Got some goodies today!

I am the owner of the new Chatterbox book "Substance of Life" after only a brief struggle. I asked my LSS owner to hold one for me and she did, but her employee didn't believe me when I asked for it! They have been assaulted with requests for it and they sold out in only a few hours. He actually called the owner to see if I was on the up and up. Pretty funny.

I also grabbed every single paper in the new Nook line. It took a lot of restraint to not get the Loft line too, but I have so much paper already I had to draw the line. I asked Harry, "pink or blue?" and he said "PINK." I am going to keep them out on my table so that I can just look at them.

Three Years Later...

In August of 2002, my son Steven was very badly burned when another boy set fire to a can of lighter fluid and it exploded. This is how his scars look today. I don't post this to scare or horrify anyone, only to inform. Before this happened to him, I wouldn't have known what burn scars would look like. To me, they are both better and worse than I imagined. In public, all that shows is his arm (not really visible in the picture) and it is really hard for Steven when people just stare at it. Almost NO ONE asks what happened. I think both he and I would rather hear an honest question than get the stares.

I try not to let his burns figure in how I look at and treat Steven. It was a horrible thing and the scars will always be there, but I don't want to define him as a burn victim anymore than I call him a diabetic (diagnosed in 1999). He is my first son Steven.

Beating the Heat

We are on our way to a record setting hot streak...by the end of this week, we will have had 10+ days of triple digits. I am not a big fan of the super-hotness. 80's are bearable, but over 90 seems unnecessary to me. Unlike Phoenix, where we used to live, we do truly have a "dry heat" with humidity only in the teens, so I have been through much worse.


Nonetheless, this is honestly the FIRST summer that I didn't fantasize about fall or winter. Fall is my favorite season, but this year, seeing that back to school advertising in July really creeped me out. I'm sure I will enjoy it when the season changes, but for now, I am happy in these moments, and yes, that's a FIRST for me.

Gruesome Color Palette

I just got The Designer's Guide to Color Combinations from the Library and right in the beginning of the book as "Bonus Palette #1" is DEADLY COLOR. These are the most hideous colors and their names are no more attractive; Trauma Coral, Putre Taupe, Cadaver Yellow, and Viscera Cyan, to name a few. It says that Designer David Lincoln Brooks exhaustively studied pictures of accident scenes and cadavers. Further down, it goes on to describe in sickening detail where and how these colors are found. (I'm not going to repeat it here.)

You'll have to excuse me now, I'm feeling kind of ill.....

My Ten "Desert Island Discs"

In compliance with the 2peas meme challenge #8, here is my list of must-have and never-get-tired-of CD's. (in no particular order with links to Amazon.com)

1. Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy by The Refreshments It seems like I am the only person who has ever heard of them, but I'm still not tired of this CD. Favorite song: Don't Wanna Know.

2. Highway to Hell by AC/DC Nothing gets my blood pumping like these drums and Bon Scott's raspy vocals. Favorite song: If You Want Blood (You've Got It).

3. Nevermind by NirvanaThis one is too obvious..nothing for me to say. Favorite song: On A Plain.

4. Weezer by Weezer These are such regular guys singing songs about regular stuff. Favorite song: Undone-The Sweater Song.

5. Foo Fighters by the Foo Fighters I am a big fan of the Foo Fighters, but I am very slow to buy new CD's, so I haven't heard much of the new one...this one is a classic. Favorite song: Big Me.

6. 1967-1970 by The Beatles I love all these songs. Favorite song: Lady Madonna.

7. Dulcinea by Toad the Wet SprocketThis band has some really weird stuff, but I can listen to this entire CD without skipping anything. Favorite song: Stupid.

8. Greatest Hits by Queen I don't know why they didn't include Bohemian Rhapsody on this disc, but I still love what they did put on it. Favorite song: Somebody To Love.

9. Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (disc one only) by Elton John I'd probably pitch disc two into the ocean, but disc one is a keeper forever! Favorite song: Your Song.

10. Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt Ten years later, this CD still ROCKS! Favorite song: Excuse Me MR.

I am going to listen to some of these right now...

I guess I took a mini-break!

For once, I was DOING stuff instead of thinking about stuff! Nice change!

Harry and I had a wonderful Mommy and Me day...shopping, lunch and we saw "Madagascar." ( I am very ashamed to say that I fell asleep TWICE during the movie-wheel me off to the old folks home!) We went and saw the Fireworks show at the Nugget WAY up close! The pieces were raining down on us. (Yes, I freaked out at first until I picked one up and felt that it was cold and light) Harry thought it was totally cool. (so did we!)

Going back to work was a bummer for all.....we usually wrapped some kind of vacation time around the fourth, but we couldn't do it this year-too much going on and no $$$ to spare.

I finished my Altered Rolodex cards (the first group anyway) and bought a bunch of mini-books....feeling in the mood for some quick but intense projects!

Ready, Steady, Go!

We have been packing and preparing for Savanna & Steven's flight tomorrow. As always, I forget something important. This time, I forgot to check how much insulin he had and it's too late to get more before the flight, so I will hope that he can get his refill in Wisconsin with no trouble. I hate sending them off alone and I hate more how relieved I am when the whole packing/checking in/waiting is over. It makes me feel guilty and sad. After 9 years, I should be used to it, but guess what? I'm not.