Saturday, October 31, 2009

Camera Critters



What do you mean I am not supposed to get on the couch?
Drizella
October 2009
Apple Valley, California

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thursday Thirteen



Thirteen Things My Kids Have Been For Halloween

1. A Witch
2. A Vampire
3. Spiderman
4. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz
5. A Cow
6. A Puppy
7. A Devil
8. A Ninja
9. A Flapper
10. The Grim Reaper
11. Tinkerbell
12. A Pirate
13. Mrs. Lovitt from Sweeney Todd

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Great Pumpkin

Today we went on an adventure of epic proportions. Okay, not really epic. But it was fun. We drove to Oak Glen, California. We wanted to check out some fall colors and get some apples and pumpkins. Apparently everyone else in the world had the same idea. Parking was difficult. But we had fun. We looked in a bunch of shops. We saw some goats and peacocks. We walked though apple orchards and a pumpkin patch.

First we stopped at Parrish Pioneer Ranch. It smelled so good there. There was a bakery that must have had some good stuff because the line was out the door. There were shops and apples. They had the goats there and a cowboy show.

After that one, we went to Mom's Country Orchard. This was our favorite. We all agreed that the people were the friendliest. We got to taste a bunch of apple butter and other apple products. We also got to try some apples and some fresh peaches. It was a small store, but #1 in our book. We didn't buy anything when we went there at first, but after a day of checking out all the other cool places, we ended up going back and buying some apples and stuff. We got a bag of Spartan apples. Carolynn and her friend Marissa (who was joining us on our adventure) got caramel apples. I got this apple barbecue sauce I tried while I was there. It was sweet and spicy and so good. I am going to put it on some chicken for dinner tonight.

Our third stop was to Riley's At Los Rios Rancho. This one was very popular. They had so much going on. They were the one's with the pumpkin patch. David, the girls and I searched for the perfect pumpkins.







In the end, only Carolynn found a pumpkin she liked. The patch was pretty well picked over and there was so little to be found. So many squashed or rotted. Oh well, at least the view was nice.



After our day of soaking in Autumn, we stopped at a park in Yucaipa and ate a picnic lunch before heading back to the desert we call home.





Since we ended up with only one pumpkin, we stopped at Apple Valley's own pumpkin patch on our way home. David and Catherine picked out some more fine pumpkins for them to take to the pumpkin carving party they are going to on Friday night. Now they each had their own pumpkin.



We saw Taylor and his girlfriend, Charity, at the pumpkin patch picking pumpkins. (Awwww.... how sweet and adorable.)

So that was our day of adventure. Now we are relaxing at home. Carolynn's friend has been dropped off at home. Catherine has eaten at least 6 apples. I have chicken cooking and I am going to put my new barbecue sauce on it.

Honestly, this has been one of the best weekend of the year.

Bunco

Last night I went to see some old friends and play Bunco. I was a little nervous about the situation. I hadn’t seen Jamie (it was her house) or Sarah in 15 years a long time. What if we didn’t get along anymore? I know some people I went to high school with who I was friends with there, but when I knew those same people after high school, I wondered why we were ever friends.

So there was that issue, along with the fact that a whole bunch of other people I didn’t know would be there and I had no idea what Bunco was, other than it was a game played with dice. But I don’t get out much and I could use some friends, so I went.

Turns out, I didn’t have anything to be nervous about. Jamie is still the sweet and wonderful person I remember from high school. Her house was beautiful. Her Halloween décor put mine to shame. Her husband was very nice. Our friend Sarah came and she too was still so friendly and so nice. Now I know why I was friends with them for so long. (I am sure I met both of them in the 7th grade.) Anyway, there were fourteen people there and everyone was nice and we had fun. Jamie had made chili and corn bread. We ate and talked for a while before we started playing. Bunco is an easy game. If you can count and roll dice, you can play. You switch partners a lot and move around so you get to meet everyone. I had a blast. I even won a little money. (Everyone put $5 in to play.) I didn’t care. I would have been just as happy had I lost every time. I met some new people who were just lovely. I hope we can do it again.

While I was gone, Catherine and David watched The Princess Bride. David said Catherine got so into it, she just about cried at parts. Carolynn has a friend sleeping over. She seems a lot more tame than a lot of her other friends. She is a polite little girl and hasn’t caused any trouble. I have hope for Carolynn yet. Catherine wanted to go her friend Cady’s house, but she is so grounded.

Today we are going to Oak Glen to soak in some fall color and see about some pumpkins. I promise pictures when I get back. (I wish I would have thought of that last night. Some of the Bunco players had some excellent costumes. I was dressed as an off duty correctional officer. It’s my favorite way to dress up.)

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Friday, October 23, 2009

A Mind Overflows... Mine Just Sort of Simmers

I didn’t do much today. I was so lazy. I did make Catherine slave around the house as part of her grounding. Carolynn did some cleaning because she wants some friend of hers to sleep over. I worked on my reading group stuff, got some prizes mailed out and checked in on the voting for November’s book. I started some laundry and made meatloaf for dinner.

I am pretty excited about some upcoming events around here. I am hoping I get to go to the pumpkin carving party at David’s friend’s house. It will be nice to meet some people who haven’t murdered anyone. I am looking forward to going to see Angela sing next month, if I can. The nightclub she is singing at is an old one. It’s an old jazz club. Then a little while ago, my friend Jamie invited me to come play Bunco at her house with some other people tomorrow night.

You know why I am so excited about this? I have no friends. I work a lot. I spend so much of my time chatting with murderers and bank robbers and the like. Sure, I have plenty of online friends. And I have plenty of friends that live far away. I even have a few friends that live close by. But honestly, I am a terrible friend. I don’t call. I suck. I know this. I feel bad about it. But I don’t change it. For instance…

I meet people at work, people who work there and are not incarcerated, but I don’t make any effort to get to know any of them outside of work. Sure there are several of them I like and wouldn’t mind hanging out, but I don’t.

I have a couple of friends who live in the area and I have had them over and we went to a concert in the summer, but that was it. I would love to do more stuff, but I just don’t. Like I said, I suck.

So now I have a chance to go and meet some more new people and see some old friends. It seems like such a mundane thing, but to me, it’s a huge occasion. I have no idea what Bunco is. Jamie says it’s a fast paced dice game. I suck at games like that, but I don’t care.

It reminds me of my Grandma. At my Grandma’s memorial service, my Great Aunt Margie and some other family members were talking about how when Grandma was my age, she used to have neighborhood wives over to play cards and what not. It’s what people did back in the day. Now the only way I interact with people is via the internet.

Ready or not real life…

A Random Pile Of Information

Catherine is grounded. Apparently, she did not do her homework and had to do one day detention last Friday. Rather than go to the detention (during recess) she went to recess and then hid when her teacher caught her. Then, when she was busted, she had to bring a note home. That was on Friday last week. On Tuesday, her teacher, Mrs. Lord, called and asked me if I got the note. I never did. Catherine told her teacher she gave me the note, but I forgot to sign it, then she forgot to bring it. Since she lied, didn’t do her homework, and ditched detention, she has detention for the next two weeks during all recess and she is also grounded.

Halloween is slowly gaining on me. The girls got their costumes. Catherine is going as a vampire. Not one of those trendy Twilight type vampires, but a traditional Dracula type. She is ready. Carolynn is going as Mrs. Lovitt from Sweeney Todd. As far as I know, they both plan on going trick or treating with Allison at Joe and Nicole’s house. We saw Joe and the gang last weekend at Party City while we were shopping for costumes. Allison had not decided what she wanted to be yet. I am sure she will be cute. I probably will not be there, as I am scheduled to work that night. David will have to take them and take a million pictures. And I will make sure we take enough candy this time. Last year we ran out.

Next Friday, David has been invited to a Halloween party at his friend’s house. They are having pumpkin carving. Once again, I am scheduled to work. David and the girls went to a party there for the Fourth of July as well. I am sure they will have a good time. I am making them cupcakes and cocktail weenies to take with them.

I am working a lot. I am working on a project at work that is proving very challenging. I work a lot of hours and I do like my job. Today is a day off though. It is nice to relax.

On Sunday we are planning to go to Oak Glen. We are taking a picnic and going to see some fall colors. Maybe we will pick some apple s and get some pumpkins. It should be a nice day.

Next month I plan to go see my friend Angela sing at a nightclub in Los Angeles. I never went to a nightclub before. It’s not one of those kinds like you see Paris Hilton at. It’s more of an old fashioned night club. It sounds very cool. If I don’t have to work...

I think that is all. Well, it is all I can think of.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thursday Thirteen





Thirteen Of My Favorite Episodes Of The Simpson’s (The First 9 Seasons… I couldn’t narrow it down.)

1. Simpson and Delilah- Season 2, Episode 2: Original Air Date—18 October 1990-Homer lies on a medical insurance form to buy a "miracle" hair-restoring drug.
2. Stark Raving Dad- Season 3, Episode 1: Original Air Date—19 September 1991- Homer accidentally lands in a mental hospital and ends up sharing a cage with a white man who thinks he's Michael Jackson.
3. Homer at the Bat- Season 3, Episode 17: Original Air Date—20 February 1992- Homer and his co-workers qualify the plant's softball team for the league final, but Mr. Burns hires 9 professional MLB players to win a $1 million bet.
4. I Love Lisa- Season 4, Episode 15: Original Air Date—11 February 1993- Feeling sorry for Ralph, Lisa sends him a valentine card, having developed a crush on her Ralph invites Lisa to go see the Krusty the Clown show, she accepts but after Krusty asks them if there boyfriend and girlfriend Lisa lets Ralph know that she just wants them to be friends.
5. Homer the Great- Season 6, Episode 12: Original Air Date—8 January 1995- Homer becomes a member of a mysterious organization called the Stonecutters and is heralded as "the chosen one."
6. Lisa the Vegetarian- Season 7, Episode 5: Original Air Date—15 October 1995- A trip to a local petting zoo convinces Lisa to give up meat, despite excessive pressure to convince her not to do so.
7. A Fish Called Selma- Season 7, Episode 19: Original Air Date—24 March 1996- Washed-up movie star Troy McClure is pulled over for driving without corrective lenses, and forced to go to the DMV to get his eyes checked. While there, he meets Selma, who he asks out for dinner. Spotted by a reporter, he quickly realizes that being seen in public with a woman will grab enough headlines to revitalize his career, leading to a whirlwind romance between him and Selma.
8. 22 Short Films About Springfield- Season 7, Episode 21: Original Air Date—14 April 1996- A series of vignettes highlights a day in the life of various Springfield residents.
9. You Only Move Twice- Season 8, Episode 2: Original Air Date—3 November 1996- Homer takes a new job in a new town. However, his friendly new boss might be a super villain bent on world domination.
10. Bart After Dark- Season 8, Episode 5: Original Air Date—24 November 1996-Marge leads a crusade against a local burlesque house after she discovers Bart working there.
11. Homer's Enemy- Season 8, Episode 23: Original Air Date—4 May 1997- Mr. Burns hires Frank Grimes (the human interest subject of Kent Brockman's report) as executive vice president at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Grimes meets the employees and is immediately stunned at Homer's lackadaisical work performance and his co-workers are nonchalant about it. Grimes - already annoyed by Homer's habits - becomes horrified when he observes Homer nearly drink a flask containing a toxic acid in absent-mindedness; however, Grimes is harshly reprimanded when he knocks the vial away and causes damage. Grimes tells Homer that they are "enemies," but Homer - still wanting to be friends - invites "Grimey" over for dinner. However, the attempt only makes matters worse when Grimes sees that Homer is living in a nice home and has a family. Resolved to expose Homer as a fraud once and for all, he hands out a flyer announcing a "design your own power plant" contest, which has all references to this being a contest for elementary school students. However, Homer easily wins the contest, causing Grimes to go crazy. After running amok through the plant and mocking Homer, Grimes touches some electrical wires and is electrocuted. In the subplot, Bart wanders into public auction and submits the winning bid ($1) for an abandoned factory. Bart and Milhouse play around inside until the place crumbles.
12. All Singing, All Dancing- Season 9, Episode 11: Original Air Date—4 January 1998- Homer is disappointed when the western he rented turns out to be a musical, so the family reminds him of the musical moments in the show's history.
13. Trash of the Titans- Season 9, Episode 22: Original Air Date—26 April 1998-After a feud with the Springfield refuse collectors, Homer decides to run for Sanitation Commissioner

(all info from imdb.com)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Harry Potter Reveiw

The quidich match with slytherin was canceled instead they were against Huffle Puff.While they were playing dementors came and Harry heard his mother being killed in his head then he fell off his broom from about 50 feet!He woke up in hospital wing with the Gryfindor team.After a while he got better.Then Harry couldn't go to Hogsmead Because Aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon didn't sign the permission slip.Ron and Hermione went and brought him back a lot of candy from Honeydukes.Then they had there Halloween feast.Around Christmas they took another trip to hogsmead and harry didn't get to go ,but Fred and George gave him the Mareders map which had 7 secret tunnels to hogsmead.Fred and George stole it from Filch.4 of them Filch knew about,1 of them was caved in,1 of them was next to whomping willow, and the other was safe.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

What I Did During Fall Break



Well,I did a lot of stuff during fall break (These are not in order)
I went to Cady's house.Went to my cousin Taylor's birthday party after his water polo game.(his party was awesome!)My mom and I saw Toy Story 1 and 2.Went to softball practice and games.I cleaned our house then, David's Dad and sister came over and it was very weird with new people at our house ,but I got used to it.All of the rest of the time I just hung out and relaxed.

Thursday Thirteen





Thirteen Of My Favorite Friends Episodes

1. The One With The Boobies- Season One
2. The One With The Ick Factor- Season One
3. The One With The Lesbian Wedding- Season Two
4. The One Where No One’s Ready- Season Three
5. The One With The Ballroom Dancing- Season Four
6. The One With The Free Porn- Season Four
7. The One With Ross’s Sandwich- Season Five
8. The One With Joey’s Bag- Season Five
9. The One With The Routine- Season Six
10. The One Where Rosita Dies- Season Seven
11. The One With Chandler’s Dad- Season Seven
12. The One With The Halloween Party- Season Eight
13. The One With Phoebe’s Wedding- Season Ten

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Life At 80

I hope I make it to 80. I hope when I am 80, I can be living comfortably and happy somewhere with my family nearby. By the time I am 80, I will have been retired from my current job for at least 23 years. Maybe I will have another job after that. Carolynn will be 61 and Catherine will be 59. When I am 80, it will be 2057. We will be over halfway through the century. I might have grandkids and even great grandkids.

Today my grandpa turned 80 years old. I didn’t know what to get him for his birthday. I mean really, what do you get for a man who is 80? So I am cooking spaghetti sauce. Grandpa likes food. There will be meatballs too. Later this week there will be homemade chicken noodle soup. Grandpa likes it when I make the homemade noodles. I will make him plenty of fall favorites like my “substandard” pumpkin bread or my “not as good as…” bread pudding. He likes those too.

After my sauce is done cooking we will take him some. I am sure he is out having dinner right now.

Happy birthday Grandpa. I hope 80 is amazing.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Catherine At The Bat

Here are the videos David's dad took at Catherine's ball game Saturday. Go Red Sox!



Saturday, October 10, 2009

Home Run!

Nope, Catherine didn't hit one. She didn't even swing. But they still had a good game. David's dad and sister went to the game with us. David's dad took a bunch of pictures and video. Here are some for you to see.

Catherine at bat.


Catherine and her teammates practicing catching.


Catherine and her team getting the snacks at the end of the game. Catherine was in charge of snacks.


Catherine about to make a spectacular cach


David and his sister Gena.


Later we can have some video. Until then....

Camera Critters




Gibby's New Sweater

Friday, October 09, 2009

Rise Of The Beast

David’s dad and sister arrived last night. I was at work. They are staying at a nearby motel, so I didn’t meet them until this morning. David and his dad spent all day going to car part stores, purchasing tools, drinking beer and working on his truck. It was very testosteroni. I almost had to bake a pie or give birth or something else men can’t do, just to counter the man-ness.

I fixed chicken fried steak for dinner. The girls are still on vacation.

That is it. I know. Sue me.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Thursday Thirteen



Thirteen Injuries


1. My dear brother Joe ran into a parked car when he as 6 and broke his jaw bone and knocked out 4 teeth.

2. David once fell into a toilet filled with his own poop while standing on the edge trying to reach a shelf when he was 11 or 12.

3. My sister fell through the ground into a pool of poop where the septic tank leaked when she was 3 or 4. She smelled so bad.

4. I once broke my pinky finger pounding on a bathroom door where my brother had locked himself in. I was trying to kick his butt over something. I can't remember what. I was 17. I am thinking it had something to do with my mom blaming me for stealing cigarettes and me knowing Joe did it.

5. Carolynn recently fell and sprained her wrist, but she didn't tell anyone because she didn't want to miss a trip to Knott's Berry Farm.

6. Joe once fell off his skateboard on an Apple Valley road and ended up with a face full of gravel.

7. When David was 11 or 12, he hopped out of the shower on a cold day and decided to warm up with a small electric heater, which he got too close to and burned his ass.

8. Joe dislocated his hip when he was 10 or 11 while playing football at school.

9. Joe got hit with some equipment n the face at work a year or so ago and required some cosmetic surgery.

10. Again, Joe in his mid 20's, fell off of a giant hot dog raft and dislocated his shoulder.

11. When David was a wee lad, around 4 or 5, he knocked out his front teeth going off a ramp on his Big Bird Tricycle.

12. Taylor fell and broke his arm while standing on a skateboard ramp. He didn't even have the skateboard with him.

13. And finally, poor Joe, once got hit by a car on his bike riding home from school. My mom found out when the cops showed up to ask him about it. Seriously, how Joe is still alive is a miracle. Hopefully that is not something Nathan got from his dad.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Double Trouble

Last night Catherine and I went to see the Toy Story double feature in 3D. It was fun. We got to see two great movies and we got to see the preview for Toy Story 3. Between the movies they had games and trivia. We had coupons for free popcorn and soda. So for less than $20 Catherine and I had a fun night out.

I had two whole days off. Monday and Tuesday were all mine. My job did not call me and ask me to come in extra. The house got clean. I made some chicken and rice last night. Catherine made ribs on Monday (see my Wordless Wednesday pictures) and they were really good. The dogs were glad for the bones. I am packing some chicken and rice for my dinner at work.

Tomorrow David’s family arrives for their visit. David is excited.
That is all. I have to get ready for work now. I only have two more days of 4 PM to Midnight. Then I switch to 6 AM to 2 PM. I like that shift much better.

Wordless Wednesday






Catherine's Famous Ribs... Also with the help of Tyler Florence
October 5, 2009
Apple Valley, California
Carolynn loves ribs!

Monday, October 05, 2009

15

On October 1, Taylor turned 15. 15!! I am so old. We went to watch him play some water polo. They kicked Indio's butt. Taylor's girlfriend (GIRLFRIEND!), Charity, made him this cute card.



After the game, there were cupcakes for all. These cupcake cakes were cool. Everyone enjoyed them.



Taylor ended up wearing a lot of his.



After that, we went to Chris and Sherri's for pizza. Some friends of theirs, Mary and Tonya, were there with their children. They were some of the nicest people I have met in a very long time. I don't meet a lot of people (that are not felons).

It was a fun time. I hope Taylor had a great birthday.

Stolen

I know I have been busy. I have been working so hard. I had some car trouble. I have been trying to get all my bills caught up and see if we can try and sneak a vacation in. The girls are on vacation right now. But it isn’t looking like a possibility. Car problems and bills came between us. Then, to make it worse, my debit card number got hacked. Luckily Chase caught it and canceled my card. However, now I have no card and I will have to re-enter my new card number for my Netflix and car insurance. It is so inconvenient to have no card.

Like I said, Carolynn and Catherine are on fall vacation. We have gotten a lot of chores taken care of and got the Halloween decorations up. Yesterday was my dad’s birthday. The girls and I went to see him today and take him a gift. My Grandpa got the girls some shirts on his vacation to Reno. David has some family coming to visit this week. His dad and sister will be arriving on Thursday. I will be at work.

I’ll try and write something more amazing tomorrow.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Catherine Facts-Zebras

Each species of zebra has its own variation of striping;some zebras have brown stripes.

Zebras have good night vision.

Zebras weigh about 55 to 88 pounds when they are born.

Zebras can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.

OCTOBER!!!

Its my favorite month.And to start it off we celebrated Taylor's birthday(hes a boy and hes my cousin)We had so much fun!We played hide-and-seek outside at night around 9:00 and 10:00 PM.This month has my favorite holiday...HALLOWEEN:)!!!!!!
I LOVE HALLOWEEN:)!!!!!I'm going to be Queen of Halloween.I love my costume because its homemade.I get to make it.

O-Ornose
C-can't
T-talk to
O-ogre
B-brother
E-Eric
R-Rhinestone

Thursday Thirteen



13 Things Inmates Miss

1. Eating Out
2. Using Silverware
3. Cooking
4. Driving
5. Swimming
6. Sex
7. Going To The Movies
8. Cell Phones
9. Beer
10. Watching What You Want On TV
11. Real Mattresses
12. Carpet
13. Clothes