Baby's got his Speedo on!

Well up on TV, by the pool he stands,

there's a crowd of swimmers and they all look tan,

he don't look back, he's doin' nothing' wrong,

Lord have mercy, baby's got his Speedo on!

He can't help it if he's made that way,

he's not to blame if they look his way,

he ain't really tryin' to cause a scene,

it just comes naturally, nah , the guy can't help it! 

It was an ittsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie,

tiny, little, blue bikini

they they wore for their first swim today...

Suddenly I have developed a real interest in Swimming!

*wink  *wink

There is absolutely no room for any
type of wardrobe malfunction.
Just sayin. . .
Don't you dare say you hadn't noticed!

What's next, "Spray Paint?".

Go Team USA!!

Almost a "has been"

It's almost time to flip the page of the calendar.

My how I hate to see July go by. 

Whoa Horsey!  Time is a flyin'
and July 2012 will soon be
a "has been".

Summer has always been my favorite season.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I was born during the Summer.  ???  It is so hot now that everyone "in these parts" is sort of held hostage by their A/C, which I don't really mind.  As long as the sun is shining through my windows I'm a Happy Camper.  It's during this time that I bid adieu to my garden and let the weeds have at it.  It's far too hot to weed now - I'll save that for a cooler Fall day.

Let the record show that I have been dieting faithfully since June 9.  Let the same record show that as of last Thursday I have lost 9 lbs.
It's S-L-O-W, but at least it's working.  I'm using Weight Watchers online, PointsPlus program.  It is not fun.  I miss baking.  I miss eating cookies, but more than that, I LOVE seeing the pounds go bye-bye.  I want to lose 11 more pounds and I want to see this through to reach my goal.  It.Is.A.Battle.  And I intend to win.  "I think I can.  I think I can."  

Are you ready to kiss July good-bye?

Reality.

This was what I asked for (chin length).

This is reality!
It doesn't show up very well in the photo.

Is this a little clearer?

The beautician told me my locks would not look like those of that beautiful, young, blonde model, since she has fine hair and I have thick hair.  But, I was pleased enough not to come away scalped.  Hoping my hair will dry faster now and be easier to maintain.  

Geez, I thought for sure I'd come home looking exactly like the lovely model.
Bummer!  LOL!!

Now, on to other things. . .

Maybe Baby.

I think the heat has gotten to me.

The A/C repairman is here now!

Woo Hoo!

Perhaps he didn't arrive soon enough

'cause I am going to have my hair cut

this afternoon and this is what I'm 

wanting, except just a little below 

chin length,  minus the long 

straggly stuff a shorter version.

I'm wondering if my beautician can do this.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

This would be quite a change for me.

My hair is thick and I thought this would 

be easier to style (?) and much quicker

to dry.  OR  maybe the heat has fried my

brain and I will be remorseful tomorrow.

There will be a follow-up photo tomorrow.
Edited to add:  Not going blonde,
just the hairstyle only.

* * * * * * * * * * 

I continue to have trouble with the spacing between lines for this blog.  It looks fine in the preview but shows up with extra spaces when I "publish". 

Got any ideas on how to correct this?

A News Junkie's Thoughts

I am a News Junkie.

I don't follow politics much but certain things catch my eye and at times I can become a little OCD on certain topics, particularly trial cases. . .I've been watching some of the coverage of the tragedy in Colorado, but I've reached a point where I know I need to step back.  My heart aches for those who ache.  I hurt for those who hurt.  I ask "why?" along with the rest of the country, but there is only so much one can actually take in. There is a point where I begin to personalize it all and that's when I know I've crossed the line, for me personally.  I cannot and will not let fear and dread become a part of my spirit.  We know that these ongoing lifestyle emotions are not of God.  I know that heartache comes to individuals and families at certain times in each of our life.  When it comes we find ways to deal with the unthinkable.  But, no one is helped by becoming overly engrossed in the sorrow of others.  Someone must pray for these families when they are too weak to pray for themselves.  Someone must be strong enough to step up to help these families too.  That's our part, as Christian people. . .Today I opened my Bible and read Psalm 80:21.  This scripture was in regard to David, however it is my prayer for all those who are suffering as a result of the Colorado tragedy.

My hand will sustain him;

surely my arm will strengthen him.

Psalm 80:21

May the hand of God sustain those who have suffered loss and may his arm strengthen those who are hurting.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.

When a good boy goes baaaad

Princess is back from two weeks at camp.  This past week our Boudxy Boy has been showing out terribly.  He has quit obeying and even tinkled in the house once, right in the middle of the living room!  He NEVER does that.  Guess I will have to quit saying NEVER since he has done it now.  Our "good boy" has gone  baaaad. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We've had company all week so it's been playtime at our house.  Lots of shopping, movies, and eating out.  I'm struggling on the WW program but still "in the game".  I've been reading blogs as time permits but not had time to comment, but just know, "I.Am.Watching.You.", albeit silently.

Do you have a good recipe for Rum Punch?
I'd sure like to have one.
I've tried a couple I found online but they weren't good.

I realize this post is a bit random, but it's Summertime, "and the livin' is random", but always good! :-)

Train Wreck

The past couple of days have brought a flurry of ne'er do wells making the TV talkshow circuit.  Michael Vick, Mike Tyson and Elton John each telling about their train-wreck of a life  a life of bad choices and declaring they have rounded the corner for the better.  Good for them.
BUT, don't tell me, SHOW me!
'Nuff said.

Oh, and have you read about the guy who confessed his sins via his self-written obituary.  Sometimes it's just too little too late, IMO.  You can read about it   "HERE".

Maybe I just woke up in a bad mood, but these things just don't sit right with me.

Now, I'm off for a day of shopping with a GF.
No more complaining.  I promise!

Bathroom talk.

Someone went to camp and left her bathroom messy.

GRRRRR!

Then I noticed she had left some of her Bible notes

from last weeks camp on the counter. . .and my heart turned to goo.

I can be a Drill Sargent
and
I can be a Softy.

Today I'm an ol' Softy with a messy bathroom 

in my house.

My history of History.

Princess, loading up to go to camp last week.

Ever the same, smarty pants goof
sweet spirit.

Picking up friends along the way
for a week of camp fun!

Me?
This is what I did.

I prepped for another year,
her SENIOR year
of home school.

I love history.
I don't retain it,
but I love hearing/reading about it.
History was actually wasted on me when I was a student.  I apologize to every history teacher who labored to pour it into my brain.  I was hopeless.  It seems one has to live a bit to really be able to grasp the importance of  things that came before us, at least it was that way for me.  When I was a kid I couldn't think beyond the weekend, much less the next year.  And as difficult as it was to think of life beyond the moment, it was even harder to think about things that occurred before I was even born.  Old people  anyone over 19 and old wars were totally beyond my grasp and my interest.  It was only as I matured that I began to have an appreciation for the things that had led to our current time in history.  I began to enjoy hearing about how my parents had grown up, and their parents before them.  I wanted to know where they had lived and how they had met.  I wanted to know about Presidents and how all the rules laws came to be. As an adult, Mister and I  began to take vacations to different states and learn the history that made them special. History is so dimensional that it's hard to do it justice within the pages of a book, don't you think?  Still I am gearing up for another school year and just as I did when I was in high school, Princess will study World History, as part of her courses.  She will study and pass all the tests, but I have a feeling that I will be the one reveling in the lessons and that she will come to actually appreciate all the knowledge at a much later time in her life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Princess will be at camp for two weeks.
School will begin at our house on Aug. 13.

The Summer is flying by.
Whoa!  I want to linger in it for as long as possible.
But soon this Summer will be. . .history!

Are you a long-time History Buff?
OR
Are you new to the appreciation of history as I am?

Yipee!

Do you get the idea that I'm a happy girl today?
Well you would be right.

I have a friend who is a brand new Blogger.

She has a heart the size of Texas,

and that just happens to be where

she lives. I've known her since high school,

(please don't hold that against her)

and I know that you are gonna love her

as much as I do!

Please go visit and make her feel welcome
here in Blogland.
You know how fun it is to know someone
is reading your words, so join me
in FOLLOWING her @

"Nonnie's  Random Thoughts"

BTW,  "THIS"  post of hers would melt a cold heart in January.  Just sayin. . .

Thanks Girls for making her feel welcome!

Things that bite!

A toilet seat is not your friend once it gets a crack...
er, bad choice of words...once it splits, 'cause it
will BITE the next person who is seated, thus causing pain and suffering to the regions beyond the realms of polite conversation.

Don't ask me how I know.

On a scale of 1 to 10 . . .

Princess is gone to camp this week.
Her dog is depressed and stressed,
what a combo. He's always funky
anytime she is away for any length of time.

This morning I heard someone on TV talking about the adverse effect stress has on our body.  I feel blessed that in this stage of my life I have very little stress.  I know that can change in a moment, but for now, I'm in a thankful and blessed stage of life.

I have always tried to teach my children the method I use for keeping stress to a minimum.  When something stressful occurs I always try to say to myself, "Where does this fall on a scale of 1 to 10?", with "1" being totally relaxed and at peace with the world, AND "10" being bad news from the doctor".  That's how I roll and it usually serves me well, except on the occasions when I've received unpleasant news from the doctor.  Nope, I don't handle anything medical very well.
I digress.


When the kids were all young we would often talk about "the scale" while driving in the car.  I would give them a scenario and they would tell me where they would rank it on the 1 to 10 scale.  I'd give them scenarios like, 

• your best friend is mad and won't talk to you
• you make a bad grade on a test
• you forget your locker combination
• you're grounded for a weekend
  etc. etc. etc.

With this thought in mind, I'm wondering how you would rate the following.  I hope you'll share your answers in your comment.  I'll share mine at the bottom of this post. 

• put dinner in the oven and forget to turn the oven on
• stormy weather
• plane ride
• dentist appointment
• gaining 5 lbs in a week 

my answers in order:  2, 4, 9, 6, 7

What are your answers?
If no one comments I'm gonna be stressed.

Got the "Super Six"?

Conscientiousness

Easy to Laugh

Strong social relationships

Optimistic

Happy

Extroverted

Sounds like a new version of the 6 Dwarfs, 
doncha think?

Someone has done a study and determined
that our personality factors into our life
expectancy.  IMO it seems to all point to
one thing - have a great time
while you're here.
I feel like I have 5 of these 6 qualities.

Care to guess which one I don't have?
How many do you have?

One Hot Mama!

I wonder how the characters at theme parks

survive the Summertime heat?

Hot Flashes coupled with the heat
are about to do me in.

Yes.
I may have lingered at the frozen food
case in the grocery store
yesterday.  Very thankful there
are no time restraints for
selecting one's frozen food
items.

SMT

Sorting
My
Thoughts

Thank you so much for your comments on my previous posts.  I appreciated each one of them.  I did want to be sure that everyone understands that this was NO WAY NO HOW a slam against teachers in general.  I had some fan-tas-tic teachers along the way that taught, encouraged and provided a great example for me in my school days.  I love and appreciate teachers!

Weight Watchers
I've been doing the "plan" for a month now.
The first week I dropped 5 lbs, but not a pound since.
&*%@!!
But, today I was able to wear a pair of pants
I had not been able to wear in a very long while.
I really don't understand it, but I'll take it.
Still, I'd sure like to see the scale move a bit.
A bit?  Actually I'd like to see it move a LOT!

One of my BFF's has had face work done.
She looks beyond great.  She looks fabulous!
I am sincerely THRILLED for her.
But now I am noticing everything about my
poor face that has changed through the years.
If I wasn't a needle-phob I'd do it too.
Would you?

Holidays are a bit hard when you live away
from your family, especially if you're used to
being with your family on the holidays.
We missed everyone on the 4th but managed
 to have a an ok day  good day by going to a
movie then out to eat.

Two questions 
#1
 If you don't gather with your
family what do you do for the holidays?

#2
If money, surgery, pain and suffering were
not an issue, what one thing would you
change about your face?
(I accept anonymous comments.)

It's never too late to say "Thank You"!

I was quite the shy 15 yr old girl taking a high school history class being taught by a teacher "who had issues".  The class was mainly male students, most of them athletes.  The teacher was a man who mainly coached, but taught a couple of history classes to round out his schedule.  He seated all the athletes at the front of the class and seated the small remainder of the class ( about 5 girls and 2 guys) at the back.  He ruled the class by intimidation .  The rules of the classroom changed daily, depending on his mood, so each day was different than the previous.  When tests were given he often read the students wrong answers aloud to the class so everyone could have a good laugh.  I quickly learned it was safer to simply leave an answer I was unsure of blank, rather than subject myself to being laughed at.  I passed the course, but this teacher remains in my memory as the absolute worst teacher I ever had.  His classroom behavior would never be tolerated in a school today.

One day our homework assignment was to bring a newspaper article to class that had to do with something we were studying.  I brought an article to class and was randomly chosen with three others to come to the front of the class with our article.  He began with me.  He didn't like the article I had chosen and the ridicule and belittling began...I was embarrassed and humiliated.  As the teacher ranted, a tall boy seated at the front of the class, raised his hand.  The teacher called on him.

"Coach, I brought the same article."

The teacher was disgustingly surprised.
"Did any one else bring this article?", he asked the class.
A few other hands were raised.

The scolding was deflected from me and now simply given to the class in general.

I never personally knew the tall guy at the front of the class who was responsible for helping me out of the uncomfortable situation, but I knew his name.  He was at the party we attended over the weekend.  I had the opportunity to thank him and tell him how I still remembered his act of kindness.  He didn't even remember the incident, but I certainly did.  The guy is now a retired teacher, himself, and could only shake his head as he remembered that teacher/coach.
It's never too late to say "Thank you"!
So glad I had this opportunity.

Party Postmortem

Good.
Bad.
Whatever.
These are my honest thoughts about the party we attended over the weekend  (This is part 2 to my previous post, "Road Trip Aversion Disorder".)

The party was given by our very best friends, who we've been friends with since high school.  They will be out of town in the Fall when our class reunion is held so they had a small party, inviting mainly a gathering of guys (and their wives) who were friends of the hosts husband during high school.  Most of us knew each other but had not seen each other in many years.

You know the kind of friends who you get together with and it seems as though no time has passed and you simply begin where you left off the last time you were together?
This was not that sort of gathering to me.
I found it awkward at times
and I think, at the least, a little stressful for
many of us.

Life goes on.
Change happens
and no matter how hard one tries
to pretend, at our age we are not
the same people we were when
we were 17.  Some had changed for the better.  Some, not better, just changed.

Glad to be home and back to reality.