[Ten on Tuesday] 10 Things You're Looking Forward to in the Spring

There's really one thing and one thing only that really expresses what I'm looking forward to this spring:

1.  N
2.  O
3.  M
4.  O
5.  R
6.  E
7.  S
8.  N
9.  O
10.W

[Ten on Tuesday] 10 Favorite Drinks

This is actually a fairly easy list to make, though I can nearly promise you at half will be one thing!

1. Water - It sustains us all. And it's about the only Core thing I can drink.

2. Milk - Again, Core. But I do love it anyhow!

3. Water - What did I tell you?

4. Unsweetened Tea - At McDonald's, I prefer the unsweetened kind. At the local Chinese place too. Most other restaurants, I ask for the Raspberry teas, because I'm pretty sure that many don't serve the unsweetened variety.

5. Water - Yes, again. It constitutes the majority of my beverage choices.

6. Sex on the Beach - If I have an alcoholic beverage when (if) we go out, this is one.

7. Water - uh huh. Amazingly, no, it doesn't get old.

8. Kahula and Cream - Yum. But fattening. Good thing we don't go out often anymore. Not that we went much to begin with.

9. Water - it never ends. But I do like it a lot!

10. Herbal Teas - Raspberry especially, but also Chamomile. With honey. My honey makes it the best (the next runner up being my daughter).

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[Ten on Tuesday] 10 Movies That You've Intended to Watch, but Haven't

This should be a fairly easy list to make, all I really have to do is look over what dvds we have in our collection that I haven't read yet!  :-)  So, here's the pile, with a couple that we don't have or that have passed through my "to watch" pile!

1.  The Lake House - this was bought with several others (some that I haven't watched yet either) because it sounded good, and I just haven't sat down to watch it yet!

2. Luther - I bought this because I was raised Lutheran and have always been interested and intrigued by the history of, well, my history.  It's sorta like why I got The Dreamcatcher, a movie based on Native American history (Native American Studies was my minor in college)---but I've watched that one.  I like it so much that I bought it---it was a made for tv movie.

3.  Bambi II - can you believe they made a sequel to this?  What, does Bambi actually die in this one?  What's the point?  But I want to one day see if the story in this one can match the original.

4.  Lord of War - simply because we bought it, and it's still sitting on the shelf.  I'm pretty sure T's already watched it (because he would be the one it was bought "for").

5.  The Wicker Man - it seemed intriguing when we bought it.

6.  Van Helsing - it's got Hugh Jackman.  Need I say more?

7.  The Neverending Story II - I know I've seen the original like a million times.  Can they capitalize on the success?  And would it be a good idea?

8.  Fahrenheit 9/11 - I'm interested in politics.  It's not just a passing fancy---but it's so complicated and depressing that I really can't concentrate on it long.  Or I'll get really...depressed.  But I WANT to watch it. 

9.  SiCKO - We haven't bought this one yet, but I DO want to see it---and everyone that HAS seen it highly recommends it!  (Hi, Teresa!)  And of course for the same reason as #8. :-)

10. Gone in 60 Seconds - My dad owns the remake.  And the original.  And my mom got the director/writer/producer's autograph when we saw him one day on the streets in his...hometown, which is the next town over from where we live (a little research WILL finally get you where I live) just DAYS (if not the day before) he died.  That was tragic!  :-(  I'm not as interested in seeing the remake as I am in seeing the original.  Few names as big as this came from this area. 

Bonus:  This I should be *real* proud of...my exercise videos.  I've really got to start hitting those :-|


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10 on Tuesday #6

10 on Tuesday: 10 Things That Were Better “Way Back When”

Tell me what things WEREN'T better "Way Back When"---back before we had responsiblites, before we had kids, before we had ages in the double digits...it was all better back then, because we were still kids.... (P.S. Way Back When=the 80's and 90's)

1. And being kids way back when was better. We had no idea there were molesters (even though there were and many people knew it very well. I wasn't one, but it breaks my heart to know there ever were), or that people were killed because of the sick twisted appetites of others, or that the world was going to start collapsing on us.

2. Because tv was better then. Do you remember "The Brady Bunch"? Okay, bad example, I was never a fan---but how about Saved By The Bell? You know, I happened to watch a movie this weekend with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, where he played a really bad guy---sort of a subtle one. Like those molesters we didn't know anything about back in #1. Back before Screech thought it was funny and cool to make a porn video. I mean, did you SEE him on Celebrity Weight Loss? What an A$$!!! I could not believe it was him---either of them, Screech on that Celebrity Weight Loss show, and Zach in that movie. Part of me was like "that's sweet and innocent Screech!" And "Wow, it's hottie sweet and innocent Zach. What Happened?!?!?!?"

3. Movies were better. And many of the ideas were still original. They're starting to do remakes of many movies in the 80's and 90's. Like they're classics!?!?!?!?! I'm NOT that old yet!!! And the "original" idea of Romeo And Juliet, with Claire Daines and Leonardo! :-S

4. Music....oh baby. Back when the members of Warrant were still young? I saw Janie Lane on that Celebrity Weight Loss show a few seasons ago (you understand, I don't watch that religiously like Biggest Loser, but still...I've noticed these things!). When the Crue was still together---and they hadn't all washed out or near death from all the drugs they were shooting themselves up with. And when Garth Brooks was just starting out....Man, the memories!!! :-P Oh, and P.S.---I'm not 40 yet, how is my music then CLASSIC?????

5. Movie stars. When all the good ones---Vincent D'Onofrio, Leonardo, Tom Cruise (back when he didn't turn my stomach), Tom Hanks---when they were young and fresh, and some were just at the start of their game, if not in the best of it! And the Coreys...back when I could still lust after them! :-S

6. Money. It went further. My mom might have complained, but her dollar went further, for the house, car, utilities and groceries. Now we all have to choose. And back then THEY worried about it, not ME.

7. Weather. Back then, when it was supposed to snow, it snowed. When it was the season for rain, it rained. When it was time to be warm and comfortable, it was warm and comfortable. None of this getting warm at the beginning of January. What's WITH that??? I'm so happy it's snowing again. Even though I get stressed when we slip and slide, but at least it's the weather the calendar says we're supposed to have!

8. Food. Food's great now, and I like trying and making new and different things, but it just doesn't taste like it should anymore. And I didn't have to make it.

9. Household chores. It seems it was always so much easier to do them back then. I guess it's because I have less cooperation than my mom ever had. Lucky her.

10. Weight monitoring. I got my butt out of the house---every day. What happened? I don't know, but I don't feel great about my weight this week. I'm not even going to tonight's meeting! I'll find one tomorrow...I think I already have one :-S

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I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to next week's list---10 thing you'd do with a million $'s! What an awesome song---If I Had A Million Dollars...by Barenaked Ladies! :-D

10 on Tuesday #5

10 best photos of 2007
I had the 10 best moments, but the 10 best photos is better and way more fun! I won't often post pictures of my family (that's saved for such "securable" places as myspace or Facebook, where I can let only certain people see stuff), but these are some real treats! Most are taken by my husband!

1.


I took this one---it's the afghan I made for Sam, a resident at the Home my mom's at who has befriended P. :-)

2.This actually features another one of my projects, because those are the costumes I made for both my kids. He's a Fruity Tootsie Roll that just DIDN'T like his wrapper, and I made a "cloak" and tie for D for being Hermionie. :-)

3.

Little guy playing with his ball out in the parking area in the back. The best place for the kids to play is actually a paved area where cars are often going by, some really fast (so much so I have yelled at the drivers before!). Now you know why I want a big yard (again, the place before here had one, and because they turned it into student housing, they paved it for parking :-P).

4.,
Daddy's half asleep, but you gotta love the little guy hamming it up for the camera!!!

5.
He might be a little devil (or Hurricane, as that's his nickname), but you gotta LOVE that smile!!! I think his shirt is very appropriate for him!!!

6.

There's nothing like a Lake Erie sunset! T took this while his brother was here :-)

7.T's always loved taking pictures of fires at night. This was the fire pit while we were camping with his brother, probably the same day as the sunset.


8.A DOUBLE tigerlily. Found on one of the trails in the same park as we camped at

9.
My 2 babies. You gotta love how much they love each other (when refrains of the ever popular "leave me alone" or "mom, he's getting into my stuff" aren't playing). They're going to be great friends when they're older. This is one of his FAVORITE toys :-D

10.

Too cute. He fell asleep on the couch, and managed to get himself in this position. I suppose, he was comfortable! I'm not sure what spilled on the pillow though. Some things around here :-|

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10 on Tuesday #4

Yes, I skipped a week. I didn't have much to list last week, and my odd funk started after Christmas was over. I don't know if it was just a general let down after all the "fun" leading up to the holiday---I know I WAS NOT stressing myself out AT ALL (at least, not over the major things---I wasn't too crazy if you remember over my sister still not getting me what I wanted, something I actually paid the majority of, blah blah blah)---or if this is just how my moods are going to start going. Oh well, more commentary on that in another post (probably one under this, as I'm going to post this, then write for Monday, the last day of the old year).

Without further ado:

10 Predictions for the New Year

1. We're going to move. A no brainer? Maybe. I want to move. We need to move, for one reason or another. Just as long as we're not FORCED to move by our landlord, that's all I care about.

2. P's development will just BUST OUT. With all of everyone's (read: my sister and mom) concern over "he's not talking enough" blah blah blah---give the kid some time. I'm not a mom who is ignoring that there's a problem. But sometimes people just blow such stuff out of proportion. He's learning, I get to see him every day and I think I've got a better gauge on how and what he's learning than everyone else. And it's not as if I didn't need just ONE MORE THING to worry and obsess about.

3. The elections will be a surprise. You know, a lot of these predictions aren't based on "guesses" so much as evaluation of past events and current trends. Of course, you might say something like the elections can't be determined. Or, that current trends will tell us just what will happen. I don't think so. There have been too many elections that ended just crazy (let's see, to reference one since I've been able to vote, let's see---uh---2000!). Don't put all your eggs in one basket as far as the caucuses, primaries, or even how it looks the general election will be until they happen.

4. The new pres won't be quite what we figured BEFORE we voted, AFTER he (or she) takes office. This runs more into 2009, since that's when our new pres will take office, but I don't think we'll get what we bargained for. We never do :-|

5. Someone in this family will have a baby. NO I'm not talking about myself (necessarily). Well, I'm not saying there's anything I haven't mentioned yet. There's little possibility of that right now (since we have this small theory that the only time I'm really fertile is in September). But, do realize there are 3 other choices besides me. T's got 2 brothers (hey, his older brother will NOT be out of the running until he's gone! Which hopefully won't be for a long time!), and my sister is married. I don't know whether or not T's younger brother and his wife are planning on another (you know, that would be 4 kids in less than 5 years!), but we've all got the possibility to get pregnant and have (another) kid!

6. I hesitate at this---someone we know may die. I don't know who---but we have really had a derth of deaths in the family in recent years. Crazy way to put it---but we've had 2 this year. Hmm, maybe 3. Still, I feel more coming---I just hope it's not anyone close to us. :-|

7. People WILL buy more candles.

At least, they better!

No, no, I will be working on this more. I have to!

8. I'll get more penpals. I keep getting letters in the mail from more people who see my name in an fb and decide to write me. I was wondering earlier, what exactly is it that makes someone say "hey, I think I'll write HER" when they see my name? I'm a child of God, worthy of love and all, but you know how low self esteem is. It makes me wonder is all.

9. I WILL get back on track with Flylady. Why? Because I have to.

10. All those bills that have been a nagging me because of the phone calls and the very fact that they exist will get taken care of, at least a small part of them! Because they have to. And because of #9.

Okay, prepare yourself for a real soul searching post in the next one. Maybe. I'm going to go make dinner, then we will see!!!

10 on Tuesday #3

I can't believe I didn't think of this until last night, which is why this is getting posted "late" (well, later than I wanted it to)

10 things I'd like for Christmas
1. People to buy candles (I'm just being honest---and they really ARE a great product!)
2. A new apartment. I want out of here so bad, really. I feel like the walls are closing in on me sometimes---and I almost never feel that crazy---and it's really too small for even the 4 of us. Though I'm sure in old times more people lived in smaller houses (maybe even this one)---but they had less stuff (and they would have been using both levels :-P). A woman's house then wouldn't necessarily get really bad, because she had little to keep track of!
3. I'll go with what my daughter told Santa this weekend---everyone to understand the meaning of the season and discover Jesus for themselves!

4. What I told my husband---a cross necklace. There are some nice ones in WalMart right now. I pointed out the really cheap ones, but if he was nice (and smart) he'd get me one of the fancier/gold ones at the jewelry counter. I've always wanted a "Mother's ring" with the birthstones for the kids and their names on it. :-) But he doesn't have to get that and I don't think he knows.
5. Continued peace of mind---since I accepted Jesus in my life again, even through the hardest most confusing times I've felt better. I've felt low, but not as low as before, and I've been able to get through. The first thing I've nearly always done is pray some kind of prayer.
(I think it's a good thing that I really don't have many things I really want. I'm lost beyond this point.)
6.?
7.?
8.?
9.?
10.?

10 on Tuesday #2

This week's post is supposed to be 10 Favorite things to Complain about. As soon as I saw that last week, I knew I just couldn't do that. I have to do 10 Favorite things to Praise God For. Because I don't like to complain. Sometimes around here it might seem like that, and I could certainly come up with 10 things, but I just don't feel right doing it. (Besides, if you really want to go the Complaint route, MOST of these things apply that way too!!! Just not 1 or 8.)

1. Jesus. And bringing me back to the fold. Even though things might seem hard right now, they are so much easier to deal with because I know God loves me and wants me to confide and abide in Him, He will carry me through, and my family and I will be just fine when it's all done :-)
   
2. T. He's the love of my life, the bread to my butter (and vice versa), the wonderful daddy to my kids, my soul mate, my sounding board, my everything.
3. D and P. They may be pains from time to time, but they are great kids. I can't say enough good things about them. She really is a smart girl, and it's just amazing watching him growing up!
   
4. Life itself. Where would I be if I couldn't experience this wonderful, awful, tremendous thing we call life. A roller coaster it is, but God is my seatbelt! :-D
5. Sleeping babies. They are little angels when they are asleep, perhaps the only time they are really good.
6. This apartment. It may not be perfect, and we may need to get out, but at least it's an roof over our heads.
7. My family. I'm not talking about T, D and P here. I'm talking about my mom and dad, my sister, her husband and his sister and mom, and all of my husband's relatives, even the ones I'd rather do without. Because they all had a part in shaping my wonderful husband.
8. The Candle Biz and everyone included in it. I put my mentor/sponsor down as one of the things I was thankful for when I wrote my Thanksgiving list (sorta a practice for the Thursday Thirteen, hee hee), and I really mean it. She and her sponsor are two really great ladies. When my second recruit had a million questions, they helped me answer them for her! In fact, that made sure to give the right answers, which I wasn't totally sure about! And I've not just used Mary as help, but she's been a sounding board too lately! Lots of people get to listen to me...:-P I love that she does in fact have Yahoo messenger, because now I can pull her up almost any time, and she's right there nearly any time I need her. It used to be through email or the phone, but now that I know she's on the net too---poor lady, she's gotten a lot of questions even from me! And she's so ready to help with EVERYTHING!
9. Newspaper. It's soaking up what got on the floor from the ceiling that didn't go into the buckets!
   
10. Snow. I live in WNY. I love snow for the first month or two. Christmas is not Christmas without snow!
    

10 on Tuesday

Lucky us, my first meme.....more to come soon!!! :-)

Anyhow, without further ado...

10 Best Games (video, board, card, etc)

1. Miles Bourne - hands down. I LOVE that card game. I went crazy with happiness that Pogo.com came up with a game almost but not quite like it (Thousand Island Solitaire), so much so that I commented on it in a post to one of my groups. They must have thought I was loony---but then some knew the game I was talking about, some googled it just because they were curious!

2. Buzz Word - Oh, this one is fun. Too bad for my family that I just LOVE word games, puns, cliches, idioms, etc. I'll win every time we play this....they can only hope I'm the one giving the clues. Oh well, let's them all learn, right? Now I feel bad...but I'm still getting this for the family for Christmas!

3. Football - Okay, I don't play it, it's a sport and not technically a GAME, but COME ON PEOPLE! It's FOOTBALL. I may be a (die hard, life long, never say die) Bills fan, but I LOVE the game! And it's not the big burly guys running around in tight pants either (though there was a day when they turned my head). I just love it. I'll even cheer for the Broncos, thanks to T, once in a while too. And any AFC team as long as it's not one I can't stand, like the Dolphins...okay, if the Bills aren't in the Super Bowl, I'm cheering for the AFC team no matter who they are. Maybe not the Raiders.

4. Sim City 3000 - Yeah, the graphics are lame, it's an old game, but the sound effects were cute. We'd never be able to get the money right (yeah, I just suck at finances. But I'm better than T at them.), but it was still fun to see the towns grow.

5. Tetris - I'm sure my husband would wonder how it is that this isn't #1. Well, I just didn't think of it first. But it is one of the best. I like the problem solving part. I like all of it. I like the TetrisMania that I downloaded onto my last cell phone. Fun times...

6. Klax - Here's one to definitely blame on my hubby. He bought this one multi game pack that had Klax when we had the Playstation. We still have it, it's just not hooked up. Anyhow, I fell for this game. It's no different than Tetris in some ways (and it looks like, according to the Wikipedia reference I found, that it was supposed to be a follow up to Tetris).

7. Tickle fights - Okay, not a game per se either. But they are fun. I'd always lose to most of my friends, as I'm rather ticklish (to the hubby too), but it's so much fun to tickle a kid. My favorite is when they are old enough to have learned what you are going to do when you just start coming at them with a wiggling finger and they collapse into giggles as soon as they see your finger. Too cute.

8. Scrabble - This was one of the games which, when we played it when I was a kid, you didn't want to be on the team AGAINST me and my dad---and since there were only 4 of us in the family, my poor sister and mom had to work TWICE as hard to win. Which they didn't often.

9. Weffriddles - Talk about mindblowing. I'm still at level 54.1, but I don't know if it's a real level or not. I haven't played that game in nearly a year, but I'll pick it back up someday. I still have my notes, and I still have my place bookmarked. :-| Thanks a lot FIBN ladies! :-S

10. Catan - Awesome strategy game T's best friend C showed to us our first time in Colorado. We saw it at Borders, I'd love to get it one day, but not with the way games get used around here. That's not something I'm happy about. But it's an AWESOME game.

You know, I didn't think this was going to be so hard. I mean, we used to play games a lot when I was a kid. It was fun having game night. But that was 13+ years ago too. We don't play many in our house. I just don't know what's up with that....:-S