Little of This, Lot of That....

A post about a little bit of everything. First: The weather. We survived. No tornado's and really not even any rain. Which is fine b/c we've had so much rain a break is nice. But the wind last night was horrible. It was like a hurricane, or what they look like on TV. Branches everywhere. I should have taken a picture of our yard, but i cleaned them all up already. While taking a shower the electricity kept going off. I got out to look outside to see if a tornado was coming. I was a little scared to look out! Still very windy today with sustained gusts of 30+mph. Last night it was 60-70mph sustained!

Then the van. Here are some pictures:
middle seats. We have the optional 3rd seat up in the middle!

The Navi system which if anyone has a new CD for the updated version, could I borrow it? is that even possible?

Great storage areas including two glove compartments AND a lazy susan like storage under the seats!
When not using the Navi system the screen is the control for the radio. Also it has a camera so that when you're backing up it shows you what's behind you!

As luck would have it after we make a big purchase crap happens. I got a letter in the mail for the loan i had from when i had my lasik eye surgery done. It was informing me that my 1 year of 0% interest was up the end of this month. Therefore I had till then to pay the entire amount ($996.97) back by then OR I'd be charged interest going back the entire year. AND the interest rate, 19.99%. Can we say holy ****. I was not happy at all and found my paperwork and sure enough it said 12 months ONLY interest free. Now i remember that I was going to pay $100/month. I'd forgotten and just paid the whatever amt was on my bill. SO DH will have to pay it off for me b/c i don't have the much money.

We also purchased our airfare for NJ! Here we come Laura!!!!! I'm very happy with the price and flight times. We will be using our 'Bush Money' for the trip! Hurry up and come!!

We took two of the 3 kittens to new homes. I wasn't very happy b/c DH said we had to keep the long haired white one. That meant that the orange one had to go. The girl would have taken on three and I actually was thinking that sounded like a great idea. DH didn't. Grrrrr C'man keeps asking 'where's my orange Kittie?' I just tell him to go ask his father!

Garage saling tomorrow with BFF-S!! It's her b-day! I took her for a massage, out to eat and dessert last night. Tomorrow she wants to go garage saling! We shall do that! BFF-E, BFF-LA if you lived closer see what kind of treatment you'd get on your b-day:) Speaking of BFF-E can you tell us if you're OK? I heard tornado's were around you last Thursday. I sent you a text wondering if you were OK.

Gotta run little man is having a fit!

Wild Weather

If you read this today, pray for us in the Midwest. It's not looking good for weather. We are in a high risk of sever weather including tornado's. We don't see this high risk that often. I think last week the weatherman said the last time it was like this was 3 years ago! Here we are a week later!
I have packed some personal treasures (jewelry, pictures) and then some clothes (diapers, wipes) and now I'm getting ready to get some blankets to put in the basement. I will go get our cave ready. That will be under the stairs in the new part of the basement. DH thinks that will be the safest.
I was supposed to take BFF-S out for her b-day tonight for a massage, but they are thinking late afternoon early evening for the biggest threat of tornado's.
Here's the radar where we live:
http://www.ktiv.com/Weather/index.php

On a fun note, got my newer van last night! 2005 Honda Odyssey! Will get pictures when the weather allows. Right now it, and the other van, are parked safely in the garage!

Keep an eye on the weather for me and if you want a text message to know if we're OK, email me!

Travel HELP

Quick update that Jason Schultz DID WIN last night!! Christopher Reed won US Senate. I poll watched which meant as the precincts closed and called in there results I then called the Schultz campaign and report to them. It was real easy and I enjoyed it. Got home @ 1030pm so that wasn't to bad either.

OK i NEED your help! I'm trying to make trip plans to fly out to see Laura and I'm having a heck of a time. I'm cross that if I want to fly out of Omaha for the cheaper rates, I have to leave at like 5AM that simply is NOT possible. I don't care if DH thinks it is, NO WAY! It seems to fly to Philly there is only leave at the butt crack of dawn, earlier actually, or get in at like midnight. Neither are an option.

Can you tell me what you like to use when making travel plans? I've used Travelocity in the past and I've checked out others. But I'm wondering what you use. Maybe I'm missing a real good one. I'd really appreciate it!

Oh and I'm going to get my 'new' van today!! It's an '05 Honda Odyssey and the thing is loaded! GPS, DVD, CD, Leather, etc I'll take pictures.

Meet the Candidates

Last night (Sunday) was our 'Meet The Candidates' the Ida County Republicans put on. It really was a great night. DH ended up staying home with the kids b/c after a busy weekend with my sister and niece here, we decided it was best to let them nap and get to bed on time. But also DH would rather slam his hand in a door then attend a political event.

My 'new' dress that my mommy bought me:) Great farmers tan eh!?
My date was C'mans Godmother actually. I picked her up and off we went. I had to be there early to help decorate. After a couple odd minutes of not really knowing what to do we quickly jumped in doing our things. We hung my King Congress flag and I had notepads and fliers for Jason Schultz that I put out on the table.

The lady in the striped brown and tan shirt is C'mans Godmother.

Then the fun began.

I have pictures of all the candidates that were in attendance and I'll give a brief what I thought of them after each picture.

US Senate nominees. This would be who will run against Tom Harkin. That man NEEDS to go!!

First was Christopher Reed. Nice guy but a little 'young'. http://www.christperreed2008.com/
Believed in marriage b/w man and women, tough on illegal immigration and had a firm stance of our dependence on foreign oil and solutions to that. Lacked the confidence i was looking for.

Next was Steve Rathje. Sorry the picture is so dark (i really hate my camera and would love any advice/recommendations you'd have on a better one). Check out his website at http://www.steverathje.com/ Very nice looking man but he's as polished as my grandmothers silverware. He speaks like a true politician and I had a hard time connecting with him. Lots of good points much like the others with the gay marriage, abortion, border security, etc. All very good just no connection to me.

Then was George Eichhorn

He has the experience to back him up. He's been in the Iowa House of Representatives for 6 years and many other political committees that make him the man I will vote for tomorrow. I strongly feel he could challenge Harkin and that folks, is what matters.

Speaking of House of Representatives here is Jason Schultz, one of two guys running AND the one i have been helping as much as I can.



This is who he's competing against:

OK so they do have in common the hair style:)


They too were given an opportunity to talk. Don was first. I was really disappointed in Don. I have not wanted to say anything bad about the man b/c what good does that do. I don't really know anything bad about him. But last night he stood up there and took many shots at Jason. He said 'unlike my opponent I'm not supported by special interests groups.' Jason has been endorsed by groups like Right To Life. Ummm i think that's a pretty big deal Mr Freidrichson. That tells me that Right To Life and Jason share the same value to human life that I do. He made a couple other remarks like that as well. But the one that got me was 'unlike my opponent I won't have to call to the other side of the state to find out what's going on'. Hmmm...I'm not sure what he meant by that!? Does he think Jason doesn't know what's going on? Does he think he won't be able to do that job without being bought by special interest groups on the 'other side'. Mary and I sat in the van for awhile trying to figure that one out.

But really what resignantes in my mind the most is how uncomfortable Don was speaking. He stumbled over words, fidgeted and just seemed unsure of himself. Was it b/c someone may have written his speech and this was the first he read it? or was he uncomfortable b/c he was 'bashing' his competitor and NONE of the other candidates did that. OK one did but in a race with 2 other guys we don't know which one he's bashing. I'm not sure what it was but I didn't like it.



Jason has knocked on over 3,000 doors since he decided to run last October. He has meet with the voters and knows what's near and dear to our hearts. He has the same passions that most of us do. He's a harder worker no doubt. He's a full time husband, dad, insurance adjuster and helps with the family farm. He knows what work is. Not to say Don doesn't, but I believe God has Jason on this path for a reason and I think Don is on it for self gratification.



Don is very passionate about the roads and education. Don't get me wrong, I feel that is important but I don't think he has the fight in him till things trickle down to education. Take for instance gay marriage. I don't think he'd fight it till it got to education and by then it's to late. You HAVE TO get it at the beginning and not later on. Jason will fight from the get go.Quite honestly the rep going out did not have a good legacy left behind. He failed miserably and Don wants to carry his legacy on. Oh dear me!!

OK so the evening continued with Jan Mickelson from WHO AM radio station out of Des Moines. EXCELLENT speaker and motivator. Just great. Here he is getting ready to go thru the food line.



We had a representative there from John McCains office too and she did an EXCELLENT job. Sorry no picture b/c of my stupid camera making it to dark. I promise tho one of these days I'm going to have her or Doc do a guest appearance why JMC is the man to vote for this election!!



The evening ended with the auction of a flag flown over the US Capitol compliments of my brother. It brought $220 which was EXCELLENT. I was to hold it up but got a little tired holding it high before it would hit the ground and I was told 'don't let the flag this the ground'. At that point another member of the central committee helped me. Here we are:

http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=25910

click on the video camera to see the full video.

That's a wrap I guess! Here is what I felt like after the event.

Thanks for reading this entire post!! Keep tuned in b/c tomorrow is Primaries!!

You Tube

My niece, JoJo and my sister, Ruth, were here this weekend. JoJo found some videos on You Tube for us to watch and i have to share. Please watch the last one. It'll leave you with goose bumps and maybe even some tears as it did me. The other 2 are just hilarious!!
Enjoy!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAYWPV3F41Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284

Tonight's the big 'Meet the Candidates Forum'. It sounds like we will see lots of media there so i will post their links if it makes the news!

Right Brainer

Yesterday (Wednesday) Miss A and I went to see Dr Miller AKA VooDoo Doc. I must say again I'm truly AMAZED by him! He it TOTALLY worth a day's drive to see him! This time he worked on me after Miss A who by the way, had very few 'issues'. But me?? I was interesting which is par for the course. After doing a variety of tests it was determined i am VERY right brained.

For instance, I can not start at 67 and subtract by 3's. Well i can it just takes me awhile. I could not name a farm animal every 4 seconds. Dr Miller would give me an order of numbers that if give in a little sequence i could repeat but not otherwise. It really was interesting and i could go in to greater detail but i think I covered the basics. What i need to do tho, is work on subtracting and getting a Where in the World is Waldo book and find Waldo. I need to work out my brain b/c in his exact words 'your left brain is mush'. The condition of my left brain leaves my body fighting off antibodies and other 'things' making me susceptible to Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Lupus. WHICH just happens to be what both of my parents are dealing with. My brain is not fighting there for creating a very weakened immune system.

Before you all think I'm crazy, i want you to try out some of the tests I found online. I have to say that reading characteristics of right brain people is totally me. I found this on the Internet:

People who are right brain dominant are usually good with these things. Here is some more characteristics of a right-brained person.

Prefer rock music -
Right brain controls left side of body
Prefer visual instructions with examples
Good at sports
Good at art
Follow Eastern thought*
Cat lovers
Enjoy clowning around
Can be hypnotized
Like to read fantasy and mystery stories
Can listen to music or TV while studying
Like to write fiction
Prefer group
Fun to dream about things that will probably never happen
Enjoy making up own drawings and images
Good at geometry
Like organizing things to show relation
Can memorize music
Occasionally absentminded
Like to act out stories
Enjoy interacting effectively with others
Think better when lying down
Become restless during long verbal explanations
Enjoy creative storytelling
Prefer to learn through free exploration
Good at recalling spatial imagery
Read for main details
Skilled in showing relationships between ideas
Preference for summarizing over outlining
Solve problems intuitively
Very Spontaneous and unpredictable
Dreamer
philosophical
Those of you who know me IRL (In Real Life) are probably going yep to many of these. Those that don't the following are/can be me:
Prefer visual instructions with examples
Enjoy clowning around
Can be hypnotized -boy this one for SURE is true. Can i EVER!! (right BFF-E and SML)
Like to write fiction
Prefer group
Fun to dream about things that will probably never happen
Like organizing things to show relation
Occasionally absentminded -HAHA see i can't help it!!
Like to act out stories
Enjoy interacting effectively with others
Prefer to learn through free exploration
Good at recalling spatial imagery
Read for main details
Skilled in showing relationships between ideas
Preference for summarizing over outlining
Solve problems intuitively
Very Spontaneous and unpredictable
Dreamer
philosophical
Are you shaking your heads yet saying yup, yup. I also read another website that said jobs for right brainers are
Forest ranger
Wildlife manager
Beautician
Politician
Athlete
Artist
Craftsman
Actor/Actress

Politician, how funny is that. This all is very interesting to me. Although the only job up there that appeals to me is the politician. A Forest Ranger? ME?? One who no way will camp in a tent, hates bugs, eww.

This all explains a lot!! Why i couldn't do math, why i often am standing in the store thinking i know that person just can't remember there name! Or being able to drive places once and remember how to get back there months, maybe even years later. I have 'hunches' about things and usually am right.

Are you wondering what you are? I found this test, take it and let us know what you are!
http://www.web-us.com/brain/braindominance.htm
Share with us how accurate you think this all is!

The other thing the Dr worked on was my endometriosis. That was quite something too!! I said well i guess if I call back in 6 weeks and say I'm pregnant we know it worked. JOKING of course!! Wouldn't THAT be scary!!

Go on try this out!!

Memorial Day Weekend

How is every one's Memorial Day weekend? Did anyone do anything fun? I find it interesting that the blogs i read in South Africa would call this a 'holiday weekend'. Of course this is a holiday but I often refer to it as Memorial Day weekend, or 4th of July weekend, etc. Take for instance all the ads in the paper advertising 'Memorial Day Savings' in SA would the ads say 'Holiday Savings'? They would say 'we have a 3 day holiday', or we're going on a trip for the holiday. I'm not sure if their holidays have names!? Mel can you tell us more??

Yesterday DH and I had a divine day! My husbands cousins DAUGHTER (catch that all) is home on break b/w college classes. I called her up and asked if she'd come babysit! (i will just refer to her as my niece Em, b/c she refers to me as her Aunt) She had left me a message Friday night that she was home till the first of June. She is going to Wisconsin for 6 weeks to take college classes and THEN she's on her way to Budapest! She needs to buy her airline tickets so i traded computer time for babysitting! It worked out perfect.

We went to the city and did all sorts of errands. That included looking at new vans. We need to do something b/c our van needs new tires and it's just getting old. I REALLY want dual sliding doors. Our van has the two doors just that only one is automatic. We really like the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey but they cost so much, even used. I do NOT want to buy brand new b/c they loose so much value the minute you drive them off the lot. I think that is one of the biggest mistakes people make is buying new. Note I said i do not WANT to buy new. I started typing 'I will NEVER' but thought just about that time i type that I'll do a post saying we got a new van. LOL!! At any rate I'm strongly against it and hoping we can find a good used van.

After church today, which by the way went VERY well C'man sat with papa and we had Miss A, we brought in one of the kittens, the orange one. Well that didn't fly with Miss A so i had to go get another one. Look what these kittens put up with! Look how Mr C'man is shoving that kitten in his play microwave, or them loading it up in the Gator to take for a ride!! Cracks me up b/c the kittens just take it. The little shits have sharp claws tho and got miss A a couple of times. She'd say 'owieeeeee'

This evening and friends are coming over and will grill out. We wanted to go to a park but it is so humid out it would just be miserable. I'm wondering what kind of storms will get tonight. It feels like tornado weather!

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day weekend, the kick off to SUMMER!! YEAH!!

Pay to Blog?

I'm really having a hard time figuring out this pay to blog stuff. But i did come across this opportunity to see if i can figure this out. From time to time I will have posts on here that are a form of advertising from a variety of 'sponsors'. I thought if I could make some money blogging it would be worth a try. I enjoy blogging and as you can already tell, have projects that i do, items i use, etc that i figured hmm I wonder if I could get paid to try things and then blog about them!?
So i started with this blog network and see what happens. I would love to use the money I earn to help pay of debt and if nothing else, since I'm not sure how much I'll make, to buy some 'me things' like a pedicure/massage and maybe even a babysitter for a night so DH and I can go out. Who wouldn't want that??

I visit a number of blogs, some listed under my blog roll that already do this and I've found some really neat items and ideas. If you come across my blog and find something I blog about of interest to you let me know!
Let me know as we go along what you think of this Do you have a blog? do you have advertising on yours? Or do you know anyone who does this?Can you have them contact me! I'm confused with all the html codes i need to put in.

Thanks everyone!

Misc Things

Seems I'm never at a loss of what to blog about and often times i skip over ideas, to share what's happening right now or front and center in my mind. Therefore, I'm going to share a variety of little things that have been going on b/c I'm not sure I'll ever get back to dedicating an entire blog. Here it goes:

First the calf story. Ends up it WASN'T our calf! I KNEW it!! it was the neighbors and they called last night wondering if we'd seen it. Sure did! I said they can't get it back till I tell them what i went thru with that thing. No wonder it licked my leg and had no idea where the gate was for him to go in.

I got another project done about a week ago. I took chalkboard paint and painted my door. Boy it didn't go well at all!! It was like painting with pudding. Here is a picture before:

and after just one coat and actually it looked the same after 5 coats (DH said what have you done to the door?? I said oh don't worry it'll turn out):

and completed. I'm not even sure how many coats it took to get this, at least 10. I should have primed the door first. Oh well I'll know better for next time b/c I'm doing this more. I'll buy old wood or something that can be hung, when doing it again.

It no longer says this, instead it is our 'to do' list. Like for DH i have written: Chain saw, weed killer and i can't remember the last thing. For me I have church prayer chain!! Goll darn i NEED to get that done too!!

Then on the farming side. DH will be getting to his post about corn for ethanol vs the food prices as soon as planting is over. Which should be any day however it has decided to rain for the next FOUR days. I'm sure this last 40 acres or less, will take forever to get done. But none the less here's some pictures of him/us planting. This was right outside our house so the 4 of us all road a couple rounds. I had to eventually get out b/c my arse was killing me!
Took this from upstairs the bathroom window. DH and C'man both out there putting corn in the planter.
DH putting corn in. See the black clouds??
These bags of corn are $110/bag. I had no idea. I started picking up all the pieces of corn that had fallen. DH was like don't do that!
C'man got a hold of the camera here!! Note dark clouds!
C'man and DH coming to pick A and I up for a ride!

More shots from the eyes of a 3 1/2 yr old:

Those clouds i told you to note?? Well this is what came of that.

The wind picked up and it got down right nasty out. They say it typically hails before a tornado and i would have been worried about that accept the weather people said little to no threat of tornado's. Well i turn on the news that night to find out those ominous clouds where were watching and you can see above?? they had produced a funnel cloud!

These really are not that good of a picture b/c the deck was covered but i couldn't open the door or want to stay close to windows any longer.

DH decided to use my van as the seed hauler and had left it out in the hail too!! Here it is tho with the $120 bags of corn. I have no idea how much one bag plants but i know there are TONS of bags blowing around here!

Then the kids. Thanks for the emails and comments from Miss A. I have an appt Wednesday with Dr Miller. I'm fairly sure it's her teeth plus a cold. I have a cold now and Tuesday (what day is today anyway??) I felt just miserable. throat and ears hurt so if she had what i did that would explain why she's been so cross. Wednesday can not get here soon enough!

We have a pet frog this year. Actually it's a tree frog and it's been living on our deck for about a week?? I heard this weird noise when I'd sit out there and finally found the source of it. Here he is:
I'm quite freaked out by it, not like i am about snakes, but I want c'man to touch it and he wants me to touch it. HECK NO!! I used a stick yesterday and the thing jumped and clung to the siding of the house. I screamed!! no wonder he won't touch it. He's been trying to convince Miss A to touch it LOL!! We had a couple of these late last summer and my dad was so fascinated with it. They change colors according to there surroundings and they can cling to about anything. Still ewwy for me!!

I got stung last night by something. Probably a wasp b/c they are everywhere. A blanket had fallen off the deck and C'man handed it to me. I scrunched it up in my arms and dam it got stung. It hurt really bad and not knowing if you could have a reaction I was a little freakish. I'm here, obviously i didn't have a reaction. My arm swelled and still is tender to touch.

We are enjoying our deck this Spring when it's not so freakin windy out. We like to eat lunch/supper out there. Here we are!!

oh the kittens!! Still here. Only 3 now. One is gone, no idea where it is but I'm sure it starved to death somewhere. Poor baby. Momma moves them after we've been messing with them, especially if c'man is. The other day he had rocks in the barrel she had them in!! They are gone again and I'm actually going out to the barn to see if i can find them. That's the best place for them but then they'll be wild out there if we keep them there.

Politics: i tried to call people that said they'd have signs in there yard. That was a bust!! People were rude, mean, etc saying I'm not sure why my wife said you could b/c i don't allow signs in my yard!! Or I don't know who your boss is but they are not informing you of how I feel. I fired myself after a couple calls like that. I have them all over our road out here and someone came and picked the rest up to try himself. I felt horrible that i couldn't be of more help but with the kids and DH busy it didn't leave me much time. Not to mention not having the best week myself, defeated is becoming a common feeling to me here lately.

This past weekend we went to my parents. Here is my dad and the kids walking to church:

I spent one AM organizing. I love to organize. But my attempts failed when i walked in to the toy room to this:

OK i think I've covered everything but the CCC drama that unfolded the other day. But I'm not ready to discuss that again b/c it'll just get me all worked up and I've all but moved on.

This picture below my readers, is how i feel most of the days!! Seriously tho i do smile. I am here b/c C'man had taken my camera to take a pic of the frog and fell. I couldn't get the camera to work. DH came home did something and it worked. He took this picture of me:)

And last but not least, I just downloaded pictures and apparently some little people had my camera b/c i found about a doz pictures of this:

This post took me forever!! Flatter me by leaving some comments!! My numbers are going up for number of hits so i know you're out there reading:) Humor me!! I need it remember:

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