Happy belated 4th of July! We had a very nice, quiet weekend. I hope y'all had the same!
I realized in the middle of our nice quiet weekend that I hadn't blogged about the books I read last month! EEK! I'm falling down on the job here. *sigh* Sorry! I didn't read very much this month. I just had too much going on to have time to sit and read. Hopefully July will be quieter.
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Another installation in the Blossom Street series, this story focuses on the life of Anne Marie, young widow and owner of a book store. She and four friends, all of whom are also widows, decide to make a list of twenty things they would like to do. One starts out by buying a new red sports car. Another signs up for a belly dancing class. Anne Marie signs up to volunteer at a local elementary school. As everyone's list grows, the friends realize that working towards making each wish come true is having positive impact on their lives and the lives of people around them. Another very good book by Macomber!
Mum's the Word by Kate Collins
Abby owns a flower shop in a suburb of Chicago. She is happy with her life, although struggling to stay in business. After a black SUV rams her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run, Abby is determined to track down the driver. Enter Marco Salvare - former cop and owner of a bar just a few doors down from her flower shop. He agrees to help Abby, but as Abby continues to dig deeper into the hit-and-run and a murder just a block from her shop things go from bad to worse. Police corruption, drugs, murderous road rage. Abby is in over her head. Can Marco save her and help her solve the mystery? Or will Abby finally listen to Marco and her friends and quit meddling?
Enchanted Afternoon by Susan Wiggs
Helena Cabot Barnes is the leading lady of Saratoga Springs. Following hte death of her father, an influential senator, Helena realizes that her husband is a violent and dangerous man. She and her son flee to Moon Lake Lodge, where she creates a refuge for other women in need of a safe haven. She turns to a former love, Michael Rowan, for help in divorcing her husband. Michael is the man who broke her heart and fathered her child. When Michael refuses to assist her and the society ladies ignore her, Helena realizes she must find the strength to help herself and other ladies in search of safety. A great read!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Mark of the Vampire
Okay, so after rereading this I see that's it kind of an odd post, but I'm in an odd mood so I'm posting it anyway. If you're squeamish about ER stories you may want to skip it. Just sayin'......
This past Wednesday evening Ed and I made a sojourn to the local ER. I had been experiencing pain just below the right side of my rib cage since last Friday and what had started out as occasionally uncomfortable had morphed into down right unbearable. Luckily the ER was not busy (we were shocked!) and we were in and out of there in right at two hours. Unheard of, huh? That included an IV, two "blood lettings", waiting for test results, and an ultrasound. I'm thinking that's one for the record books!
Anyway, EVERYONE that I talked to in the ER said they thought I probably had gall stones. Ed and I had reached the same conclusion after doing lots of web research, so we weren't surprised to hear our suspicions seconded. I had classic symptoms! The doctor was great - he actually spoke English - and the nurses were very friendly and courteous. But I think my favorite person of the evening was Marco.
Marco introduced himself as a vampire and, although I was disappointed when he said he did not sparkle in sunlight, I was most impressed with his blood drawing skills. I'm not the kind of person that can watch blood being drawn. I'm fine as long as I don't see it, but if I even catch an accidental glimpse I get VERY queasy. Ed, on the other hand, is not phased at all by it and seemed to enjoy watching me get stuck with, as he called it, a needle the size of a sewer pipe. I must say that Marco warned me that I'd feel a "big stick" and you know that's NEVER a good sign. In my experience that usually means I'm about to suck all the air out of the room as the pain radiates through my entire body. While I DID feel a big stick and it did hurt like the dickens, it only hurt for a second! I was amazed! Even the switching of the vials as he harvested enough blood to feed his entire vampire family for at least a week wasn't too bad!
Shortly there after I was wheeled away for an ultrasound. Imagine everyone's surprise when the ultrasound showed a beautifully healthy and crystal clear gallbladder! Good new, right? Yeh, except that I was still in major pain....Turns out I either have a nasty reaction to some really strong antibiotics that I took recently or I have some sort of liver virus. Either way the symptoms are the same. I should find out the results sometime this next week. In the meantime I'm taking massive doses of Motrin and trying to get some extra rest. I'm hoping it's just the reaction to the meds, as that will have fewer lasting effects. The virus can take up to 3 months to go away and I could have relapses during the following 6 to 9 months. Can't say I'd like that too much. I'll keep you posted.
Want to see the results of the IV? This is my right forearm. I don't think Marco was the cause of this, I think it bled under the skin after the nurse removed the IV. Note the little white circle in the middle - that's where the IV catheter was. It's starting to look better - it's turning a lovely shade of green around the edges. :)
After the nurse removed it and I was all dressed and ready to go, she came back in and said the lab called and needed more blood. Dude! I didn't have any left! Enter Marco. Again. He looked at the IV site and said "No way!" so he stuck me in the other arm. Oh joy! I gritted my teeth and prepared for the worst, but this time he used a teensy weensy needle that I seriously didn't feel at all! I was so happy! :) I didn't have a bruise on my left arm until this evening. While I was out picking tomatoes I saw a very faint bluish-greenish spot on my arm. In fact it's so light it will probably be gone by Monday. See?
Much better than my right arm, huh? :)
This past Wednesday evening Ed and I made a sojourn to the local ER. I had been experiencing pain just below the right side of my rib cage since last Friday and what had started out as occasionally uncomfortable had morphed into down right unbearable. Luckily the ER was not busy (we were shocked!) and we were in and out of there in right at two hours. Unheard of, huh? That included an IV, two "blood lettings", waiting for test results, and an ultrasound. I'm thinking that's one for the record books!
Anyway, EVERYONE that I talked to in the ER said they thought I probably had gall stones. Ed and I had reached the same conclusion after doing lots of web research, so we weren't surprised to hear our suspicions seconded. I had classic symptoms! The doctor was great - he actually spoke English - and the nurses were very friendly and courteous. But I think my favorite person of the evening was Marco.
Marco introduced himself as a vampire and, although I was disappointed when he said he did not sparkle in sunlight, I was most impressed with his blood drawing skills. I'm not the kind of person that can watch blood being drawn. I'm fine as long as I don't see it, but if I even catch an accidental glimpse I get VERY queasy. Ed, on the other hand, is not phased at all by it and seemed to enjoy watching me get stuck with, as he called it, a needle the size of a sewer pipe. I must say that Marco warned me that I'd feel a "big stick" and you know that's NEVER a good sign. In my experience that usually means I'm about to suck all the air out of the room as the pain radiates through my entire body. While I DID feel a big stick and it did hurt like the dickens, it only hurt for a second! I was amazed! Even the switching of the vials as he harvested enough blood to feed his entire vampire family for at least a week wasn't too bad!
Shortly there after I was wheeled away for an ultrasound. Imagine everyone's surprise when the ultrasound showed a beautifully healthy and crystal clear gallbladder! Good new, right? Yeh, except that I was still in major pain....Turns out I either have a nasty reaction to some really strong antibiotics that I took recently or I have some sort of liver virus. Either way the symptoms are the same. I should find out the results sometime this next week. In the meantime I'm taking massive doses of Motrin and trying to get some extra rest. I'm hoping it's just the reaction to the meds, as that will have fewer lasting effects. The virus can take up to 3 months to go away and I could have relapses during the following 6 to 9 months. Can't say I'd like that too much. I'll keep you posted.
Want to see the results of the IV? This is my right forearm. I don't think Marco was the cause of this, I think it bled under the skin after the nurse removed the IV. Note the little white circle in the middle - that's where the IV catheter was. It's starting to look better - it's turning a lovely shade of green around the edges. :)
After the nurse removed it and I was all dressed and ready to go, she came back in and said the lab called and needed more blood. Dude! I didn't have any left! Enter Marco. Again. He looked at the IV site and said "No way!" so he stuck me in the other arm. Oh joy! I gritted my teeth and prepared for the worst, but this time he used a teensy weensy needle that I seriously didn't feel at all! I was so happy! :) I didn't have a bruise on my left arm until this evening. While I was out picking tomatoes I saw a very faint bluish-greenish spot on my arm. In fact it's so light it will probably be gone by Monday. See?
Much better than my right arm, huh? :)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Just in Time for Father's Day...
In a freak burst of creativity yesterday, I managed to make two cards. And they were both "guy" cards, which any stamper knows is one of the toughest type of card to make. I was quite pleased with how quickly these came together as I had dreaded sitting down to make Father's Day cards. Dad's card is 3 1/4" x 6 1/2", and Ed's is 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".
First, for my dad....
Image: Bronc Buster by Stampin' Up, stamped in Night of Navy ink
PP: from the Back Country collection by The Paper Loft
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White (all SU)
Other: twill tape sponged w/ Night of Navy ink, brads, ovals cut with Coluzzle, paper piercing
For Ed.....
Image: Noble Deer by Stampin' Up, stamped in Night of Navy ink
PP: from the Back Country collection by The Paper Loft
Cardstock: Kraft, Night of Navy, True Thyme, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla (all SU)
Other: vintage snaps
I found the Back Country collection of paper when Ed and I went to Fredericksburg a few weeks ago. There is a wonderful scrapbooking/stamping store on the main street of town called Journey Lane. I spent way too much time looking around and could have spent a ton of money on all of the gorgeous papers they stock. Next time I go to Archiver's I'm going to look for more of the Paper Loft collections. I love what I bought and I want more! :)
Happy Father's Day!
First, for my dad....
Image: Bronc Buster by Stampin' Up, stamped in Night of Navy ink
PP: from the Back Country collection by The Paper Loft
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White (all SU)
Other: twill tape sponged w/ Night of Navy ink, brads, ovals cut with Coluzzle, paper piercing
For Ed.....
Image: Noble Deer by Stampin' Up, stamped in Night of Navy ink
PP: from the Back Country collection by The Paper Loft
Cardstock: Kraft, Night of Navy, True Thyme, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla (all SU)
Other: vintage snaps
I found the Back Country collection of paper when Ed and I went to Fredericksburg a few weeks ago. There is a wonderful scrapbooking/stamping store on the main street of town called Journey Lane. I spent way too much time looking around and could have spent a ton of money on all of the gorgeous papers they stock. Next time I go to Archiver's I'm going to look for more of the Paper Loft collections. I love what I bought and I want more! :)
Happy Father's Day!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Cards!
Yes, I made two cards! Amazing, isn't it? ;)
Two birthday's this weekend, so one card for each.....
Sorry about the blurry picture. Not sure what happened, but all 3 pics turned out blurry. I took this pic in a rush before going to work yesterday, so I didn't take the time to check it. Oh, well.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Jersey Shore from Stampin' Up
Image: Changito's from Stampendous colored w/ Prismacolor pencils and OMS, Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamped in Pumpkin Pie
Offray Ribbon from Wal-mart
This one is for my sister. I colored this image at least one year ago, maybe longer. I think I'll use some of my colored images to make cards in the coming weeks.
Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi
Paper: Cutie Pie from Stampin' Up
Image: Bookwormabella from Stampingbella colored w/ Prismacolor pencils and OMS, Itty Bitty Backgrounds from Stampin' Up stamped in So Saffron ink
Sentiment: From CTMH
Wild Wasabi ribbon
Summer Stamp Challenge Stats: 2 down, 98 to go!
Two birthday's this weekend, so one card for each.....
Sorry about the blurry picture. Not sure what happened, but all 3 pics turned out blurry. I took this pic in a rush before going to work yesterday, so I didn't take the time to check it. Oh, well.Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Jersey Shore from Stampin' Up
Image: Changito's from Stampendous colored w/ Prismacolor pencils and OMS, Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamped in Pumpkin Pie
Offray Ribbon from Wal-mart
This one is for my sister. I colored this image at least one year ago, maybe longer. I think I'll use some of my colored images to make cards in the coming weeks.Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi
Paper: Cutie Pie from Stampin' Up
Image: Bookwormabella from Stampingbella colored w/ Prismacolor pencils and OMS, Itty Bitty Backgrounds from Stampin' Up stamped in So Saffron ink
Sentiment: From CTMH
Wild Wasabi ribbon
Summer Stamp Challenge Stats: 2 down, 98 to go!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
One small step....
Well, I have found the top of my stamping desk and all rogue items have been wrangled back to their proper homes. Have I made any cards yet? Nope! Not yet! I do have one that I need to make today. I don't really like making "cards on demand," but sometimes you just gotta do what you just gotta do. At least I have a clean spot to work now. I'll share the card when I can.
On a totally unrelated topic, I saw this picture this morning on ihasahotdog and had to share. It reminds me of Sam and Emma. Sam is such a patient, gentle dog and I wonder how often he's thinking this very thing when Emma is pestering him. :)
On a totally unrelated topic, I saw this picture this morning on ihasahotdog and had to share. It reminds me of Sam and Emma. Sam is such a patient, gentle dog and I wonder how often he's thinking this very thing when Emma is pestering him. :)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Game On!
This is what my stamping desk looks like at this very moment...
Pretty bad, huh? If I had made that mess while crafting it wouldn't be quite so awful, but the fact is that I have only put ink to paper once in the past two months. It's shameful, really. It's all about to change, though. Next weekend my sister and I are having a yard sale and I'm selling a large majority of my stamp sets. If it hasn't seen ink in the past year, it's out of here! And that's a LOT of stamps! I'm also getting rid of a bunch of stuff that I had planned alter or embellish "someday" along with lots of ribbon, fibers, embellishments and assorted other stamping stuff that is just sitting around taking up space. If you're a stamper or scrapper and you are interested, email me and I'll send you the address and time of the sale.
Bryan leaves tomorrow afternoon and next week I'm going to try to get back on track with exercise, cooking healthier meals, and stamping. For the past two or three years I have challenged myself to make 100 cards during the summer. I've decided to do it again this year. I'm already two weeks late starting, so I have my work cut out for me. I also have to find the flat surface that's under all the stuff on my desk, as well as find where all that stuff actually goes! Maybe if I find the desk top today or tomorrow I can actually do some stamping next week. Maybe I'll find my muse in all that mess, too! :)
Pretty bad, huh? If I had made that mess while crafting it wouldn't be quite so awful, but the fact is that I have only put ink to paper once in the past two months. It's shameful, really. It's all about to change, though. Next weekend my sister and I are having a yard sale and I'm selling a large majority of my stamp sets. If it hasn't seen ink in the past year, it's out of here! And that's a LOT of stamps! I'm also getting rid of a bunch of stuff that I had planned alter or embellish "someday" along with lots of ribbon, fibers, embellishments and assorted other stamping stuff that is just sitting around taking up space. If you're a stamper or scrapper and you are interested, email me and I'll send you the address and time of the sale.
Bryan leaves tomorrow afternoon and next week I'm going to try to get back on track with exercise, cooking healthier meals, and stamping. For the past two or three years I have challenged myself to make 100 cards during the summer. I've decided to do it again this year. I'm already two weeks late starting, so I have my work cut out for me. I also have to find the flat surface that's under all the stuff on my desk, as well as find where all that stuff actually goes! Maybe if I find the desk top today or tomorrow I can actually do some stamping next week. Maybe I'll find my muse in all that mess, too! :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
May 09 Reads
It's been a month????? Wow! I had no idea that it had been that long since I posted anything. It has been a turbulent month, but we made it through. I'm contemplating my standard summer stamping challenge - 100 cards between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Since I haven't made a card in months that will be quite a challenge, if I do decide to do it. We'll see. :)
So, without further ado, here are the books I read this month:
Salvation, Texas by Anna Jeffrey
Rusty is the newly elected sheriff in the small town of Salavation, and he's up against a very well established "good old boy" system. At the top of the food chain is an old friend's father - Randall Ryder. When one of his daughter's is murdered, it's up to Rusty to prove that it was not an accident and to figure out who the guilty party is. In the meantime, the victim's sister (and Rusty's old flame), Elena steps into the picture in a big way. Can Rusty solve the crime before Ryder calls in the Texas Rangers? And can he survive rekindling his relationship with Elena? Read it and find out! :)
The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
The first in the Cottage Tales of Betrix Potter series. Children's author Beatrix Potter has purchased Hill Top Farm in the small village of Sawrey. The day before her arrival a villager is found dead. Is it murder or is a natural death? The locals don't know what to make of Miss Potter or the death of their friend. I thought it got off to a bit of a slow start, and it's not a traditional murder mystery at all, but it was enjoyable. One thing that I found interesting is that the animals in the story speak - not to the humans, but to each other. Gave it sort of an odd twist. Based loosely on the life of Beatrix Potter, author of The Tale of Peter Cottontail, et al.
The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Another winner in the Women's Murder Club series. Three mysteries in one this time around - a psychotic shooter on a ferry, children and their nannies are being kidnapped and no ransom notes are found, and Lindsay's relationship with Joe. ;) I found this one to be a bit more predictable than some of the other novels, but just as gripping. I think I read this one in two days time.
Murder Between the Covers by Elaine Viets
Oh yes, another Dead End Job Mystery. This time around Helen is working in Page Turners, a local book store, when the owner, Mr. Page Turner III, is found murdered in her neighbor's apartment. When the neighbor is sent to jail Helen and her landlady Margery do all they can to find out who the real criminal is. Very entertaining!
So, without further ado, here are the books I read this month:
Salvation, Texas by Anna Jeffrey
Rusty is the newly elected sheriff in the small town of Salavation, and he's up against a very well established "good old boy" system. At the top of the food chain is an old friend's father - Randall Ryder. When one of his daughter's is murdered, it's up to Rusty to prove that it was not an accident and to figure out who the guilty party is. In the meantime, the victim's sister (and Rusty's old flame), Elena steps into the picture in a big way. Can Rusty solve the crime before Ryder calls in the Texas Rangers? And can he survive rekindling his relationship with Elena? Read it and find out! :)
The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
The first in the Cottage Tales of Betrix Potter series. Children's author Beatrix Potter has purchased Hill Top Farm in the small village of Sawrey. The day before her arrival a villager is found dead. Is it murder or is a natural death? The locals don't know what to make of Miss Potter or the death of their friend. I thought it got off to a bit of a slow start, and it's not a traditional murder mystery at all, but it was enjoyable. One thing that I found interesting is that the animals in the story speak - not to the humans, but to each other. Gave it sort of an odd twist. Based loosely on the life of Beatrix Potter, author of The Tale of Peter Cottontail, et al.
The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Another winner in the Women's Murder Club series. Three mysteries in one this time around - a psychotic shooter on a ferry, children and their nannies are being kidnapped and no ransom notes are found, and Lindsay's relationship with Joe. ;) I found this one to be a bit more predictable than some of the other novels, but just as gripping. I think I read this one in two days time.
Murder Between the Covers by Elaine Viets
Oh yes, another Dead End Job Mystery. This time around Helen is working in Page Turners, a local book store, when the owner, Mr. Page Turner III, is found murdered in her neighbor's apartment. When the neighbor is sent to jail Helen and her landlady Margery do all they can to find out who the real criminal is. Very entertaining!
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