A, A, what begins with A?

Apple Computer:  is my favorite.  I was surprised to feel this way, until Jason bought me an ibook for my birthday back in 2005. Everything about it is better than a PC.   I feel the "need" for a new one, and am saving my money.  I hope to make the purchase in late summer/early fall. 

An apple a day: only works when my favorite "Honey Crisp" apples are in seaso

n. 

Arrested Development:  Possibly the most genius comedy writing that is no longer on TV.  I stumbled on this show with Jason, and we love it. It makes us giggle, laugh, guffaw and sometimes gasp in shock...

                                                     

 Airedale Terrier: We're getting one at the end of the summer! 

 Kizzee and Sean (Connery) had a small litter of 2 boys on July 3. One is ours!   The little sweetie to the left is about 9 weeks old, exactly what ours will look like when we bring him home around August 30.   We picked the Airedale because it is a non-shedder, is a really smart breed, and Jason wanted a somewhat larger dog than our last two, which were Mini-Schnauzers.   Special thanks to breeder Corally Burmaster, who has been a pleasure to work with and welcomes us out to her place anytime we want to visit with the puppies she has on site. 

SO I bought this book a few years ago, after it was recommended by Cathy Zielske. She taught a class at CKU using this book. I have never been to CKU, but have always wanted to take a class taught by Cathy.  Yippee for me, she is teaching a form of this class at Big Picture Scrapbooking!  Part of the class prep is to take alphabet tags (that are provided as a PDF) and begin to make a list of words for my own "Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life".  My friend Stephanie is also taking the class.  She used her blog a while back to make daily alphabetical entries...and so I will try to do the same.  beginning with A today and intending to finish the alphabet before the class begins in early September.  I'm not a terribly faithful blogger, so this might be useless, but anything to try and get here on a more consistent basis! :)  

Top 13 Songs in my itunes Library...

Please keep in mind this is the Top 13 EVER (almost 4 years).   Its quite an eclectic little mix, no?  My taste in music is broad, and that's all I've got to say! 

1. Never Loved You More - Nichole Nordeman

2. Home - Nichole Nordeman

3. Brave - Nichole Nordeman

4. Stick to the Status Quo - HSM1

5. Why Georgia - John Mayer

6. I'm Feeling You - Michelle Branch

7. Hey Ya! - Outkast

8. Leave the Pieces - The Wreckers

9. That's Right - Lyle Lovett

10. Me Neither - Brad Paisley

11. Bop To The Top - HSM1

12. I Found a Way - Drake Bell

13. Baby I'm a Star - Prince 

Is there a way to show the top 13 for 2009?  That would give you a more current "snapshot" of me. 

What's your top 13 in itunes?  Share here! 

Summer's coming!

R U ready??   I'm getting geared up for a leisurely summer with my kids plus 2.  We'll have 2 neighbor girls with us - they usually go to Minnieland Daycare (a regional chain) but in chatting with their mom we thought that a break for the summer might be nice??   The decision was made easier by the fact that the younger girl and my younger girl are the same age/grade, and also my older girl and the older neighbor girl are also the same age.  Poor Jake is out in the cold, but I hope to help him line up some buddies he can bring to the pool and have over for goofing off every few days. 

Summer activities on the agenda:

Swimming Pool - opens at 11am daily and we plan to be there at opening - to get one of the choice tables under shade. 

Library - making sure all 5 kids are getting their school summer reading lists completed! We'll also be on the lookout for any programs the library might have to offer - like the turtle lady that is coming next Thursday,  and  a Native American Storyteller who will be there another day....

Movies!  Our local AMC Theatre has $1 movies on Wednesday mornings at 10am.  A variety of  kid-movies that were originally shown in the last 6 months sometime...still fine to see a second time - for $1!  They have a discount on popcorn and drinks too. Last summer we didn't really "do" lunch on Wednesdays...more like a heavy snack of fruit and cheese (which was perfectly fine after a bucket of popcorn)!

Beyond those "off-site" activities, at home, we have a trampoline out back, lots of craft supplies for the girls, and a Wii, NintendoDS, computer for all.  Hopefully there is enough to keep the crew happy! :) 

GOOD GRIEF!

Way too long since I posted here...and I can't stop to do so now, but consider this a place holder for later this evening.  As the school year winds down for the kids, I am re-thinking my daily schedule for chores and enjoying some scrapbooking and internet time in the evenings...I will put this blog at the top of my list - meaning I'll try to take time to say a quick hello here before I do that other stuff!   

Back later! :) 

Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk - Update 2

On April 25, I joined about 125 other 3 Day walkers at Tyson's Corner Mall in McLean, Virginia for a Training Walk Kick Off Event. Organized by Shawn Supers (DC Field Coordinator), and TWL (Training Walk Leader) Beth Botwright, the walk was a complete success.  Here's Beth to the left <------ (she was in the fashion show too).  What a terrific, energetic and FUN person Beth is! 

We began gathering at the New Balance Store at 7:30 a.m. and by 8:30 a.m. we had a full crowd of walkers and more than 10 TWLs to lead groups of walkers through the mall for a 3 mile walk.   Following our walk we were able to get professionally fitted for the shoes meant to carry us the 60 miles in October and all the training miles beforehand.... We also got to see a fashion show (which I participated in) of some COOL New Balance gear made for walking!  It was a really fun morning and I enjoyed my time thoroughly!                                                                                                                          

I am beginning to think that 3 Day Walkers must be some of the friendliest and most fun people on the planet!  I led the first walk team out with another TWL, Kristina, as my "caboose".  Thanks Kristina!! :)   (I'm on the left, with Kristina on the right).

Up front, I was accompanied by  Cindy, a woman from Frederick, Maryland, with more connections to breast cancer than any one person should have.  I almost felt guilty walking with her; having no personal connections to this awful disease. She actually *thanked* me for walking. Such a sweetheart! 

         

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:  I am thrilled to announce that this past week I reached $1,000 in fundraising!   With a lofty goal of $5,000,  I was encouraged to reach this first milestone.   I haven't been at all anxious about the walking (though that may change), but I have really been on alert regarding fundraising.   I'm taking steps now to follow up with emails I have already sent, but not gotten any kind of reply from. Possibly when the email was sent in "bulk" it went directly to someone's spam box?  If most people are like me, they never (and I really mean NEVER) look in their spam. I only go in there once a month or so to "select all" and delete.   I hate to think I was deleted, but if someone didn't know I was there in the first place, I guess its OK. 

     In addition to emailing, I've got donation boxes in several local merchants. Hopefully someone's extra change can be the difference in me making my goal!   

PLANS FOR THIS WEEK:  Follow-up emails, snail mail letters to some family members who don't "do" email, and checking the coin boxes I have around town.   Oh, I think I'll probably do some walking too! ;)

Do I have a life??

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account or blog or website, paste this as a note. Then, mark X's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.
(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
() Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total so far: 6

(x) The Princess Bride
(x ) Anchorman
(x ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 11

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 15

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(x ) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far:21

(x) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(x ) 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
( ) Robots
Total so far: 25

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
( x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG
Total so far: 28

() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 29

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
() Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 30

() The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x ) Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
(x) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 33

( ) Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean’s Thirteen
() Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x ) Bourne Supremecy
(x) Bourne Ultimatum
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 38

(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
() Rush Hour 3
() Rush Hour 4
Total so far: 41

( ) Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
(x ) Calendar Girls
(x ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x ) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
( x) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 47

( ) X-Men
() X-2
( ) X-3
(x ) Spider-Man
(x ) Spider-Man 2
() Spider-Man 3
(x) Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Jason Goes To Hell
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
(x) Shrek 3
Total so far: 55

( ) Swimfan
() Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 57

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
() Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull
Total so far: 62


() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 63

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x ) Monsters Inc
(x) Titanic
( x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 66

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
() Hulk
(x) The Incredible Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x ) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
() 28 days later
() 28 Weeks Later
( ) Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 69

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
(x) Kung Fu Panda
() The Express
() Igor
(x) Toy Story 1
(x) Toy Story 2
(x) Dumbo
(x) Peter Pan
() Power Rangers: The Movie
() the Hills Have Eyes
( ) City of Embers
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 74

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
(x) Star Wars: The Clone Wars
(x) The Game Plan
(x) The Holiday
() The Dark Knight
() Batman Forever
() Batman Begins
() Batman and Robin
() Batman
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
(x) The Mummy
() The Mummy Returns
() The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
(x) Wall-e
()Wanted
() Virgin Territory
() Untraceable
() Transformers
() The Kingdom
Total so far: 73

() The Matrix
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total: 86

Apparently not. 

Whatev.