Jennifer!! NCIS!!

I have succumbed to peer pressure from Jennifer (and to a lesser extent from Kimberly, who just started watching the show), and I have begun Netflixing NCIS.

What do I think?  It's a pretty good show.  It's missing the disturbing, gruesome factor of my favorite show, Criminal Minds, but it's pretty good.  Granted, I have only watched the first 6 episodes of Season 1, but I am liking it.

Oh, and Mark Harmon is still pretty easy on the eyes.  I'm just sayin'....

Does anyone out there possibly own any seasons of NCIS? Netflix is nice, but kind of slow - only one disc with four episodes, at a time.  It would be nice to have a whole season at once!  If someone does own it, I'll bake you some cookies if you let me borrow it.

Swine Flu

I'm not really concerned about the Swine Flu, but I think it's interesting that in 2007 the Church added information about pandemics to it's Provident Living website.  Here is the link, if you are interested.

I had read this information a month or so ago, and I did go out then and buy extra bleach.  Today I went and bought more latex gloves and some surgical masks (which I had to go to 2 stores to find).  

Hopefully I won't need to use any of this stuff any time soon.  I will gladly put it away as part of our emergency supplies.  

The Church posted this information in 2007.  I've found they usually know what they are talking about.

Life on Chestnut Street!

I grew up on Chestnut Street in Park Forest, Illinois.  We had a whole pack of kids that lived on the street.  I recently friended one of my old friends on Facebook.  Today she posted this picture: 

This was probably taken in about 1974, and includes only some of the kids on the street.

We were a motley looking crew, weren't we?

So, which one is me?

**Edit**  My sister is also in the picture.  She is in the top row, 3rd one from the left.  She has pigtails, and is wearing a hat.  She just told me SHE STILL HAS THAT HAT!

ABC Tag!!

I saw this tag on someone's Facebook, and decided to do it. The object is to answer these 26 ABC questions. Here goes!

A - Age: 48 (getting ever closer to 49, then 50!!)

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the shower/tub

D - Dog's name: Bailey (a 13-year-old neurotic beagle)

E - Egg preference: I'm not a fan of eggs, except in baked goods

F - Favorite color: Blue

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5'3"

I - Instruments you play: Oboe (at least I used to), recorder (doesn't everybody?)

J - Job title: Mom

K - Kids: Four

L - Living arrangements: I live with my husband, Robert, and our two kids still at home

M - Mom's name: Dolores

N - Nicknames: Kimberly reminded me I do have a nickname, which only my sister's family and friends call me - Laurie

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Giving birth, Gall Bladder removal, right lobe Thyroidectomy

P- Pet Peeve: Stupid drivers

Q - Quote from a movie: "Don't Push Me!" (From West Side Story - still my favorite)

R - River, Lake, or Ocean: (Apparently the list I copied had no "R".  Jennifer took note of this and made up this "R" question, which I am answering.)  For swimming - lake; for looking at - ocean  

R - Righty or Lefty: (Kimberly came up with this "R" question when she did this tag on her Live Journal.  I think it's a good one, so I'm including it also.)  Righty

S - Siblings: One older sister

T - Time you wake up: 5:00a.m. on school days, and between 7:00 and 8:00a.m. on other days

U - Underwear: Yes

V - Vegetable you dislike: Cauliflower (which is just one of many)

W - Workout style: What's that?

X - X-rays you've had: Arm, foot, chest, throat, teeth

Y - Yesterday's best moment: Primary Leadership Meeting

Z - Zoo favorite: Big cats (except the lions - they're not as pretty)

I tag any of my blogging friends who would like to do this!

FedEx Knows....

Yesterday I posted about the speedy service I received from FedEx after mailing an overnight letter to Brian in the Dominican Republic.  Today I noticed there was a new comment.  I looked, and it was from "FedEx Dolores".  She said they appreciated my business, and was glad I had a good experience.

Question.  How did FedEx know that I had written about them on my blog?  I would think they would have better things to do than monitor blog posts.  Robert thinks they probably have a computer program that looks for their name, and then a human writes a response if one is needed. I guess that sounds logical.

I'm conflicted about how I feel about this.  On the one hand, I think it's kind of cool that I got a comment from "FedEx Dolores".  On the other hand, it's kind of big brotherish, you know?

Well, since this post will probably come to their attention too, maybe "FedEx Dolores", or "FedEx Bob", or FedEx Whoever" can tell me if Robert's theory is right.  Was I discovered by a computer program.  Inquiring minds (mine) would like to know. 

Hooray for FedEx!!

I had to mail Brian a new debit card (our bank changed).  I was a little leery about sending it through the post office - not on our end, but on the Dominican Republic end.  So I decided to send it by FedEx - two day delivery.  Expensive, yes, but safer to mail to a country that has a lot of problems with credit card fraud (as we know from experience). Yesterday I went to the FedEx office, and the nice FedEx lady said they could get it there by Tuesday or Thursday.  I asked which was cheaper and she said Tuesday (go figure), so that's what I chose.

I just checked the tracking number, and my letter, which left Katy at 12:25p.m. on Monday was delivered to the Mission Office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at 3:35p.m. today!  And they are an hour ahead of us!  I sometimes have complaints about letter delivery, but I have only one thing to say right now:

FedEx, you ROCK!!!

Now we'll see how long it takes the zone leaders to get the letter to Brian....   

Bonus!! Second Unnecessary Law of the Month!

I heard this unnecessary law on the radio today, and I just had to share:

In Boise, Idaho, it is illegal to fish from the back of a camel.

The law doesn't say anything about elephants or giraffes, so I guess those would be okay.

Pop!!

I went to Raising Cane's for lunch today (I love their chicken).  The guy behind the counter asked me if I wanted pop, tea, or lemonade to drink.

Pop!!  I rarely hear soda called pop anymore.  But growing up in Illinois, that's what we called it.  Pop.  I thought it was so strange when we first moved to Texas.  Down here, people seem to call it soda.  Or even stranger, they call EVERYTHING coke!  It doesn't matter what it is.  I don't get that one.

I said to the guy, "You're not from around here, are you?" He admitted he was from up north.  I told him I was from Illinois, and it was nice to hear someone call soda, pop.  He said people sometimes look at him strangely down here, like they don't know what he's talking about!

What about you guys?  What do you call carbonated drinks? Pop?  Soda?  Coke?  Or something else?

Tax Day Tea Party

Last night, Robert and I attended the Sugar Land Tax Day Tea Party. It was incredible! I'm so glad we went. I took a bunch of pictures, but I'll just post this one of a portion of the crowd. (If you look to the left, you can see Robert - but don't tell him.)

The event started with a live band playing for about 30 minutes.  We spent that time looking at the handmade signs people were waving.  Some of them were funny, some really made me think, and some made me remember why I was there.  Then we sang the National Anthem, recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge, and had a prayer.  I love that we started with a prayer.  

We heard from a number of speakers, including, but not limited to, our U.S. Representative Pete Olson, Precinct 3 County Commissioner Andy Meyers, and Dr. Neil Frank from Channel 11.  Many of the speakers had inspiring messages to share.  

We sang "God Bless America" and "America, the Beautiful". It gave me chills to sing the songs with the crowd! 

We enjoyed being part of a crowd of people worried about the tax burden being passed on to future generations, and resolved to do something about it.

Our Tea Party was one of about 800 that took place across the United States yesterday.  I felt like we were part of history.  

Final Curb Number Update

We did it!  We finally fixed our curb numbers:

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can read about our curb number saga here and here.

If you glance at it quickly, it doesn't look too bad.  If you look closely though, you can see that the white we used to paint out the extra "2" is a slightly different shade.  Oh well. At least now Fed Ex and UPS won't be confused if they try to deliver something!

Also, we actually fixed the numbers about a month ago.  I forgot to do an update.  

If those curb painters come through our neighborhood again, I'm making them redo our numbers!

Scott is Happy!

Today was the long awaited day.  After 2-1/2 years, Scott got his braces off!  Woo hoo!  One more visit next week to get his retainer, and we are done with the orthodontist! Sorry, Dr. Stevenson and staff - you are very nice people, but we won't miss you!  

I would post a picture, but he wants to get the pearly whites professionally cleaned before he shows them off too much. Goofy guy.

Easter Parade

I watched the movie "Easter Parade" tonight.  Fred Astaire. Judy Garland.  Dancing. Singing.  What more could you ask for from a movie?

This is one of my favorite songs from the movie:

The only bad part?  Kimberly and I usually watch the movie together, but we ran out of time this weekend.  So we each had to watch it alone.  Boo hoo.

A Fortune

There is a gift card (yes, a gift card) at Target that also features fortunes.  I know it's a bit strange, but it was an amusing gift card to read.  My favorite fortune:

You will take care of lambs in the Alps.  

You will be a German Shepherd.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!

Okay, so sometimes (actually, often) I am easily amused!

Another Eagle Scout!!

Jeffrey had his Eagle Scout Board of Review tonight, and he passed!  He is now an Eagle Scout!  Woo hoo!  I am so excited and relieved.  It took us every bit of time he had, but he finished.  I am so proud of him.  Here he is, looking very Eagle Scout-ish:

Here he is, looking very Jeffrey-ish:

I think I like the second picture better!

Congratulations, Jeffrey!!

Banking

Okay, I will admit that I am a bit anal when it comes to reconciling my checking account.  I go online almost daily to check my balance and see what transactions have cleared. I can balance my checkbook to the penny in less than 3 minutes.

Today something happened that rarely happens.  All of my transactions have cleared the bank!  All of the checks I've written, all of the card swipes at stores or restaurants. They have all cleared the bank.  The amount of money my bank says I have is exactly the same as the amount of money I do have!  I think that's cool.  

Yes, I know that's dorky.  I don't care.  

Of course, I have to pay a bill or two today, so tomorrow my balances won't be the same.  Oh well.  I'll enjoy it for now.

Coupon Complaint

Why are coupons so much of a pain sometimes?  I hate coupons that expire on the 5th, or 17th, or 23rd.  Why can't companies make it easier for me to organize my coupons and have them all expire on the last day of the month? WHY, WHY, WHY???

My rant is now over.  Unless I get started on how much I hate 55¢ coupons, which Kroger does not double....

Unnecessary Law of the Month

In Cedar City, Utah, it is illegal to drink beer with your shoelaces untied.

So be sure to double knot your laces (or wear slip ons).

(The Unnecessary Law of the Month is brought to you courtesy of Townhall Magazine.)

This Would Make Travel Worthwhile

Imagine the following.  You are in a train station in Antwerp, minding your own business.  Suddenly the following occurs:

How cool is that?!?  I want that to happen the next time I go to the airport.  (Lori, you will be doing a lot of traveling - maybe you'll get lucky.)

Emergency Candles

For years we have had four 100 hour emergency candles. Last September, during Hurricane Ike, we actually used them.  They are really nice.  We only used them one night, but they are still almost full so I have no doubt they would last for 100 hours.  I have been meaning to order twelve more, and finally got around to it last month.  When they came, I noticed the liquid inside was not clear like I ordered, but Christmas red, which I didn't order.  I called the company to tell them.  These candles are $4.50 each, so I thought they should know.  They offered to send me a dozen clear candles for $3.00 each.  I am still paying for and keeping the red candles, but I will also get another dozen candles for 2/3 of the price.  That's a pretty good discount.  So, should we lose our power for any reason, we are all set for candles!  We may have nothing to eat or drink, but we won't be sitting in the dark!

FYI, these don't look like candles.  They are small plastic bottles filled with whatever liquid it is that makes them burn.  They have a wick which you light (kind of like the wick on an old fashioned lamp).  So they are pretty safe to use.

I'm Not Going to Do It

I'm not going to write about politics on my blog.  But if I were, I would have A LOT to say about our current administration.