to claim every word you say in prayer to your Almighty Father and open your eyes to see His magnificent handiwork in all things. Unlike the man in the beginning of this story, we don't need a phone or headset to call upon our Lord. Contributed by Diane Check.

I must admit that in the mornings after staying up late reading or blogging, that i do not greet my Creators "glorious signs" of a new day or hope in a nice manner. I'm usually the person that grunts and rolls over as to not face the sun, hoping for that extra moment of sleep before the boy comes in with his customary, "Good Morning, Momma!" smiling all the while with a sweet look on his face. I will endevour to do better to greet the day in a more positive manner. We'll see how it goes, It's a training process. I was going to say "learning", but I already know how to do it. I just need to get myself used to doing it. Thus the "training". Love to you all! m.

My SIL

I love, Love, LOVE my Sister-In-Law Jean!!!! She called me tonight from the West Coast where she had been on a business trip. She took time out of her extremely busy work schedule to call me and make sure that I was ok after that inane idiot Deb blasted me on Jean's blog. She and I had the best conversation that we've had in almost a year. I've missed her. So anyway, in a world of people hating their In-Laws, I just wanted you to know that I love my SIL. She's the best gal in the WORLD! :-D

Stars and Their Not So Private Moments...

Colin Farrell Sues Woman Over Sex Tape
If you don't want it distributed, then don't make the film Collin Farrell. Duh... Sure, you think at the time that making a tape of your most intimate moment it is going to be fun just for the two of you. Then you break up with "whoever" and here they go trying to make some money off of ya. Good going...

Some Ha Ha's!!







The one below... This will be me when I go to heaven. I'll be in the EXPRESS LANE... Ha! Yeah right.!
<--- This is what my tabby tells me, except when he's hungry. Then it's all "m-i-a-o-u" and "wroayoo"!




Ranting

It's strange how ranting on certain subjects will make you feel better. You think, "Hey, if I get this off my chest then I'll feel better." Not necessarily so. Sometimes the rant makes you feel worse.

I should have just ignored that stupid woman from Jean's blog and risen above the muck and mire, but I didn't. I allowed some other person to have way too much power over me and my emotions and it was a very weak thing to do.

I'm ashamed that I didn't take my own advice to take a higher road. I hope that I haven't caused Jean any grief. This person may well have been a friend of hers, although, I was polite to her on Jean's blog. But I certainly "ripped her a new one" on mine. That was a stupid and immature thing to do. Can't say I won't do it again, but I'll try my best to keep this blog as nice as possible.

I'll still state my opinions, but I'll try my best to not get annoyed with the anonymous statements from those who I really don't care about anyway. Really who is this person to me??? No one, she's a blip on the screen and I will keep her that way. My regulars and those who actually come visit me, those are the lovely people I care about.

Deb~ You have no power over me.

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Ugh! I've got to get this off of my chest so that I can go back to "Happy-Go-Lucky-Michelle"!

People who don't have blogs REALLY need to acquire some Cajones (sp) (not so nice term), and start their own blogs, especially if they are going to blast you on someone else's blog!!! This way, we could at the VERY least go "visit" these people and see what they have to say about "other" subjects besides you/me! Please people! "Acquire an Existence!!!" Yep, mhn is pissed today and I don't mean drunk!

There is a blog that I read on a daily basis. It's my SIL. I've been to see her's, she's been a visiting here as well. It's the only way I can keep up to date on her very busy life. Now as my regular readers you know that I shoot pretty straight on my opinions. I like to tell it like I see it. Uncomplicated, that's the way I like it. And as regulars here to Dreamer's Reality, I hope that I can assume(very dangerous) you like it that way as well, or you wouldn't keep coming back. Of which I am ever so happy you all keep coming back!! Loves ya!

So, there is this woman who has left maybe 2 (I didn't search the archives) comments on this blog I read. Her name is deb. Both of these comments were about "my" comments on the blog.
Jean was talking about seeing a large woman on an airplane and had "thought" about going to tell her about her Gastric Bypass and how it had made a huge difference in her life. But in the end, she (what I thought was wisely) decided not to. Here is my comment:

MHN for short said...

Unfortunately, that's exactly how most hugely fat people would have taken that statement. Sorry to say it, but it is true.

You remember what it was like to be fat. When some person (usually skinny) would come up to you and say stuff like "I'm a nutrition specialist, can I give you my card?" or some such rubbish, you remember how you felt. I know I do.

Large people look at themselves in the mirror everyday. They know that they are fat.

I know you were just trying to "Spread the Joy" and that is admirable. It's just that most over weight folks aren't ready to hear the message. :-(

Keep your chin up, Kiddo! :-)

Anonymous said...

MHN, who are you? Do you know Jean? Have you met her? It doesn't sound like you do. You judge her and put her down, why do you keep coming back to this site? I appreciate Jean's desire to help people. I appreciate Jean's exploring options. Please stop trying to shut her down and keep her from doing good. She would never do that to you - no matter who you are.

Deb

And this is deb and a buddy:

Anonymous said...

Jean, great blog!! Who is MHN, they have taken over your blog like a borg or something.

Anonymous said...

I know, I'm scared to post! She always says nice things to misty, but she's so short with you. Which is odd because you have so much in common. I wonder if I'll be on her good side or bad side?

Jean said...

Michelle is my sister-in-law. If you click on the link by her posts, you can go to her blog to find out more about her. She is a conservative Christian and as you point out, she and I have very different views. That's what blogging and free speech are about, we get to share our ideas. I think as long as we communicate in a productive way, it is a good way to learn from each other.

I also think that her comments are probably meant as jokes even if they don't seem that way at first read - she has a biting sense of humor that doesn't always come across as well in the written word as it does in person. I would be offended by the Borg comment, but 7 of 9 was pretty cute. Besides, as a stay-at-home mom, I'm pretty sure I'd spend a lot of my time on the internet too trying to get some interaction with adults. I don't know how she does it without going nutty.

MHN for short said...

Yes Jean, you are correct 98.8% of what I write is in a joking manner.

Please, people chill. :-) btw: when you put a smiley face next to your comment, it most likely means that you are kidding...

Your audience is sooooo serious. I guess I've just gotten used to my UK bloggers. (Which I LOVE!!! btw.)

I promise, I'm not "taking over". the blogs I read just talk through the reply windows, for like hours sometimes.

Actually I have gone a "little nutty". Trying to re-gain my sanity. please be patient with me anons and leave your names or better yet, start your own blogs so we can visit you.
:-) <----- again, see the smile. Jean~ Thanks for taking up for me. I think I might cry. You're so sweet!

Jean to her credit and our relationship, stood up for me. Obviously those two didn't go back and read her post. Believe me, you don't want to be on my bad side. Admittedly, it's UGLY! That's why I try to keep it hidden under lots of jokes!! :-) and smiley faces. :-)

It also takes a great deal to get on my "bad side", once I get to know you. But these women don't even know my name nor have they bothered to come visit me, like Jean and I both offered for them to do. If your gonna be a jerk, at least go see what else is out there and don't just stay in your own little whole in the ground. Get out of your comfort zone and see the world. I like to tease people and expect it in return. You might find that I'm not as mean as you think. "It's called a sense of humour, you should get one, they're nice."~ Ducky from Pretty in Pink. UUUURRRGGGGHHH!!!!!

So, am I over reacting here???

Stepping down off the soapbox, making some chamomile tea and breathing.........................

Remember, I do love you all!!! m. :-) Rant stopped. Back to happy stuff tomorrow! :-D

I'm Finished

I finished the book. I have the same feeling I did when I finished the previous book. sad.

HP Day 2

I only have 172 pages left. I should be able to knock that out today and still have time to do that dratted laundry! :-)

Day 1 HP

Almost halfway through the book. I....must.....keep.....reading.....


And Dave really expects me to do LAUNDRY today??????

Last Night

Last night was so much fun! Dave and I went to Niko-Niko's Greek Restaurant for dinner. He's been wanting to try it out for YEARS, but I've always been too chicken. I'm always afraid that I'll get to a new place and not find anything on the menu that I'll eat. I was driving by there on an errand for my MIL and noticed that they had a website. Anyway, I checked out the menu and it looked interesting and not too pricey. So for Dave's birthday, he got to experience some food he'd been longing for and the food was deelish!!! :-)

After dinner, we went to see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It was really good in a weird Johnny Depp and Tim Burton sort of way. We loved it. Of course, Danny Elfman did the music. We've loved Danny Elfman ever since we heard of him. He fronted the band Oingo-Boingo. Great stuff!!! The man is a musical genius!! He has done the music for all of Tim Burton's films. Batman, Nightmare Before Christmas, (I think) Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ad the new stop motion film he's working on called "The Corpse Bride". The Corpse Bride looks pretty good. It has Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in it. Anyway, the flick was a good one. You can not compare the two (the old one and the new). They are two distinctly different movies and both worthy of their own praise.

After the movie, we were both craving chocolate. BIG SURPRISE! So we mossied on down to Katz's Deli in the Montrose area and got dessert. Dave ordered a Chocolate Eruption Cake and coffee. I ordered Death by Chocolate and a hot cocoa + a glass of water. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and brought some of each dessert home to share with the boy. Haven't done that yet, Owen is being a pill. No rewards until he acts like a human...

Anyway, we had a lovely time.

Chelle, your IQ score is 133

Chelle, your IQ score is 133

shelly, your IQ score is significantly above average. Congratulations! You have a wide range of exceptional skills which are much stronger than those of the average population. You are also skilled at answering the types of questions that are asked in a classic IQ test. The test analyses your strengths and weaknesses based on your mathematical, linguistic, visual-spatial and logical skills. Even though you have high scores in all of those areas, we are able to analyse your results to discover the areas in which you have the strongest abilities.

Your mind's strengths allow you to think ahead of the game -- to imagine or anticipate what should come next in just about any situation. Because you're equally skilled in the numerical and verbal universes of the brain, you can draw from multiple sources of information to come up with great ideas. The timelessness of your vision and the balance between your various skills are what make you a Visionary Philosopher.

In addition to your strengths in maths and linguistics, you have a knack for matching and anticipating patterns. These skills and your uncanny ability to detect the underlying blueprint of most of life's situations add to your visionary philosopher mind. Two philosophers who share the same combination of skills you possess are Plato and Benedict Spinoza.

Who'd of thunk I was so smart.

A Puzzle

If you can figure out this puzzle and tell me your real name as the puzzle applies to you; you will have my ever enduring love and affection. That is, if you don't have it already. :-) Herewego...

Now I Knead Kolaches In Pretty Rounds At The Table?


Good Luck!

Tomorrow's a Busy Day

I'm so looking forward to tomorrow. I'm meeting a friend to get the new Harry Potter together. The PIL's are bowling in a charity bowl-a-thon. Later I'll take Owen to Gammie and Papa's for a sleep over. Then I get to take David to Niko-Niko's for a Greek dinner and then to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! As Owen says. "This is the Life!"

Let's Lighten the Mood, Shall We???

Another Quiz:

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE? Colorado Springs, CO. or Seattle, Washington.
2. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?A Multi-coloured horozontal striped sweater with a hood and zipper closure. I know, Stacy and Clinton would FREAK!
3. THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT? I don't remember, but the last song I downloaded was The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.
4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? The first time I wake up is when Owen climbs into the bed at 6:30, second time is about 7:30am.
5. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE? It's a toss up between the stove/oven (gas) or the 6 quart Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer.
6. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Piano, so I could accompany myself when I sing!!
7. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV? Neither, love my little Focus stationwagon. :-)
8. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTER LIFE? ABSOLUTELY.
9. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK? "The Best Mouse Cookie Ever!"
10.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON? Winter, I love the cold. Then I can breathe.
11. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR? A bunch of crap!
12. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER? Cheeseburgers, all the way with mayo, no mustard. For the UK-ers "All the way" is a burger with: lettuce, onions, pickles and tomato. :-)
13. FAVORIITE FLOWER? Roses and African violets
14. YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Amy's Ice Cream as stated on another post.
15. FAVORITE SONG TO LISTEN TO IN THE CAR? Autoban by Kraftwerk.
16. FAVORITE ERA IN HISTORY? THE 20's!!!!
17. FAVORITE WAY TO RELAX? Sitting in the dark listening to the iPod and singing along to the songs after everybody has gone to bed.
18. BUTTER, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN? no butter, with Garlic flavoured popcorn topper.
19. FAVORITE COLOR? Purple
20. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Ford Focus Station Wagon SE
21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANDWICH? The Rueben at Katz's Deli!! no russian dressing please!
22.WHO DO YOU LOOK MOST LIKE IN YOUR FAMILY? my dad. :-)
23. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Bay City, TX.
24. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Basketball - some of these questions are repeaters...
25. FAVORITE LOVE SONG? Currently, The Middle by Jimmy Eat World. Ask me tomorrow and the answer will probably change. :-)

It's Disheartening and Slightly Alarming

I have read lately posts that worry me abit. Well, enough to not respond on other blogs, but to put it here on mine.

I truly believe that everyone has a right to their opinion. I would not want my right to my own opinion taken away from me. With that said... It alarms me that through the anger and grief of the London bombings comes this feeling that only certain lives are viable and therefore only those lives are worthy of a moment of silence.

Every life is precious. EVERY ONE! From the innocent baby all the way to the crusty old guy, sitting there bitching on the corner.

Are we all not created by the Divine? When we are cut, do we all not bleed red blood? When we are hurt we cry, or lash out. When we are happy, we laugh or show joy.

Some people complain about those who don't work and make the "rest of us" pay for their life styles through the social system. I don't like that either, in fact I have a real problem with that. But it does not make those lives any less precious in the eyes of our Creator.

It cuts me to the bone to think that if I was one of those who needed some help that I would fall into the category of a "useless bastard" and should be done away with.

It's the same type of mentality that the terrorists use when they justify killing innocents. It's frightening to me that we could fall into that way of thinking so easily.

It seems so silly to suggest that we "rise above it". But that is exactly what we need to do. Rise above it. Show those bullies that WE WILL NOT SINK TO THEIR LEVEL!

We have to find a constructive way to work through this tragedy of war and find a way, in our own way, to help; whether it be by prayer, or sending letters to your officials, packing relief packages to those who are injured, or whatever you can think of that will be a positive influence in those persons lives and the lives of those a round you.

It will seem like a very small thing for you to do, but it may well have great impact. Please remember that all life is precious. I love you all, no matter what. m.

An Early Morning Dream

It rained really hard last night and I had a hard time falling asleep, mostly because I had a Coca-Cola at 9 am yesterday. I finally get to sleep it seems and the boy and the husband are awake starting their day. I get up, fix the boy a bowl of cereal, he watches nick jr and I go back to sleep because I can't keep my eyes open.

Then comes the dream...

David and I take Owen and a friend of his, Katie, to see the latest kid flick. Everything goes well until we get in the car. The car is a complete mess, junk, toys, a blanket, and pillow; all these things are in the car. Why? I have no idea. It's a dream... "Dave, where's Owen?", I ask. "He's right here.”, he replies. "Ok, where's Katie?”, I ask. "She's here too.”, he says. All is fine, I see the children. They are both in their seatbelts in the car, just as they should be.

Dave decides that he wants to go to a video store, with the kids in tow. I agree; it should be fine. We get into the car and I'm searching for the children again. We are already down the street when we realise that we have forgotten Katie. "OMG. Where's Katie?", I ask.

We can't find her, she's not hiding under the blanket. The blanket looked like it had a child under it; which was why we thought she was with us. Then Owen disappears, but he's just looking for Katie. David realises that we must have left her at the video store.

We get back there as quickly as possible, and she's hiding in a storage closet. She thinks that she's playing a game. We got her into the car with Owen. The car has "miraculously" cleaned it-self. We take Katie home and I wake up.

It was more like a nightmare than a dream and I'm tired from it.

What age do You act???

You Are 31 Years Old

31 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Nice. 31, not bad for a 36-er. Guess I'm acting close to my age. Good thing to know...

Dave's Birthday

I want to thank all of you who went to Scooter Commuter to wish Dave a happy birthday. He really appreciated it. :-)

He had a very nice birthday. He got off of work at a decent hour and we (Dave, Owen and I) joined his mother at a local seafood joint. It was really nice.

I am taking him out on a date Saturday in which we will dine out and then go see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" on the big IMAX screen at the Edwards Cinema. Then we will return to an empty house, because Gammies gift to Dave is a sleepover for Owen! Yippee!!!

This Could Be Interesting...

Or scary. I may not want to know the answers, but here we go...

1. Who are you?
2 . When and how did we meet?
3 . What brings you here?
4. Why do you keep coming back?
5. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
6. Describe me in one word.
7. What was your first impresssion of me?
8. Do you still think that now?
9. What reminds you of me?
10. If you could give me a present, what would it be?
11. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?

Blaming the Creator

There are so many people who think that if something goes wrong in there lives that God did this. He's punishing me for some sin I've done.

Folks...God doesn't make bad things happen to you. He helps you get through the hard times. By relying on His strength and His tender mercies, we can get through this life on Earth and through faith in His son as our Saviour we will then one day leave this wretched place and reside with our Father in Heaven and be at perfect peace in our final home.

Much love to you. In Christ, mhn. ><>

What kind Of Coffee Are You?

You Are an Irish Coffee

At your best, you are: wild, spontaneous, and outgoing At your worst, you are: too extreme and reckless You drink coffee when: you want to keep drinking booze Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Not bad for a lassie who is 1/4 Irish!

Blog Hopping

I've been blog hopping for the last month or two, and I think that you (my readers) can tell. I'm not as self-focused, which is nice I must say. My mood has lightened considerably.

I think also that I have worked through my grief of loosing by BIL Paul. His death was very difficult to watch, but his passing a great relief. My blogger friends have been instrumental in that recovery process, even though they may not have known. I love them for that and other reasons too numerous to list.

I still have concern for Kathey and Sarah, but that's mainly because I can't get in touch with them. My dad says they are fine. He's got a good feel for people, so I trust his assessment.

I've got to tell ya. This Blog Hopping that I've been doing has saved me. I get to meet really great people that I normally would have NEVER had the opportunity to meet, mostly because they are in other states and COUNTRIES. I am particularly fond of those I have blogrolled. I check on them and speak with them almost everyday. You bring light and life back into my world and I thank God that I met you all!! Surprised? :-)

Do some "Blog Hopping". Just click the next button until you find folks that are interesting. Even if you think you won't have ANYTHING in common with these folks, keep reading, you might be pleasantly surprised. :-)

Dave's Birthday!!!

Dave is turning 34 on the 13th of July. Please go to ScooterCommuter and wish him a Happy Birthday. Thanks Guys!!!

HP #6

Hello All!

As my loyal readers know, I am a Harry Potter Fan(atic). Saturday, #6 will be gracing itself on the shelves of book retailers everywhere in the US and most other nations as well. I and my friend, will be going to Sam's Saturday morning to pick up our very own copy of the much anticipated book.

My own personal things I'd like to see coming from this book, as far as more information about characters, are:
a)More background in Harry's geneology
b)Dumbledore's geneology
c)the Family Black
d)see if Ron and Hermione ever "hook up"
e) learn more about Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom
f)More of the D.A. (Dumbledore's Army)

There are other things I'd like to have explained or expanded upon, but that will do for now.

Family...

A drunken man walks into a biker bar, sits down at the bar and
orders a drink. Looking around, he sees three men sitting at a corner table.
He gets up, staggers to the table, leans over, looks the biggest, meanest,
biker in the face and says: "I went by your grandma's house today and I saw
her in the hallway buck naked. Man, she is one fine looking woman!"

The biker looks at him and doesn't say a word. His buddies are confused,
because he is one bad biker and would fight at the drop of a hat. The drunk
leans on the table again and says: "I got it on with your grandma and she is good,
the best I ever had!"
The biker's buddies are starting to get really mad but the biker still says nothing.

The drunk leans on the table one more time and says, "I'll tell you something else,
boy, your grandma enjoyed herself!"

At this point the biker stands up, takes the drunk by the
shoulders looks him square in the eyes and says...................


"Grandpa go home.............you're drunk."



Family, you wouldn't be here without 'em and you can't shoot 'em.

I know, you're shakin' your heads... Good night.

Here...Comes...A...nother One.....

Ok. The Cousin-in-Law Misty sent me this one and so I'll answer here on the blog. :-)



1.What time is it: 2:53pm
2. Name as it appears on birth certificate: Michelle Dionne Maiden name
3. Were you named after anyone especially: After my great grandmother Stella Dionne
4. Nicknames: Chelle, My-Chelle, M., Babe, Sweetie, Mom, etc....
5. Piercing: ears
6. What is the most recent movie you've seen in the theater? Madagascar (snore)
7. Eye color: Brown/Green Hazel
8. Place of birth: Bay City, TX
9. Favorite foods: Chinese, Tex-Mex, Italian, Seafood
10. Ever been to Africa: Nope
11. Ever been toilet papering: nope
12. Ever love someone so much it made you cry: Dave and Owen
13. Ever been in a car accident: yep, 4-5 times, none my fault.
14. Croutons or bacon: neither
15. Favorite day of the week: Saturday
16. Favorite restaurant: Chili's
17. Favorite flower: Roses and African Violets
18. Favorite sport to watch: Basketball
19. Favorite drink: Demotervater
20. Favorite ice cream: Amy's Ice Cream, Belgian Chocolate made into a shake with whipped cream on top.
21. Disney or Warner Brothers: Either, depends on the movie
22. Favorite fast food restaurant: Whataburger
23. What color is your bedroom carpet: no carpet
24. How many times did you fail your driver's test: twice. Mom phsyched me out the first two times, after that Dad wouldn't let her talk to me for the third. Thanks Dad!
26. Which store would you Max out your credit card at: Jared's Galleria of Jewelry!!
27. What do you do most often when you are bored: read, watch tv or get on the pooter.
28. Bedtime: 11:30-midnight.
29. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest ? Not sure, putting it on the blog.
30. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond: same as above.
31. Who are you most curious about the response to this questionnaire: Herge Smith
32. Favorite TV Show: What Not To Wear, but then you already knew that.
33. Last person you went to dinner with? Dave and the boy!
34. Ford or Chevy: Ford Focus Stationwagon SE (current ride)
35. What are you listening to right now?: nothing
36. What is your favorite color: Purple
37. Lake, ocean or river? Ocean.
38. How many tattoos do you have? none yet, but hopefully soon!
39. Time you finished this e-mail: 3:07pm
40. Which came first the chicken or the egg: Chicken, of course...duh!

Daily Wisdom

I thought this one was interesting.... love to you all! m.

Great Escapes
- July 11, 2005

"God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 2 :16

I suppose the most famous escape artist of our time was The Great Houdini. He was internationally known for his escapes from bonds of every sort- locks, handcuffs, straitjackets, and sealed chests underwater. He would mesmerize people galore with his feats of escaping seemingly impossible situations.

The Bible has many accounts of great escapes in the Old as well as the New Testament. King David escaped death many times, once when his wife, Mical, helped him escape through a window.(I Samuel 19:12) Jonah escaped out of the belly of a whale (Jonah 1:17,2:10) and Daniel escaped the terrorizing attack of lions. (Daniel 6:16-22) In the New Testament we learn that Paul escaped in a basket over a wall (Acts 9:25), Paul and Silas escaped out of prison (Acts 5;19) and Peter escaped condemnation from Jesus as he denied him three times. (Luke 2:34).

Those who are Christians have also had a great escape. Thanks be to God and His wonderful Son, we have escaped a life separated from God. The bridge has been crossed and the chasm of sin no longer separates us from the Lord God Almighty. Jesus came, lived, died (with our sins embedded in Him), then arose from the dead so that we would be reunited with God in the same manner Adam and Eve were before the fall. How blessed we are. It is our privilege and responsibility to share this good news with others. Let's start today, asking God where He would like us to share the story about our own personal "great escape."

Contributed by Marion Smith.

E-mail Pass Around

I know that you all get these things in the e-mail all the time. So instead of sending it out and MAKING you read this via e-mail, I am posting this so you can ELECT to read it if you want to. There are some that are rather funny. Enjoy! m.

Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my OWN pants.

I saw a woman wearing a tight shirt with "Guess" on it; So I said "Implants?" She hit me.

Why is it that we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?hmmmm....

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Man!...that was fun!"

I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk." I love that one!

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? Can I get an AMEN?, AMEN, Brothuhz and Sistuhz !!

Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison? hmmmm.

Wouldn't you know it...
Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FATcells live forever.

Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in a federal building?

Bumper sticker of the year:
"If you can read this, thank a teacher -and, since it's in English, thank a soldier !!"

UGH!!!

I just got "roped" into helping clean Owen's room with Dave. It's a GIANT mess. Four years of toys! HELP!!!!!! See you in two weeks! Nah, probably later tonight. We have to put the bed back in so the boy can sleep. :-)

Ok. Here are the other requested Recipes

I know, it seems the MHN has gone a bit "Martha Stewart" without the screaming, oh wait, that was on a previous blog. Just joking... Here are Paco's Tacos and Czech Casserole. Enjoy!

Czech* Casserole


Ingredients:
1½ Ground Beef (Sirloin or Round, no Chuck.)
1 packet Lipton Onion soup mix
Tator Tots
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup or Cream of Chicken soup
Sharp Cheddar Cheese Shredded

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400*.
Spray non-stick cooking spray in 9x13 ovenproof dish. Cover the bottom of dish with uncooked ground beef. Sprinkle Lipton onion soup mix* on the meat. Layer with tator tots, then mushroom soup on the tator tots. Bake until meat is cooked and tator tots are browned on the edges. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake till gold and bubbly.

Variation:
If you want to make this a one dish full meal, you can add frozen green peas on top of the meat, before you add the tator tots.

*We actually don’t know the proper name of this dish. We call it Czech Casserole because we got it from a Czech cookbook. ☺

Enjoy!


Paco’s Tacos

Ingredients:
1lb. Ground Beef*
Salt and Pepper to taste
¼ tsp Garlic Powder**
¼ tsp Onion Powder**
¼ tsp Essence of Emeril (opt)
Oil for frying
Flour or Corn tortillas
Lettuce
Sour Cream (I use no fat)
Mexican or Colby Jack Shredded Cheese
Salsa***
A-1 Steak Sauce****
Napkins – You’re gonna need them! ☺

Directions:
Brown ground beef in a skillet. Set aside on low heat to keep warm. Chop lettuce, set aside.
Heat oil in a shallow skillet on high or just below high, to lightly fry tortillas one at a time.
For the flour tortillas, only fry for several seconds on each side. When flour tortilla puffs up, remove from oil to drain on paper towels.
For corn tortillas you can do one of two things,
1. Very lightly fry them in the oil, just enough to make them soft for folding, then let drain on paper towels;
2. Heat them one at a time in a dry skillet until soft and slightly brown in spots, no more than a few seconds on each side (10-15 sec.). Remove from heat and set aside.

Assembly: (in order from bottom to top)
Top your tortilla with beef, A-1, cheese, salsa, sour cream, lettuce. Fold over or wrap, if you can, and enjoy.

*We use ground sirloin. I would not recommend ground chuck.
** These are approximate “guesstimates”. I shake until it looks right.
*** We use medium heat chunky salsa. Pace is a good brand, so is the HEB brand.
**** This is optional, but give it a try, very tasty!!

Enjoy!

On the Meme:

I'm suprised they didn't ask for the 5 favorite movies. With all the Star Wars, LOTR series and HP series aside, here are my top picks in order, there may be more than 5:
Gigi
Auntie Mame
Singing In The Rain
The Princess Bride
Willy Wonka
Out of Africa
Steel Magnolias
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Legend
The Lost Boys
Young Guns
Labrynth
Dirty Dancing
Moulin Rouge
and others, but I guess that's enough for now. :-)

Recipe Posts

Hey! Let me know if y'all would like for me to post more recipes. I love talking food. Ciao Babes!

Prayer for Frederic

My friend's child Frederic is in the hospital with an abscess from a mosquito bite. Please join me in praying for his speedy recovery. He's 7 so he's going crazy with nothing to do, so please pray for mom and dad too. Thanks. m.

Harry Potter

This is the trailer for the new HP film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Wow!

A little about Me

A meme:

What I was doing ten years ago: I was in school studying music and married for 5 years at that point to my wonderful husband David.

5 years ago: I was 3 months pregnant with Owen and working for the single worst insurance brokerage firm EVER!

1 year ago: Weird, I can't really remember. Probably getting ready to see if we were chosen to have Owen go out to L.A. for a talent search. He made it.

Yesterday: Cleaned off the dining room table, played with O, got my hair trimmed, blogged alot, talked to a friend via email, sent off recipes that were requested, etc.

5 snacks I enjoy: We don't really snack around here, but if I had to pick they would be:
Pistacios
White Seedless Grapes
TEXAS Oranges!
Popcorn
Gummy Worms (Fresh only and usually around the new moon, if you get my drift...)

5 songs I know all the words to: Wow. I know so many:
Come Down in Time - Elton John/Bernie Taupin actually, most of there songs
Ave Maria - Gounod
Almost all B-52's songs
All of Boston's songs and most of Def Leppards
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah, well, the whole thing including the men's parts.

5 Things I would do with $100 million: If only...

Pay off the blasted bills!!!
Tithe to our church
Pay off bills for whole family
Fix the house up and then buy enough land so that we could all live together, yet still be far enough apart to live our own lives.
Build a skating rink!!
plant a vineyard for David
Go back to school
Travel
I know they only asked for 5. It wasn't enough!

5 locations I would like to run away to:

Europe (the entire continent)
In the winter, the Rio Grande Valley
In the summer, Washington/Idaho
In the fall, New England
Anytime, the stage.

5 bad habits I have:

Not knowing how to say no to people at church, but I'm learning...
Staying up to late then getting pissy with family because I stayed up too late reading.
cursing when I get tired and fed up.
eating too much.
not excercising enough.

5 things I like doing:

Making music!
reading!
playing with Owen and Dave and my Meandering Gadabouts!!
Blogging, obviously!
Singing in the church choir, well singing anywhere I get the chance!

5 things I would never wear:

Bell bottoms or flared jeans
sleeveless shirts without another shirt on top in public
thongs (tried it, didn't like it.)
anything orange (not a good color for me)
can't think of anything else

5 TV shows I like:

TLC's What Not To Wear ~ Stacy and Clinton are ruthless! love it!
Iron Chef
Blow Out!
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars! Congrats to Kelly Monico!

5 Biggest joys of the moment:

Owen and Dave!!
church
my blogging friends
blue jean colored nail polish
finding the tatoo design that is just perfect for me (butterflies), after all, I'm gonna have it forever!

5 Favorite toys:

Imac G5 and iPod
my books
my music
guess that's it.

5 Next victims:
Anyone who would like to reply. Love you all! m.

Please Join Me

In praying for all of England, particularly those that were anywhere near the bombings and there family and friends. It's a horrible thing to happen. We wish you all well. m.

From the Recipe File of MHN

The following is a recipe that is always at hit at any gathering. I used to go to lunch at Cafe Express when I was working and had this at least once a week. One day a friend said that's so simple you could make it and save yourself on lunch expenses. So I figured out the recipe and here it is! Enjoy!!! mhn :-)

Pasta Pesto with Pinenuts


Ingredients:
16oz Pasta (either Penne, Farfalle, or Shells)
2.25 oz chopped Black Pitted Olives (can is fine)
2 pkgs. Knorr Pesto sauce* (follow directions on pkg.)
1 medium size handful of toasted Pinenuts
½ C Extra Virgin Olive Oil (if using Knorr packets instead of fresh pesto.)
1C Water (if using Knorr packets instead of fresh pesto.)
2C Shredded Parmesan Cheese (no substitute, must be shredded.)

Directions:
Cook Pasta until al dente (firm to the tooth, but not hard), drain, set aside. Toast pinenuts in a dry saucepan on the stove or in a toaster oven at 250 degrees in a shallow ovenproof dish until light brown (for approx. 4-5 minutes) remove, set aside. Prepare your pesto according to the directions on package. Add all ingredients, except Parmesan cheese to pasta and combine thoroughly. Lastly, add the shredded Parmesan cheese and combine thoroughly.
*If using fresh Pesto Sauce, add 3 large soupspoon sized dollops to the pasta. Enough pesto to coat the pasta evenly. Then you may omit the olive oil and water.

This dish can be enjoyed hot, room temperature or cold. This recipe makes a lot, so you will have plenty for leftovers! ☺ Enjoy!

For the UKers

Dave found a recipe for brown sauce. Looks just as Sniffy described. Gonna try making our own barms!!

moon...

Well, the moon is growing. It's time for a haircut!! And I get to go all by myself!!!

Christmas in July!

Dave & I were just rummaging around in Owens closet. We found bottles of bubbles! and Candy Canes! and the game Candyland!!!! Dave & Owen went outside to play with the bubbles, then came back in to play with Candyland, and I'm typing to you lovely people and having a candy cane. Domestic bliss at it's best!!

I Have Lost My Mind...Help Me Find it, Please

Okay, I left a post on somebody's blog asking them about Def Leppard. Whose was it and what was the answer??? Also, are the kids from Harry Potter just as popular in the UK as they are in the states?

Sad, it's like going back to a restaurant three days later and asking, "Did I leave my purple purse here?"

Flower Flag

The Stars and Strips are still as beautiful as ever and patriotism fills my heart.


btw: This flag is made from flowers.