Sunday, March 30, 2008

today


Global warming?, a sign spring is never coming?, or just an unexpected surprise?
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, March 27, 2008

No one said it would be this hard and last this long

Parenting:

When they are little you know nothing.. they escape childhood despite your lack of wisdom.. There are problems and despite yourself you can and do- fix all the problems as if you had a magic wand...Why is it when they grow up and have real problems and need real answers that same parenting fairy doesn't come along with answers?

not so caring healthcare

So wanna rant about our healthcare system??? Exactly what is the deal? We pay an incredible amount of money for healthcare every month...let just say it tops out over $450.... and today when I called to question why a 3 month mail order (supposedly the cheaper way) prescription cost me $350 I was politely told it was because I had the choice of a generic drug and I choose otherwise.... now normally if you go for the real thing you pay what they call tier 1 charges $60.00-- so in my mind I am thinking 60 x 3 months= $180.. but no if your doctor doesn't check the box that says no generic... and you choose brand name you pay the difference.... Does this sound right???? Why make brand name drugs if you aren't allowed to use them???? And without brand name drugs how can anyone make generics???
And since every insurance company has different rules.. its not like your doctor knows which drugs fall under which tier... I guess we have to take laptops to the doctors office from now on so we can check the website to figure out if we can afford our health care....
And the worse part... once you have the drugs its not like you can return them!!! so for now... these babies are worth $3.88 a day.... and geez for that price we might as well find a guy on the corner and find something that would add alittle excitement..
And when I asked Mike if he thought he could get his moneys worth (again its $3.88 a day) each day -- it was an emphatic NO---
So the question of the day... have you figured out your insurance company?? Is your healthcare providor worth what you pay???

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Alittle Easter cheer-- While the egg hunt only had one participant this year--Ryland-- we did out do ourselves with wonderful food-- I swear Jackie's Sweet Potatoes were meant to be a dessert--Yummy Goodness even before the desserts were brought out...
And while Christopher made the decision to skip on dressing for dinner he did sport a traditional Easter day hangover-- some traditions just won't fade away....
And of course some family pictures were taken... so sad that all the ones on my camera looked like a free get out of St. Elizabeths card was granted for Easter.... these were the best of the best....
As always it was fun to get together!
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter

Lack of sleep for no reason other than Madison can't get the whole vertical vs horizontal thing right in bed... but I got moving enough to make Fruit salad and a potato casserole for today's Easter dinner.

No dyed eggs in my house this year... just doesn't seem right not to have egg salad and deviled eggs the week after Easter... of course Easter in March seems a bit off too. But the bunny did visit leaving the obligatory Chocolate bunnies...Too bad they aren't on anyones diet... I guess the bunny didn't get that memo.
Amanda came home for another 4 day weekend... (must be nice) and we used our time wisely looking at dresses... This has got to be my favorite part of wedding planning. There are so many styles and designs-- its a shame you only get one dress.... although I now understand people who marry seven and eight times (Liz Taylor) wedding planning is fun and choosing just one style dress or one theme is hard....doesn't seem fair... I think the whole process would be easier if she didn't look great in each and every dress she tried on....I can envision her wearing all of them! I think she has a style narrowed down--although for the sake of ultimate secrecy I won't share what that might be--but I will share this-- one of the front runners in my opinion... of course in the end its not my opinion or choice--she will know which dress to pick
We also looked at veils-- who knew there were so many styles, types and lengths.. and who knew that for alittle tulle they would charge upwards of $400 for those babies??? Definitely seeking out other shopping options! And a quick call to mom had her pulling out her veil! Now if only we could get her into the techno world to scan or take a picture of it and email it!! haha--I can see I am going to have to make detailed instructions on how to accomplish that task!
Still looking for a church to wear this finery in-- again we are learning that if you put the word wedding in front of anything people-- oh yes those god fearing Christians too--decide that there is money to be made.... Who knew we would have to be budget conscious looking for churches?? I think the process might be easier if I knew the Alexandria area better... Corey and Amanda did an initial search-- starting on the Internet-- Why don't churches put more information on their websites??? then by cruising the area... I have a feeling a few more drive arounds will be in order to find "the spot"-- if not we will all just commute from home! not the first choice but it just may be the best choice.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Count down to spring!

Tomorrow is the first day of spring. I am watching the weather every day, seeing what is happening with the trees==can you say obsessed? Like I can predict what the weather will be like next year at this time. Amanda has moved her wedding date back one week... the offical day is March 28---2009 all in hopes that it will be just alittle nicer outside... she has thrown her winter wedding to the wind.. she will offically be a spring bride!!! Global warming sounds good... really good at this point. Tomorrow I plan on visiting the florist.. just to peak at what they have in stock.. whats readily available at this time of year. No need to wish for out of season flowers. Its all about the budget...

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Spring came early to Williamsburg



We got so lucky-- took a little weekend trip down to Williamsburg and couldn't have asked for a better day to wander the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. 75 and Sunny! So refreshing to be out of doors without a coat and just enjoying the day. We walked the main street from one end to the other.. although the walk back was brisk because Mike reminded me that I could get a stamp from Williamsburg for my National Parks Passport-- and it was close to closing time... what we didn't realize until we found the "stamping place" was that it was a different kind of stamp--- I might just put mine in the passport anyway... because I worked so hard to get it!
We ventured out for a Seafood Buffet-- yep throwing diets to the wind.. I am positive that we have eaten there before.. perhaps when Mike and Bill were in a bowling tournament. To make a long story short.. we got our moneys worth-- Sat next to the piano player and ate in tune until I almost burst. Seriously --I had visions of that movie 7 deadly sins or something like that-- you know the one where the guy eats himself to death???
We did have a sad moment on our way home. We felt the need to go to the Williamsburg Pottery Factory-- once we found it we were shocked--it was pitiful! not the vibrant happening place we had been to years before. I was sad-- it smelled bad and where did the pottery go??? We wandered aisle after aisle from building to building... Only parted with $10 for a picture frame, mat and 3 elephant ear bulbs... Someone could have told us that the shopping Mecca formally known as the pottery factory was just about gone... I have been in dollar stores that were more fun! I guess some fond memories of the past should stay there and not tried to be relived...

Thursday, March 13, 2008

BIG DAY

Today was a BIG day-- Amanda had her second interview at ICF in Vienna and then came out to visit me for lunch---and then we went over to the Bridal shop in Warrenton...... Shopping for a wedding dress was something that we both agreed was probably not something I would partake in. I have been party to many excursions for Prom dresses and none of those outings ever went really well for us. She is a shopper... a good shopper... I am not. She has style... I do not. She is a perfectionist-- I am not--But today was different. She was game for trying on every dress in the store. And to be honest even in the plainest dress she was the most beautiful bride. We agreed on sparkle, lace and embroidry-- we learned the difference between taffita and organdy and that every dress can be bustled many many different ways?

I refrained from pictures because you never know which one will be the one.

And we were soo good neither of us said a word about the girl who was in there looking for a bridesmaid dress with Camo trim.... I gotta say sometimes biting your tongue is hard.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Box Box Box


So as I put away the last of the christmas decorations the other day I had to manuver around these big ol boxes... and it dawned on me that this could very well be The year of the BOX--- The wedding is a year away and these big ol boxes came home with Mike the other day... more vases-- oh my-- where are we gonna store all this... and then in about 2 months we will have Amanda's apartment coming home... and then in 3 months Christopher has grand plans to move back home... hmmm 3 homes and 1 wedding in my house???? I'm thinking we set up a maze of boxes and charge admission???

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Top 5 reasons we know spring is coming


Top 5 reasons we know spring is coming....

5. The frogs are back
4. Spring Back... longer daylight...no driving home in the dark
3. No mittens in the morning
2. I put away the last of the christmas decorations today
1. Madison has easter ribbon on

Friday, March 07, 2008

Got this in an email today... it made me smile.

So I got this not once but twice in my inbox today... and I must say that I enjoyed it so much that I read it both times---
If you have pets you probably have found yourself actually talking out loud and saying of few of these rules to them... especially about the stairs...

Pet Rules...

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

>> Dear Dog s, and Cats:
>>
>> The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The
>> other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a
>> paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim
>> for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that
>> aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
>
>> The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.
>> Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't
>> help because I fall faster than you can run.>>
>>
>> I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry
>> about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to
>> ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball
>> when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each
>> other stretched out to the fullest extent pos sible. I also know
>> that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the
>> other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
>>
>> For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If
>> by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut,
>> it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or
>> get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must
>> exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the
>> bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.
>>
>> The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's
>> butt. I cannot stress this enough
>>
>> To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on
>> our front door:
>>
>> To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About O ur Pets:
>>
>> 1. They live here. You don't.
>>
>> 2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the
>> furniture. (That's why they call it 'fur'niture.)
>>
>> 3. I like my pets a lot better than I like some people.
>>
>> 4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted
>> son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't
>> speak clearly.
>>
>>
>> Remember:
>>
>> In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
>>
>> 1. Eat less.
>>
>> 2. Don't ask for money all the time.
>>
>> 3. Are easier to train.
>>
>> 4. Normally come when called.
>>
>> 5. Never ask to drive the car.
>>
>> 6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends.
>>
>> 7. Don't smoke or drink.
>>
>> 8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions.
>>
>> 9. Don't want to wear your clothes.
>>
>> 10. Don't need a 'gazillion' dollars for college.
>>
>> And finally:
>>
>> 11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Spring is coming

Yes spring is coming and I have proof!! yea yea I know we have had a few warm days.. and even a few tulips are spouting up alittle greenery... but guess who's backkkkkk? My froggie friends!! that has to be a sign that spring is right around the corner right???

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Home again...


We all made it home from Las Vegas in one piece-- Thank goodness for the long plane ride home Napping at its best! To say it was an exhausting trip is an understatement. Some of us (Christopher) didn't miss a beat in Vegas... and didn't sleep much either.. I think we calculated it out and he only got about 10 hours total-- and yes that includes sleeping in the car!

We got to see David and Summer while we were in town. He took us out to the Suncoast Casino our first night out. After feeding our faces (gotta love a buffet) we hit the floor-- the boys tried out the craps table while I stayed in the safe zone of the slot machines... We didn't win-- but we had fun...


The track was great! We had a great sunny day to hang out- shop- and tailgate (if you can call it tailgating when your in a rental car!) Sunscreen was a necessity-- I think that made it an even better day after the long cold days at home it was nice to feel the sun beating down on us.


We had incredible seats for the race.. turn four-- lots of action both days! And the view was incredible!

So many stories... hmmm what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.... I don't think so... or as Mike might have mentioned not if you have witnesses ..... stay tuned while I decide what stories to tell!