still talking about kings

Well, yes I have some ideas for Paula. First of all I am so sorry to hear that she is having to undergo chemo. I thought of a "Pamper Yourself" basket with a couple of turbans (as you lose your hair), Hersery's candies has a new kiss called cherry cordial that is pretty tasty. It is like a chocolate covered cherry without the mess and the huge size, so perhaps a bag of those. A music CD would be nice if she likes music (does not everyone), or a movie classic like FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, a bar of the wonderful soap in a fragrance you think she would like ( or several of the $2 sample slices in a rainbow of colors/ and or handcream in a nice fragrance, a new bottle of nail polish in the latest color craze,maybe a bag of popcorn with a cute tag that says something like "Put your feet up and let you hair down as you enjoy an evening pampering yourself" or something much more clever that you come up with.

I looked at the soap site and was drooling. I would love to go to the actual store, but probably should not be turned loose there. I would love to try in this order of yearning: 1/ applejack and peel 2/cucumber melon 3/mint eucalyptus 4/lemongrass mint 5/cranberry spice I will be so happy to send money for you to buy some for me, for I absolutely love the soap. Once again you introduce me to something new and wonderful.

Many, many of my friends shop DSW for tennie hoppers as well as other shoes. Do you have one of those locally?

I am so ready for fall weather so that I can enjoy the yard again and also get a break in the pocket book. The AC seems to run non-stop as does everyone's this time of year. I think of the Chevy Chase movie where the meter was spinning around as he plugged in all his Christmas decorations. Do not get me wrong, I think it is money well spent and I am so grateful for the AC. How folks lived without it in Texas I will never know.

Tomorrow is the last day of VBS. Hooray! I feel so behind in housework, sewing work and more importantly in puppy loving work. The kids have been pretty good until today and they were very chatty and inattentive for most of the day. I had to do a lot of correcting of behavior and I do not like being grinchy, especially at church. The other main teacher also had a difficult day, as did the two teachers across the hall. One of the worst behaved will not be there tomorrow, so hopefully things will be more pleasant. Even if they are not there is the thought that it is the last day.

Eyes can learn!

My eye doctor recommended this page to me since I spend a lot of time doing the same activities on my eyes. I thought it was rather neat. If exercise for my body is good, I suppose exercise for my eyes was good too.

EyesCanlearn

Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax

Here's the soap company in Parkville where I picked up our stuff. Let me know if anything looks good to you and I'll go pick us some up!

Sunrise Soap Company

I'm looking for a little gift to send Paula. She starts chemotherapy this week and I wanted to send her a little something or basket of something but I'm totally stymied. She's not much of a reader, I've sent her more baskets of bathroom stuff for past holidays than she can have used. Perhaps some teas though far as I know she doesn't drink hot tea. Any ideas? Or good places online where someone can order something like that? It's so hard to try to find things for someone that has no real hobbies. I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have.

Dog days of summer are certainly here! It's just hot and sticky and yucky. I've been growing my hair out and now is the time I start regretting it. At least it's gotten long enough I can put some barrettes in to keep it off my face.

I wish I could find a good discount place to buy (preferably) Keds or a good Keds clone. I need some more sneakers that are nice enough to wear to outtings. I'd also love to find a good online place to buy clothing where I already know the manufacturer and how they fit. Dockers and Lees are a good example. I do like Shopzilla.com.

I have seen the new Batman and it rocks. I haven't seen MamaMia but I'd sure like to see it. I'd also like to find a new music artist. I haven't found a new listening pleasure in some time. I'm out of good things to read---I should go prowl and see if any old favorites have new books in paperbacks. I just can't make myself buy hardbacks anymore given how fast I go through them. I should not be so lazy and just go to the library.

Wednesday words

Well the DISH guy finally came and got the job done. He removed tons of spaghetti wiring from the back of the set, and I kept it all in case it is needed somewhere else. It will take a couple of days to get used to the DISH DVR. It is very different than TIVO, but I can use it just not very fast.

The old satellite receiver has been acting up, so perhaps TIVO still is good enough to set up on another TV. It might be worth a try. I think that I will check out a DISH box they said was good buy on the local news to see if it is feasible to make the office TV work when everything goes digital. It cost $69 including shipping but is eligible for the $40 goverment rebate.

No other news of any importance. I am doing laundry and finished cleaning the house this morning. Same ole, same ole.

We're back on the air!

Now that the whirlwinds have gone and life is back to normal, regularly scheduled broadcasts have returned. I didn't even turn a PC on while the kids were here and, given my usual job, that was a nice break.

Ran over to Target today at lunch to pick up a few things and noticed they're carrying some of the Bare Ecsentuals -- at least the eyeshadows. I didn't have time to stop and look to see if they had the whole line but it'd be great if they did. I'd love to get another container of the face powder. I thought I'd drop back by tomorrow and browse a bit more.

I need to do some serious shopping. I haven't bought a single new thing this summer and it's certainly showing. I need some new shoes both casual and a smidge dressier and my entire wardrobe just feels meh! So does my house! I do have a line on a new kitchen / dining table. I've got a coworker that is doing an estate sale on her parents home and has one for sale that sounds interesting. I'm probably going to go take a look at it tomorrow night. Hope it's what I want. It'd be nice to fall into a terrific deal like that.

I worked a deal with Kevin so tonight I'm off to mow the backyard and he's going to do laundry and dinner. I think I got the better end of the deal! At least I hope he does enough laundry that I get the better end of the deal. Laundry is certainly one of the drudgier of the drudge tasks.

Happy Fourth!!

Your plans sound like a lot of fun and I am sure that what ever you decide to do, you will all have a lot of fun doing it.

I started out collecting some books to take to Half=Price and oozed right into rearranging the den and decluttering some. I have not decluttered nearly all I want and intend to, but have made a small dent. I really need to keep this up and then have a garage sale and see if I cannot remove it permanently and make a few bucks along the way.

I am off to start on my sewing room and that is my exciting news for Fourth of July plans. I guess tonight I will watch the Boston Pops or one of the other firework shows. I think I will make some potato salad and grill some chicken, maybe even devil some eggs. Yahoo!

Excuse me but have you seen my lawn chair?

It may well be laying in your backyard.

We had an absolutely torrential storm last night. Rain so thick you could have cut it with a knife and as an extra bonus, it was raining sideways. It was one of few times I was actually concerned about damage to the house or yard but looks like the worst thing that happened was a very large limb coming down off one of the big black walnuts. Of course it chose to land right on top of the viburnum I planted three days ago but it could have been much worse. I talked to Kev on the phone a little bit ago and he was showing the boys how to use a hand saw and pruners. On the upside, it brought a lovely cool spell through so the temp is hanging around in the high 70s and it's supposed to be _gorgeous_ for the 4th.

We haven't decided what to do for the 4th yet. The boys are at that odd age where they're old enough they want bigger entertainment but they're still young enough they get bored pretty quickly. Kevin took them up yesterday to buy fireworks and returned with two huge bags of various things that go boom. We may just go picnic at the park and then do fireworks at home.

Tuesday-a new month

It sounds as if you all are going non-stop and I know you are having a lot of fun. I am so glad that you are finding joy together.

I have nothing new to tell. It is hot with lots more hot forecast, so gardening is not a real pleasure right now. Tonight is quilt guild and Thursday is Bridget's last puppy class. That is the news for my entire week. Lots of same old, same old going on around here.

Hope you have a delightful fourth of July. Guess I will watch the Boston Pops and the fireworks on TV in air conditioned comfort.