Get the RAID!

My mom and dad were militant roach exterminators. My dad use to hit them with his bare hand. My mom sprayed them with Raid until they were swimming (backstroke) in the stuff. THEN she would put the can on top of them because it (the can) was concave. This gas chamber technique was mainly used to prevent the "enemy" from dragging its Raid soaked body up your leg as you later sat watching TV.

I don't have roaches (or flies). If one does on occasion show up, it isn't long before one of the cats gets it. I only have to watch and make sure they don't leave it for me on my pillow as a gift.

When I woke up this morning I saw sitting on my beautiful wall by my beautiful cork board a hideous roach. I have checked regularly and he has remained there all day. Until recently, while typing this blog, he moved to the picture on my cork board (pictured above....can you see him?) I WILL NOT hit a roach (my weapon is a broom) when it is over my head. Are you kidding me? They fly like like kamikaze and I am always their target. UGH! So I am waiting for my cat's to step up and I hope before bed.

Then this afternoon I got an email from Martha Stewart with a picture attached and the subject "Our Best Spring Party Plans". I like lanterns and I like butterflies. As a matter of fact I ran into a butterfly last week with my car and was REALLY upset about it. But in light of what I have been dealing with today this picture creeps me out. Too many insects in one spot maybe?

How realistic is this decoration in South Texas? June Bugs, Cockroaches, Woolly Worms, Mosquitos now that is what we have down here this time of year. So how funny would it be to make these lanterns and glue fake cockroaches to them?

Come to think of it, not to funny. I would run screaming from that back yard party like a crazy women looking for a broom.

I wish I was like my mom or dad.

Punch List

In the construction biz they have what's called a "punch list". I don't know how I know that, probably HGTV, but the punch list is made up of all the tiny details you have to complete before a house is ready to move in to. My punch list has things on it like: switch plate cover, lamp, plant, metal rings for curtain, etc. I am going to Lowe's today with Anne to buy all the things I need to complete my list. The Closer (pictured below on right) is coming Wednesday after work to make sure I did what I was suppose to do to finish the room. So, even though the project has a few loose ends, I still wanted to put up some after pictures. Isn't it lovely?

The crew: Marsha, Jeri, and Joanne.

Gratuitous cat picture.

The bedding will arrive in increments through the summer.

I made the curtans. And plan to put bamboo shades behind them.

Think Pink

Carcinoma in situ can be translated: cancer in it's place....this spot right here. I remember when the nurse told me. I got the news over the phone. I was stunned and went a little weak in the knees. Although I felt this thing in my breast I never thought cancer, and yet it was.

Cancer affects more than the people who get it; it affects their close community. For me, one of the hardest things was telling people I had breast cancer. My mom, Glory, and Gail....those were the hardest. I was struggling with fear and I knew by speaking the words to my family and friends they too would have to struggle with fear.

Now when I hear someone has breast cancer the fear I know they are dealing with almost bothers me more than the cancer. How can you treat that? One day my friend Susan heard the same words as I did, "carcinoma in situ". So we talked and I tried to tell her everything I could remember about my experience. Eliminating some of the unknown eliminates some of the fear. I made her a pink quilt to take with her in the hospital.

Three years ago at Relay for Life I walked the first lap....the survivor lap. This year Susan did.

Consolidation

I have been prepping the bedroom for this weekends "extreme makeover". Since I only have a one bedroom house (with a two car garage...go figure) I have to put all my sewing/craft supplies in my bedroom.

I was amazed at how many things were in my closet. I tried to throw things out as I was packing but it's hard. I noticed that as the day wore on and I was still dealing with my "stuff" it became much easier to just chunk it.

This picture is of part of the fabric and sewing supplies that came out of my bedroom. I have spent the last couple of hours consolidating the boxes and throwing somethings out. And yet the task ahead of me is daunting. I am determined to stay the course, because if this bedroom is ever going to look like a bedroom I must SIMPLIFY.

If I fail, I will leave all my stuff to my brothers and sisters. None of whom care I'm afraid. At least it will be one last way for me to get on their nerves.

The Closer Strikes Again

Remember when I wrote about me being a starter and my friend Joanne was a finisher? She, like my sister, is the type that likes to close the deal. Me? Not so much. I am known for it, thank you .

The pictures attached are a perfect example of me starting a project and not finishing. More than 5 years ago I painted my bedroom this Hunter Green color. While painting the second coat on the last wall I decided I HATED it and quit. My room has remained unfinished all this time. UGH!

Gratuitous Cat Photo

Notice it doesn't quite go all the way to the ceiling. That was because I was going to put in crown molding. Yea, right.

Since Joanne and I (mostly Joanne) painted my bathroom Romeo Pink I have realized it is the only room in my house or life that has ever been complete. No more finishing touches needed. I think however that my bedroom has been driving Joanne crazy. So out of kindness or compulsion (to me it doesn't matter) Joanne gifted me (birthday and Christmas 2007) with a bedroom redo. She's coming to my house Friday at 4 p.m. and we are spending the weekend "finishing my room". Stay tuned for the "after" pictures because with a "closer" involved there will be some to take.

What Day is It!

I was doing a Google search to find out when National Quilting Day is and it turns out I missed it (March 15th). One thing lead to another and I found a whole list of days and weeks and months.

Since March is almost over I feel I should get you ready for April. Notable "awareness" days celebrated this month include:

National Humor Month
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Lawn and Garden Month
Poetry Month
National Pecan Month
National Welding Month
Records and Information Management Month
Stress Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Personally, I will not participate in Sexual Assault Awareness, because I am aware that would stress me out. So instead I plan to eat pecans in my garden while writing a poem and playing my guitar. I may pick up some trash for my country. Sadly, I can't weld. Please keep this post for your records and information.

Of course April 1st will be April Fools Day but did you know that April 4th is Tell a Lie Day and April 14th is Blame Someone Else Day? I can't wait.

And btw, I just looked it up, today (March 28) is SOMETHING ON A STICK DAY.
So go out and eat a corn dog...or Popsicle. Bon Appetite!

To research more days go to: http://www.holidayinsights.com/

Tiger Woods Update

Do you guys remember me rescuing a kitty from the Rockport Country Club golf course? I named him Tiger Woods, then later adopted him out to Shane and Cyndea. They named him Harley because he purs so much he sounds like a motorcycle. I wanted you to see what a handsome man he has become.

Little Drummer Boy

The Christmas season is coming to an end and I could not help putting up more Christmas pictures. Here is my brother David one Christmas morning holding his stocking.

I assume it is Christmas day because of the "Christmas mess" that is all over the floor. If I am right, then when this picture was taken, David will be celebrating his birthday in 5 days.

December 30th (today) is David's birthday.

This picture is prophetic, because David (in the center) grew up a drummer. Glory and Mom were clarinetist and I a flutist. None of us are practicing musicians, but with David I ALWAYS think of him as a drummer.

Drumming WIPE OUT in the garage on 11th street until the police (prompted by the neighbors) told him to stop. Drumming in the living room on his trap set. Drumming on glasses, chair arms, me, or anything that made a noise. His favorite noise is the sound cymbals make.

Later (much later) he was a drummer in church (I played the flute). That's when he became the founding member of The David Hanna Band (think Spinal Tap). The David Hanna band has never cut an album, or even made demo for that matter, but it is my favorite band because of David.

Happy Birthday Baby David.

The Power of the Poinsettia

Shane, Julie, Lesa and I delivered poinsettias to all those people (25) who hosted tables at our Young Life fish fry (remember that?).

People would light up like we where walking in with roses or diamonds. Poinsettias are pretty and they have the power to make people happy; or more accurately I should say showing gratitude has the power to make people happy. So show some.

Extreme Dog Make-Over

About two weeks ago we had a cold morning so I put on brown tights and a skirt and went out into the world. Later that morning I looked down at my legs and realized with tights on I had become a human lint brush. I have a great dog, however she has a lot of fur and during the course of the morning I had picked up a lot of fur on my legs.

ENOUGH ALREADY!

I took her in for a new furdoo. We were both scared. I told the groomer that I wanted all that mess gone, but I still wanted Cookie to look like Cookie. Not sure I was doing the right thing, I left the kennel, thinking "it can grow out." After all was said and done, I think Cookie likes her new look. She seems sassier. It took me a little while to adapt to the new dog....she looked younger, so I just pretended I got a new puppy. She is so cute.

Before

Afters