Cleaning, Cleaning, Cleaning, And I’m Exhausted!

#1 son graduates from high school next week. Well, we hope anyway, he still has to pass those end-of-course tests, but assuming he passes them (and he feels confident!), he graduates on my birthday! How cool is that?

My mom and niece are flying up for the ceremony. This is only the 5th time in 19 years that Mom's come to visit us...usually we go to visit her. So, I’ve been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

I’m exhausted! And sadly, I’m still not done.

But at least I'm not only one who's exhausted. Last weekend, hubby and the kiddos got to clean the garage and paint the deck. They don't know it yet, but this weekend, they get to do yard work :)

What I’m Reading

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin



I bought this book for #2 son, because he had to read it for English class. I’d never read it before. It was on the kitchen counter, so when I was cooking dinner one night—waiting for my chicken to brown—I picked it up and read a few pages. And then I kept reading. It’s a really good book. If you haven’t read it yet, you should check it out. You can read more about it by clicking HERE.

Happy Memorial Day

"Most of those who died in defense of our country were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives - the one they were living, and the one they would have lived. They gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up everything for their country ... for us. And all we can do is remember." -- Ronald Reagan

I Hate Windows Vista!

A few months ago my laptop got a nasty, nasty virus. After spending days trying to fix the problem and getting nowhere, computer-expert hubby decided to reformat and rebuild. Since I was--thankfully!--able to save my files, that wasn’t a problem.

Then we talked about what operating system to install. I had Windows XP. I was happy with Windows XP. But since I’d heard that it was going to become obsolete in the relatively near future, with Microsoft no longer selling or supporting it, I reluctantly gave the go-head to install Windows Vista.

I HATE IT! Now my laptop is sloooooooooooooooooooooooooow as molasses.

I am not a happy camper.

Why do companies do this? They discontinue products customers like for 'new and improved' and a big majority of the time it’s not improved at all. If you’re lucky the new product is 'just as good'. If you’re not lucky, like in the case of Vista, it’s inferior.

International Jazz Day

Living with a saxophonist (#1 son), a trumpeter (#2 son), and a drummer (hubby), jazz is very prevalent in our home. Today is International Jazz Day, and in honor of that, I’m posting a video of "In The Mood" (one of my favorite swing-jazz songs) performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Enjoy!

Something To Make You Smile

The things kids say...

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One day a first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part where Chicken Little warns the farmer "The sky is falling!" The teacher then asked the class, "And what do you think that farmer said?"

One little girl raised her hand and said, "I think he said Holy shit! A talking chicken!"

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An exasperated mother whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"

The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I’ll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, For Heaven’s sake, come in or stay out!"

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A small boy was sent to bed by his father.

Five minutes later:
"Da-aaad!"
"What?"
"I’m thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?"
"No. You had your chance. Go to sleep."

Five minutes later:
"Da-aaad!"
"What?"
"I’m thirsty. Can I have a drink of water?"
"I told you no. If you ask again, I’ll have to spank you!"

Five minutes later:
"Da-aaad! When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?"

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A four-year-old child came into the bedroom as her mother was undressing to get in the shower. Mom was six months pregnant.

"Mommy, you’re getting fat!" the little girl said.

"Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy."

"I know," her daughter replied, "but what’s growing in your butt?"

Prize Winners--May Contest & NCP Spring Scavenger Hunt

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in my May contest! I had my husband draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is...Sharon W. from Minnesota. Sharon won a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble (her choice from either Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Borders Books). Congrats, Sharon!

I’d also like to announce that Rhonda B. from Ohio and Sara W. from Virginia each won a download of my book Her Protector in the NCP Spring Scavenger Hunt. I hope you enjoy the book, ladies!

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of June for information about my next contest. It’s going to be something special, so you will not want to miss it!

May Contest (ends 05/20/08)--Win a Gift Card

The winner of my May contest will receive a $10 gift card to either Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Borders Books (winner’s choice).

Click HERE to visit my website for all the details of the contest. The last date for entry is May 20, 2008.