Pumpkin Huntin' Time

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Phil's 75th Birthday Get-Together

Do You See What I See?

Ok, please tell me... Do you see what I see? I think it would help if you could see a video of what I'm watching, but my Blackberry can't do that (Why RIM? Why can't a Blackberry do video?)

Anyway - our kitten, Alexis, is suckling on Andrew's polka dot teddy bear, Tangie. She's been going at it for about 10 minutes now... Purring, prodding with her right front paw against Tangie's chest and sucking... Sucking on... well, THAT I'm not quite sure, but she's sucking on his chest.

Interesting... I guess she found a "mommy figure" in Tangie.

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Chocolate Lover

Yes... Andrew LOVES chocolate. :-) He's like his mommy and daddy.

He's decided his new favorite candy bar is Caramello... Good choice! Yum!!!

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McC Family - Photo Proofs

If there's one thing I'm learning about photography it's patience. Not with the subjects I'm photographing, or my equipment, not the surroundings and not even the weather... but with the processing of the photos. I become a perfectionist and spend way too much time on them... even with basic editing. I do, re-do and re-do again. I'm getting better, but still have along way to go.

I spent a couple hours taking photos of friends a couple weeks ago at a nearby nature center. Laurie and I have been friends with the McC's for several years. Mr McC was one of my first friends when I started attending Eastview Christian Church in 1995. Mr & Mrs McC started dating right after our wedding in April of 1998, which they both had attended.

There are some definite winners in the photos below... I'm looking forward to hearing what ones the McC's choose so I can let my creative juices flow. I already have some favorites I'm hoping they choose... Let me know what you like, too.

Recycling Business Idea

What a brilliant idea! I amaze myself sometimes! Why didn't I think of this years ago!

You might be wondering what I'm talking about... Well, I'll tell you...

SHOULDER PADS!!!

YES! You read that correctly... Shoulder pads. Not the football kind, but the kind women wear under sweaters & tops (not as much as they use to, though... Like in the 80's... WOW! BIG shoulder pads in those days).

Anyway... Here's the idea: RECYCLED SHOULDER PADS.

Yeah... you got it. And here are ten ideas for their use:

• Yarmulkes - Jewish head pieces

"Oy vey..."

• Chinese headware for cats

• "Adam" halloween costume (many are in the same shape as a leaf... might need dyed, tho)
• Bikini tops and bras for women (I know, duh, of course women... just thought I'd be clear for some men out there)
• Nursing pads (men, ask a mom what this means)
• Cell phone holder - Sew a couple together and VOILA!!!
• Eye blinders for horses
• Hot pads for little girls cookware sets
• Dr Scholls-der shoe inserts (Get it? "Shoulder pads" ... "Scholls-der pads")
• Light bulb remover pads (for those of us that lichange light bulbs while they're still hot)

Sorry I didn't have time to create photos for each idea... Laurie wouldn't participate with the bra/bikini & nursing pad ideas, no friends were available for the "Adam Halloween costume," we couldn't find a horse for the blinders, we don't have a sewing machine for the cell phone holder... blah blah blah.

Hey, I'm a dreamer and visionary... I let someone else work out all the details and do the marketing.

A Recent "Remember When...?"

I turned to Laurie the other day and suddenly asked... "Do you remember when we learned to drive you had to use a floorboard button to turn on the brights?" I have absolutely no idea why that came to mind... again, (as I stated in my previous post) I have stopped asking "why" when I think of something strange.

I'm not really sure when they stopped doing that, but it sure does make more sense than putting it on a little stick that also includes front and back window washers, cruise control and blinkers. Especially when my hands are already busy with the A/C, my music choice on my iPod, texting and setting my GPS. I guess they considered "foot multi-tasking"dangerous back then... it is quite hazardardous for all those left foot brakers (i.e. brake-riders) and clutch users. I've also heard there were a lot of drivers without left legs suing car companies for "equal opportunity high beam rights" (yes, that was a joke... please don't google that).

I wonder what a car salesman (oh, excuse me... salesperson) would say today if I asked for a "floorboard high-beam button" to be installed as an option for a new vehicle?

Google Me

So I'm taking a break from "work" and googled my name. I have no idea why, I just did it. At 43 I've stopped asking too many "why's" of myself. Interesting results:

I feel somewhat of a "connection" with each of the items listed, except... PHD (HAHAHA!!! That one REALLY makes me laugh) and "inflection energy" (maybe "indigestion energy" :-) My comments for each:

• Band - lover of music, sing at all opportunities (ok, that's not totally true right now since I'm on a "singing fast" for a few months), and was the drum major of our band in high school for 3 years
• Architect - In third grade I checked out the same book on "being an architect" weekly for like 6 months and actually created house layouts on graph paper. Then I found out how much math you needed to know... Goodbye architect career. I think I moved up to gas station attendant (remember what that was?) after that :-)
• Columbus, GA - Hmmm... well, I LOVE Georgia and our daughter Savannah is named after the city in Georgia. And for the Columbus part... I enjoy studying early American discovery.
• Denver - Another Hmmm... I visited Denver in 1976
• PHD - Again... HAHAHA!!!
• Colorado - Ahhh... BEAUTIFUL!!! Would love to spend a month hiking and photographing (in the summer)
• Evergreen - Easy one... plants... GIVE ME GREEN!!!
• Band Reno - Once again, Hmmm... Ok, well... lover of music again, and my Uncle Jerry lived in Reno for several years. HA... easier than I thought.
• Inflection energy - My mind is blank... nothing. No energy in that one.
• Music - YES!!! That's SO me!!!

I know... googling your name has absolutely NOTHING to do with the REAL YOU. (Well, that is unless you're someone famous or have done something totally stupid that hit the national news, i.e. google Falcon Heene and I bet the top 10 references are related to hot air balloons :-).

Try it and see what comes up for your name :-)

Moment of Fear

Here's the look of fear I had thinking the Florida Gators were going to lose to the Arkansas Razorbacks - YIKES!!!

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Upwards Cheerleading

Savannah and Emma practice their pom routine they will be performing at the awards night on the evening of the 25th.

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ISU Homecoming

Homecoming parade day at Illinois State University - it's my first one to attend. Pretty sad since Laurie is an alum and teaches there.

We have to miss the game this year due to Savannah cheering at Upwards football, and Florida plays at 2:30 today :-)

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Sweeeeeeeeeet

Best part of my day? Getting to work right beside this pretty baby :-) LOVE a red Mercedes coupe convertible :-) YUMMY!!!

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Corn By Moonlight

Hey Hey It's The Monkeys

Alexis finally found another monkey to hang with... she's the one on the right :-)

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Ready For Harvest

Gift For Laurie

Laurie has been asking me to make my pesto for months now. We had a large basil plant growing this year but haven't touched it, except for a few recipes.

So today I made a couple batches of pesto and... WOW!!! It was SO delicious!!! Fetuccini with freshly made pesto on top, a little grated REAL parmesan cheese and topped with diced roma tomatoes. And on the side, a plate of garlic balsam dipping sauce with parmesan cheese for italian bread. Awesome supper, if I may say so myself.

If there's one thing I've learned with pesto: don't skimp on the ingredients... Fresh cut basil and good olive oil, parmesan and romano cheeses.

And, yes... Laurie was pleased with her gift.

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Family Starbucks Time

Yum!!!
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